Natural Breech Birth

I'm still ages away from the labour and birth part of my pg but have been told that if I have a breech baby I will be delivering naturally (unless its transverse). I was just wondering if any other members have delivered a breech baby and if so what was the experience like?

I didn't think you could deliver a breech baby? In the "older" days they would try and turn a breech baby. But these days they don't - you have to have a c-section.

A friend of mine is due at the end of December. Her baby was the right way until just the other day and now she's turned the wrong way! Her OB says unless her baby turns back she will have to have a c-section.

I'm confused now. My OB has told me that if the baby doesn't turn head-down-bum-up and decides to come bum or feet first they are going to try a natural delivery. (If I need a c/s it will have to be under general anasthetic and due to some health problems this would be really risky for me). If the baby stays transverse (sideways) then I will have no option but to have a c/s.

I think its just easier (on the OB and the mother) to have a c/s for a breech delivery which is why they opt for it now.

Both my OB and chiro will attempt to turn the baby if its needed.

Jo, I have a friend who delivered a breech baby naturally - they didnt know it was breech until it was on the way out :-s i dont know that women just choose a C/S just because it is easier, i think it is more for safety, but of course in your case it isnt the safer option. you just have to try what is best for you.

Kerry,

You might like to take a look at the following thread that Kelly put together about Breech and Posterior Babies:

Breech & Posterior Babies - Links & Resources

Hopefully you will find that useful.

Thanks Melinda. I will check them out.

Chances are I am worry about nothing anyway.

Chiro said yesterday that bigfoot is still transverse... will see how things go on wednesday when its back to the ob.

Monday its off to the renal specialist who pretty much doesn't touch the baby (or should I say "his baby" as he likes to call it)... I think he is just scared. He is going to come down for the birth, just incase things go wrong, so that he is there should he be needed... personally I think he just wants first hold, but he will have to join the que on that one.

In NSW there is only one Dr who will deliver naturally. Not one other will do it, due to being sued. They will try turning, but if that fails it's automatically a c/s. However, it may vary in different states and is up to your Dr. They used to always deliver naturally, so if your Dr is willing, I would be happy!! ox

He is only will because he knows a c/s will mean a general aneasthetic for me which is not a good option cos it could also mean a coffin... so I slip through the loop holes... he said he would reather breech birth a baby than kill the mum on a table... besides his midwife team are all for it and have said there will be no hassels.

Hi Kerry

Yes you can have your baby naturally if he is breech however there are not many OB's left who will do this, most of then advise you to have a C/S.

Also there is still plenty of time for your baby to turn around. I also posteed a couple of tips on how to help your breech baby turn a few daus ago.


Alan (Midwife)

Thanks everyone, I'm probably just another neurotic FT mum but I do like to worry about things before the even so that I can prepare myself.

Thanks again.

I was talking about this with my midwife also. She tries lots of things in the lead up if they know the baby is breech - acupuncture, different positions etc etc and has a good percentage turn - about 50% I think. Otherwise you can still deliver a breech baby naturally.

I just want to say I love the fact that your Dr has suggested Natural Breech birth, I think thats fantastic. Of course anything that helps bubs move is good too, but the fact that he's not pro C/S is fantastic in my books. My OB will try and go for a VBAC even if bubs is breech as he actually deals with women who come to him specifically to allow them to deliver babies that most obs these days say "You need a C/S" ie multiples, breach, vbac etc etc

Goodluck Kerry!

*hugs*
Cailin

Kerry - I was under the impression that they wont let first time mums deliver breech, but if its your 3rd or 4th, they let you "slide" it out regardless of head or bum first!!
Thats how it works at Geelong hospital. BTW - I panicked too about breech. Jenna didn't turn till about 32-33 weeks (I think??), and I was sooooo worried about a c/s before then. She was well turned with plenty of time.
Good luck.
Fi

Fi - I'm a bit of an abnormal case. I have a few major health problems with me which mean that I would need a "very risky" general anasthetic (or no pain relief at all) to have a c/s... so regardless of bubs possie (except transverse) they are planning on a vb. ...

GOOD NEWS - at my 32w appointment bigfoot had decided to assume the head-down-bum-up possie so much desired by all the white coats... now we just have to hope s/he doesn't engage to soon as my pelvis really couldn't do the support job required of it for long.,

Thanks everyone for all there advice and support... Oh and Cailin you are so right my OB has been just brilliant... highly highly recommended and once bubs is out will be posting as such in the relevant forum... like to have a full story.

Thats great news Kerry! Dont they get us all panicked about breech for nothing??
I knew you had some issues - what I was trying to say was that mums can deliver breech without interference from drs, but usually only if its a subsequent birth - so if they are prepared there is a possibility that breech births can be vaginal even if its your first. Does that make sense? Sorry - preggie brain is really starting to affect my linguistics..... :D

Fi - yeah that makes sence and don't worry at least its only your liguistics being affected, my memory and comprehension skills are caput.

Hi,
i haven't experienced this myself but i few friends have.

SIL's bubs was breech and they turned her no worries at 36 weeks with external version. The did a scan to see position of the cord etc, then the doc and midwife worked as a team pushing and sliding on SILS tummy to move baby round - they can;t do this after the bum/feet are engaged in the pelvis though. Bubs stayed turned and came out 10 days late.

My friend had her baby in Germany, naturally, in frank breech (feet by the ears, bum down). She had to drive 250km in labour as there was only one doc who'd let her try, the rest wanted to do a c/s. THey'd tried to turn but couldn't due to position of feet. She had a 5 hour labour, then at 8-9cm dilated, the doctor gave her syntocin to bring on really strong contractions and held the baby's bum (which can come through a less-than-dilated cervix when a head can't) back by hand for 45 minutes, then he let her push. Baby was out in 30 or so minutes. No tearing, no cutting, no damage. Vivienne was in the car going home with her baby 4 hours later.

Hana

Thanks Hana, you have given me heaps of hope that I can do this successfully if needs be.

little bigfoot has decided to turn again and I just know that when i visit the OB tomorrow he is going to tell me that we are breech again. Oh well my mum had 4 of us and we were all breech right up until birth when we all managed to turn at the last minute, so maybe it runs in the family.

Kerry - I was sure jenna had turned again because I swore her hear was up - I could feel a grapefruit sized thing right up under my ribs. At this stage, the bum feels heaps like the head, and she was actually still head down.

something really interesting to try is baby mapping? Maybe do a search for it, and you'll find all sorts of ways to exactly figure out which was baby is lying in there. You kinda draw a chart and look for key things.
Midwives of course can do it easily, but I had a lot of trouble.

Hopefully bigfoot is just teasing you, and is nicely head down!

Fi