Scan question...(how it might affect labour)

[ann_of_loxley]

Think this is suited more to this forum rather than pregnancy because I want to know how this might affect labour and the birth...

We are not having any scans or using doppler this pregnancy.
So far so good!...

But I am planning an HBAC.

My DS was a section due to his size (near 11lbs) and being breech (complete). I think the only way to prevent this really was to be more informed and aware before my waters broke and I went into labour (not much I could have done about it afterwards! lol).

My MWs seem to be rather concerned that the breech was totally unknown. I mean, the MWs I had when I was pregnant with DS just did not know he was breech at all! They would feel and be all 'heres his head, hers his back...' ...and so forth. I didn't have any idea either based on movments - I was convinced he was not breech! We had a scan at 30 weeks with him and he was breech then but they never bothered with a follow up becuase they thought he had turned and was no longer breech!

Why would my MW be concerned about an undiagnosed breech? Is it possible its just my uterus or body or something - that makes it harder to feel for a baby and their position? ...

Well - I have been reading that 'spinning babies' website. Its good stuff - very informative. But it also mentioned something that I was thinking about...

Because of my DS, my MW wants at least one scan. She will do this very late in pregnancy - 35 weeks +. In one hand I am thinking 'sure why not - a quick scan to confirm baby is not breech wouldn't be bad - could also confirm where placenta is...make sure all is well - and perhaps just give the scar tissue a quick going over'... (and perhaps if it all turns out really great, ill be pretty darn comfortable with the idea of UBAC! lmao...shhhhh don't tell ) ....

But on the other hand I am thinking.... maybe not the best idea. Could it weaken scar tissue area? And what if my baby IS breech... DS didn't like his face looked at (coverd it with his hands) - what if it encourages a baby to stay breech or put their hands up in an undesirable position. This is what I was thinking but wasn't sure if that kinda thought was all just in my head - but the breech thing was mentioned on that spinning babies website.

So is it possible I just had really crap MWs last time that couldn't tell my sons head from his bottom. Could that have just been down to his size? Would you yourself feel comfortable enough to skip the scan. We were all pretty sure of his position last time - what if we are wrong again? And if this baby isn't as big (and I don't think they will be - I gained 6 stone with him...not even anywhere near close and I am a week away from being to the halfway mark so I think this baby will be much smaller and more a normal size lmao)...to me, breech birth doesn't seem that bad an idea if thats how its gonna be anyhow. I mean, I feel comfortable with the idea of breech birth if the baby isn't as huge as my son was! hehe (and having already carried, literally, a watermelon, I think ill have some idea on if this baby is going to be just as big or not...will I? lol)....

So...will having a late scan affect my baby and labour. Or is it so minimal that its worth a quick look just to check? (long enough for you? - did I cover everything?...am I making any sense? lmao)

[OTMomma]

I would do the scan, but thats me. Maybe you can wait to make the decision closer to your DD?

[Astraia]

The only thing I'd worry about is the breech positioning. If your MW will not deliver a breech baby AT ALL then knowing about it in advance might be bad. However, not knowing about it and having a midwife unskilled in breech and having a breech baby could also be bad.

However, if it DOES reveal baby is breech, you can start spinningbabies stuff to try to get baby to turn.

Also there are a lot of missed breech babies. I've read a lot of stories of last-minute hospital transfers when a mw does a vag exam and finds a bum instead of a head- even stories in hospital where the dr's & nurses can't tell which way around baby is facing.

For scar tissue- it can help to detect scar tissue, check the thickness of your scarring (I think?) and other stuff like that, which will probably help set your mind at ease. Also placental position- not a bad thing to know either!

I'm not REALLY seeing a downside to the u/s- you know, except for the dangers of u/s that I keep seeing posted and mentioned on these boards.


All that said, if it was me in your situation.... I probably wouldn't bother. For all you know, your DS had turned vertex and then turned back right before labour started. If you're comfortable with a vaginal breech delivery, and if you're not worried about placenta position or scar tissue (and you have legitimate concerns re: saftey of u/s, if your baby will hide and shift from the u/s, etc) then I wouldn't do it just for my m/w's peace of mind. She sounds like she's scared of the breech thing- would she deliver a breech baby?

Hopefully you can come to a decision you're comfortable with!

[mwherbs]

I would go for the scan because there are several things going on - knowing where the placenta is positioned , mostlikely not over the scar, but still good thing to rule out, and if your baby is in a breech position then you have more info to make a decision as to what you are going to do--

I am none too sure about scar assessment and the accuracy of those scans, so that would not be one of the pluses

[Delicateflower]

Ann, it's not breech per se that it would be good to know about, it's the dangerous versions of it, like footling breech. If your baby was footling breech you would want to have a c-section rather than have a vaginal birth.

[AlexisT]

Are you using an NHS midwife, or an indie?

If you're hiring an indie, and know who you're getting, and that she's got breech experience, that's one thing. But the number of vaginal breeches on the NHS has plummeted and experience has gone down accordingly (the RCM has warned about deskilling). You could be running the risk of a surprise breech with an inexperienced midwife to boot, which is the worst possible situation.

I'd have the scan, and I'd have it after 37 weeks. At 35 the baby could still turn. This would give you the option for an ECV in hospital if baby was breech.

Astraia, my understanding is that NHS guidelines call for breech to be transferred to consultant care in hospital.

[Yvaine Undomiel]

I don't like going into birth blind, in an age where I shouldn't have to. My life, and that of my babe is too precious. I always get a late term scan.

My home is very far from a hospital. Birth comes with many unforeseen risks as it is, if it's in my power to eliminate some foreseeable ones, then that is my responsibility as a mother to my baby, and the keeper of my own body.

You have hired you midwife for a reason. If she is requesting a scan to better serve you and make sure that she can perform her job to the best of her ability, then you should really listen to her.