Vaginal breech delivery

Well, today the ECV failed to move my little man (head firmly wedged under my ribs with an anterior placental pillow :rolleyes:) so the next step is an appointment tomorrow to discuss the breech vaginal birth option and see if I am a *suitable* candidate.

What I am looking for is birth stories from people who have had a vaginal breech delivery. I have tried to find MeredithD's and can't locate it for the life of me!!

I am happy to hear the positive and not so positive experiences of a vaginal breech birth, however please do not debate my choice of a vaginal breech path. I am fully informed of the risks v benefits of vaginal v c-section for breech.

I would like to be exposed to women who have travelled the path and their experiences. In this current climate it is difficult to hear first hand stories due to the relative infrequency of this delivery option. Thank you to anyone who can help.

Hi Michelle71,

I am expecting my first, so have no first hand knowledge of your situation but I wish you all the best with the birth of your bubby and am sure all will go well.

Hugs,

Daniellec

I don't know much about breech bubs but just wanted to say good for you for being informed, and I wish you all the best for a fantastic birth!

Thanks girls - and keep them coming!!!

Shannon - thank you for sharing. This little one is sitting in a V position - head on my right, feet on my left, bottom in the middle down at pelvis level. Going on this position, I am pretty sure it would be a bottom first presentation. I am still hoping he may turn but not holding my breath. Trying the acupuncture, moxa, positions etc but without success so far. Still have a chance but if not I want to know my options. I think he has managed to get wedged under the ribs and the placenta so he may be a little stuck!!!

I have had a recent URTI / virus so the coughing has caused some REALLY bad rib pain with the head wedged under there (DH thinks I may have fractured one with the pain and the need to splint my side when I cough :rolleyes:!!!) Breathing is OK though. He is sitting quite low really so I have been lucky. No pelvic pain and no breathing problems, just the ribs. Although this afternoon ALLLLLL of the movement is on the left side with the feet grating past my ribs. Maybe he is trying to grab onto something to get some traction :cryinglaugh:

I was born vaginally and breech ...once upon a time. I hope Alf does somersault and behaves .
I wish you a beautiful birth whatever you chose and you some balanced stories.

I think they suggest the epidural *in case* they have to get the baby out quick - but even having the epidural in puts your spine out of whack and isn't helpful. If it were me, I would seek out a private midwife to help me through or find a person who is confident in breech birth. Have seen breech vaginal birth without anything - drugs, induction etc and it all went perfectly fine. I have a short list on the main site of carers I know who support breech birth but not sure of all of their 'rules'

Michelle the link to one of Merediths threads is HERE.
I really hope she comes in soon so you can ask her all the questions you must have. Now, get that Moxa burning!!!! :hug:

DOUBLE BREACH BIRTH
Had to go and find my birth story from when I had the twins not sure how to put the link in so hears the whole thing.
Wed 25 oct 2pm went for growth scan both growing nicely both still breech and running out of room to turn Jessica had her bottom in my pelvis, I tell myself that I'm going to end up having a c section I was hoping for a vaginal birth.
4pm start to get some pains low in my back and lower tummy I tell myself it's only braxton hicks, have a lay down for 30 mins pains don't go away so off to the shower I go 20mins later pains are still there, It's time to head for the hospital so I put a few things in a bag (hadn't got around to packing my bag yet)
Got to the hospital 6pm lucky my Dr was there, he said that I was 3cm dialated and my waters were bulging that we had to try and stop it and I would be going to Perth, so they gave me adrenalin shot to mature the bubs lungs and put in a drip x 2.
9pm labour is brought to a stand still flew to perth with the RFDS I'm so glad DH is with me as I have never been on a plane before. ( a bit scary )
11pm arive at King edward memorial hospital get poked and proded for the next five hours then manage to get some sleep.

Thurs 26th Oct 6.30am contractions start again this time more intense I start to get a bit emotional as the midwife tells me that I'm still 3cms and they try to hold off for 48hours for the lungs to mature I know this labour won't go that long and so start to feel like everything is out of my control.
8.30am the Dr comes to see me and I'm 6cm so everything starts to move very quickly I'm preped for a c section as both the babies are still breech, The Dr asks if I want to try a vaginal delivery but the pain and fear are staring to win out and I ask for a c section.
9.50am get to theatre and once I had the epidural I start to feel better the DR does another check and i'm 10cm so she asks again if I want to try a vaginal delivery I can't feel the pain so give it a go at 10.05am Jessica makes her way into the world feet first Wieghing in at 4 pound 13 0z 2180 grams five minutes later at 10.10am Jack not to be out done also enters the world feet first whieghing in at 5 pound five oz 2410 grams.
No tears no stiches I think because my body was so relaxed better than the last two labours

Thank you Motherduck!! You did a beautiful job.

Just getting some pain tonight so I am hoping it is just everything settling after the irritations of today. Can't go into labour before tomorrow (or at least until the sun is up!!!!) No one to deliver with me!!!

I second that Motherduck - a sensational twin breech birth story ... mine were both breech but I had c/s.

Michelle, I know it was a long time ago, but my brother was delivered by vaginal breech (footling too!) birth 24 years ago. My mum wasn't keen on it, and asked for a caesar, but her Ob (who is also mine!) told her that she could do it so she did! At the end of the day she found it to be a great birthing experience, much easier and more enjoyable than birthing me. Her only regret was that she let the midwives, after hours of them almost forcing it on her, give her some pethidene. She and her Ob later agreed that she didn't need it, it was purely because the midwives felt she did. Apart from that, there were no complications or dramas, and he arrived at 39 weeks after 18 hours of labour, safe and sound :)

Wasnt there that story just lately about that Aussie doctor that delivered a breech baby on an plane and the woman didnt even know she was pregnant? The doctor was on Today in the morning and there was a write up about it on News.com I thinks. This is probably no use to u what so ever but at it can be done.

I birth with women who want breech birth at home. I understand you are looking for a hospital birth but can give you lots of information on the physiological process. Feel free to get in touch with me. You can find my number in Kelly's directory of breech practitioners I think.
Lisa Barrett

Trish - I always knew you were special :hug:

Sez - thank your mother for her story. It was so much more common to achieve in our parents day but you are lucky to have the same OB with significant experience.

Thank you very much Lisa. I was after a birth centre birth (home birth for beginners with medical back up as required was my way of looking at it :)) but I know that option is not currently available for me. The next best option (considering my history) is the hospital vaginal birth. If I had birthed a full term baby I might be pushing harder for the home birth option but at this stage I don't feel my husband or myself are ready for this choice.

I think it is the physiology that I need. I know what happens in a cephalic vaginal birth but I think I need to be informed of the differences for a breech. Not having gone into spontaneous labour this is also a worry - what do I do??? What should I expect?? I will make contact with you. Thank you for the offer. It is greatly appreciated.

Thanks Mads!! It is becoming a common theme that breech presentations are either very straight forward or not. The midwife yesterday said the same thing - they either progress well or they don't. Now I just need to get my head into the right space to encourage it to go well!!!

I'm trying - but you should have seen me yesterday when the ECV failed :rolleyes: Not such a positive person then. But onwards and upwards. I can do all I can and only try my best to achieve the birth I want. I have a dream .... I am hoping to have it fulfilled. The path may vary but the outcome is my main goal.

Hi Michelle - wow - can't belive Alf is almost due. Sorry, haven't been able to keep up with the old threads - babies do tend to eat up all that spare time!!!
As you probably know, Logan was a drug-free, vaginal breech birth. Sorry, no birth story officially written on BB. I have 3/4 written it but haven't got back to finishing yet.
Brief version:- Logan persistently breech from 26weeks. I tried acupuncture, moxa, positions etc etc although was not keen on ECV so didn't try that option. Changed OB's at 34weeks to Lionel Steinberg who is experienced and supportive of breech births. My previous OB was elective c-sec only (very adamently against vaginal option I must add!!) Lionels rules were - spontaneous labour (will not induce breech), NO epidural( doesn't like to slow down labour and wants women to be able to push) , baby not oversized, frank breech position only (would not deliver footling), Labour progressing in timely fashion, continuous monitoring (I managed to get out of this one). I was happy with all these rules.
I had a show and semi regular BH's on saturday night and into Sunday morning. I was 39weeks. By lunch time all fizzled out. Monday morning woke up feeling great but dissapointed no progression. Went for long walk, cleaned house, had acupuncture. That night had dribbling of waters around 7.30. BY 10pm contractions starting and became pretty full on by 12.00 am At hospital around 1am. Thimgs pretty intense by then. They wanted to have CTG on full time but Logan was moving a lot and I wasn't comfortable so very sensible midwife agreed to intermittent monitoring. HR was always fine.
I had a lot of back pain through labour (think his butt and pelvis were grinding against mine). I spent most of my time siting backwards on a chair,leaning against the wall. My DH and kelly aka Belly Belly (my birth support) spent most of the night pressing heat packs against my lower back. By the time OB arrived in the morning I was 9cm dilated. He broke my waters and bam things just took off from then. Once bum was out, he elected to do episiotomy to allow for manipulating legs etc. The only scary part is once baby's torso is out - the cord is then compressed and they call time. Apparently, to be safe, bubs must get all out within the next 7mins or risk oxygen deprivation. I am sure you are informed of this risk. We had no troubles. Lionel did his manipulations and Logan was all out within a few mins. Born screaming with apgars of 9 and 10.
I was tired but otherwise no problems
Whoops, I said that would be brief!! Sorry but I am quite passionate about this subject because I was pushed at all angles (family,medicos etc) to just have a c-section). Ultimately that would not have been the best thing for me or probably Logan.
I don't want to push you in any way but I think you should stick to your dream of a natural birth so long as you feel safe and under good care.
If your bub stays in that frank breech position and you can find a good carer, I say GO THE VAGINAL BREECH. At the very least, give your body a go at spontaneous labour and see how things progress. A good carer will be able to monitor you and bubs closely to be sure everything is progressing ok. If not, there is always the back up of an immediate c-section. It is still better for baby to have gone through some of labour (rather than elective c-sec) and for yourself also. If you have no.2 you will labour like a second time mum even if you went to c-sec. My OB was fabulously supportive of the natural delivery but also mindful of safety. If he had said its time to give up and go to surgery then i would have trusted and agreed.
Please fel free to PM me and/or we can exchange phone details and I am happy to talk to you direct. Your precious bundle will be here soon - enjoy every moment!

Meredith - thank you, thank you, thank you. My email is in my profile and I am more than happy to swap numbers to chat with you. Send me a mobile number (if you like) so I can SMS and not disturb Logan unnecessarily.

I knew you had alot of pressure from outside sources re: going the c-section option and I am feeling the same pressure. My MIL just wanted to check there was no issue with the cord (no more than usual at this stage). My mother is still a little worried (from her tone) but knows better than to question at this stage (I might bite her head off!!!!) Even the supposed educated staff I work with are all fearful of breech from the 2000 study with significant flaws. The mention of ECV was enough to have them give me *looks*. I think they think I am mad.

The ECV was not too bad. My OB averages more than one per week so he is more than experienced in turning the little dears - if they will turn. It seems they either turn easily or not turn at all ... and I have the latter!! Poor little love has his head stuck under the placenta and ribs. We need to check if this will be a delivery issue too.

My desire for a natural birth is mainly related to the recovery and the time to our next conception. I am getting older and it pushes me towards subsequent c-sections if the births are close together, not to mention my difficulties in conceiving anyway. It is this concern that *people* just don't seem to understand. I want to get pregnant again and not have to consider waiting for a designated time to allow for uterine healing. I also have issues related to Caitlyn's birth and I don't want my only experience to be the birthing of a dead baby - but that is a WHOLE other discussion :rolleyes:

We have an appointment this afternoon to talk to the new OB to try to nut out the options. My current OB would do it but is not supported by the hospital policy. He discussed with us the non intervention approach to breech - no induction (yay - I don't want one anyway), no augmentation (double yay) and the benefits of spontaneous labour even if I need a c-section. The private OB will do breech delivery in the same hospital with all the back up on hand 24/7 if needed. Unlike your original OB mine has been a gem and refused to refer me to anyone who is c-section happy. ECV was my last resort and the acupuncture / moxa / positions didn't help. I wish he was supported to deliver but at least I am not out of the running yet.

Did the episiotomy take long to heal?? And how was your recovery?? I guess that is one of my concerns. I wasn't really wanting one but it may be a compromise I need to make for a vaginal breech delivery. What position were you encouraged to be in for delivery?? I think it is the mental preparation I need the support for to make me informed, aware and not fight the essentials.

Thank you again for making contact :hug: I hope to get an email from you soon so I can chat further - assuming this afternoon has a positive outcome .......

Michelle, you may not feel this is relevant to you, as Nicholas was a cephalic delivery, but I also ended up with an episiotomy. I really didn't want one, but Nicholas was very 'stuck' (almost 4 hour second stage, we were lucky not to end up with a caesar!), so I feel that it was an adequate compromise. I was adamant in not wanting a caesar, for a number of reasons, unless it was absolutely necessary, so I am so pleased that I didn't end up with one.

Yes, the recovery was uncomfortable, but nothing that some pain relief couldn't help, and I was certainly able to get around okay. The worst of it was over in a week, and totally pain free two weeks post-delivery. As far as I'm concerned, that is far preferable to a caesarian recovery. (Of course, I'm guessing here!).

I hope that helps, and I wish you masses of luck this afternoon!

Thanks Sez :hug: It is relevant because it is still an episiotomy with the recovery that comes with that. A small fear of mine after seeing one done as a student nurse (I know - you probably don't feel it at the time but the image is clear in my mind!!!!) But it is a compromise I am more than willing to make for a vaginal delivery option. And thank you for the good wishes.

Michelle, I have no experience myself (apart from the fact that I was a vaginal breech birth all those years ago!) but my gf has had two sets of twins, both times one was breech.

She had an epidural both times because her Dr was worried that if he needed to manipulate the second baby a great deal to get them out, it would be quite painful for her. The second time she really didn't want an epidural, so they came to the compromise that it would be put in, but not turned on until they assessed whether she needed it or not. In the end she did have it, but enjoyed most of her labour without any pain relief.

I'm no expert, but I think obs are more likely to deliver a twin breech than a singleton? Perhaps because twins are usually preterm and therefore smaller? Not sure. Her first breech baby was born at 34 weeks and he was only 4lb something, the second was her third daughter born at 36 weeks 5 days and she was heavier at almost 6lb.

Michelle, I know you probably know this already, but you really don't feel it at all! I had NO idea when he did it!

Not sure if this will help but apparently the man to talk to/consult about natural breech is an Ob called Andrew Bisits. He is located at the John Hunter hospy in Newcastle. Not sure if you can call for some info or maybe your caregiver could talk to him? He does it routinely and advocates for it if there is nothing else wrong.

He just gave some lessons to my midwife team in case an undiagnosed breech ever turns up at the Birthing Service (bound to happen one day) :D

Good Luck

Hi Michelle. My first baby was due yesterday, and is breech, and I'm preparing to try for a vaginal breech delivery. I was wondering how birth ended up going?

I ended up getting to try the vaginal breech. We got to 6cm dilated with just water for pain relief and remote telemetry so I could stay in the shower. Unfortunately I think my anterior placenta really had him stuck and we ended up with an emergency c-section due to foetal distress. I loved my labour and in the end the c-section did not concern me. The positives far outweighed the surgical option. My son got to choose his birthdate, he had the hormones of labour for the stimulation it provided, I got to experience normal labour and loved it (I know - some think I am very weird :D) and he was born safely which was my only real concern.

It was important for me to be able to try and have that wish supported (and it was) and how we ended up delivering was going to be dictated by my parameters - normal commencement of labour without augmentation or epidural. It goes forward quickly (relative term) and smoothly we go for the vaginal breech or we go for the surgical option if he was distressed. My OB was more than happy with my guidelines (he was prepared to be a little more interventional to try to get the breech delivery) and for that I will be forever grateful. He was a gem.

Best wishes for your birth :)

Thanks, Michelle for your reply. It sounds like my plan is very similar to the one you had. I know I'll be much more accepting of a caesar if I have tried for the natural delivery and it doesn't happen. And, like you, I am much more comfortable with my baby coming when it's ready to come, and I also want the experience of labour. I think your experience sounds really positive, and I think I'll also feel good if I end up needing the caesar, knowing that I gave my body a chance at a natural delivery first.
Thanks again, for letting me know how you went. I appreciate it!

Hi you can get more information on breech birth and a good video of a physiological breech birth at homebirthdotnetdotau

Thanks Telky. It was a positive experience and I am hoping to repeat the process as soon as possible. Now I just have to sort out my VBAC and hope the next little darling doesn't get stuck like its brother :rofl:

Good luck with your next little one, Michelle. Let's hope next time they come head down!

Thanks, sirhocco, for the link. I watched the video, and I must say how refreshing it is to see people treat breech deliveries as "a version of normal", instead of making you feel as if it's freakish. I watched a breech birth video at the hospital during the week (a birth that had occurred at the hospital), and it made me feel confident as well. I think it depends very much on where your information is coming from, as my local hospital regularly delivers breech babies, and they have been extremely supportive of my wish to try and avoid a caesar, and have made sure I am well informed of what is involved with a breech birth. I know that for most people with breech babies (delivering in a hospital), they are told they have to have a caesar. It just makes you appreciate supportive midwives and obs who are determined to pass on the skill of the breech delivery.