Frank breech at 36w, and scared out of my mind about the c-section option. Please, help me. - Page 2

[chinaKat]

I had the same situation as you, except it was my 2nd baby. Breech. Tried everything. EVERYTHING. Even a version. Still breech. Wanted to deliver vaginally but nobody would touch it, home birth wasn't an option for us.

I waited to go into labor. I wanted to give her every chance in the world to flip. And I wanted to get the benefits of labor as well. It so happened that my OB was on duty at the Brigham when I called in and said I was coming, so it worked out and I got to deliver with her after all, so that was a plus. I went into the hospital when I was 6cm. I didn't labor *hard* like I did the first time around, but I did labor.

I see you are in Boston. There are world class facilities here, and I think you can be able to feel comfortable with the anesthesiologist you see for your birth... they are the best here. I won't lie, that was by far the worst, scariest part of the birth for me. I didn't want a medicated birth. I cried. But it was over quickly, and the rest of the birth was a good birth. Not the birth I wanted, but I'll never forget seeing my daughter's beautiful face for the first time. That is what I always remember when I think of that birth, not all the other stuff.

I couldn't have been more vehemently opposed to a surgical birth, but I made my peace with it before the fact, and once I had my baby, I found it easy to move on. In that respect, I think I had it easier than women who unexpectedly had c-sections that they didn't want.

And, for what it's worth, it wasn't very hard to recover. I was up and about the next day, and never needed anything more than Motrin. Again, because my c-section didn't follow 28 hours of hard labor, I was really in pretty decent shape the next day. I had feared being really laid up and that wasn't the case.

[Kidzaplenty]

I don't have any advice. Just wanted to say, I hope when you have your u/s tomorrow baby is head down and ready to go!

[lellian]

Hi all,

Our little blessing is still breech, as expected, and healthy as can be, thankfully. So next steps. . .we are looking quickly and diligently for an OBGYN who will work with us over the next couple of weeks, and who will allow us to go into spontaneous labor.

We are reading a book called "What's going On In There?" about how the brain and mind develop in the first five years of life, and we came across a very interesting section about cesarean babies that are first exposed to labor for several hours before the c-section. The "birth stress" has been found to be especially beneficial for a newborn. I know you know this, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can as quickly as possible so I can have an educated conversation with the OBGYN.

I know there has to be an OBGYN in this city that will allow us to labor first, just a few hours. I posted in the Find Your Tribe section and have a couple of good leads. Fingers crossed.

I'm hopeful.

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by lellian

We are reading a book called "What's going On In There?" about how the brain and mind develop in the first five years of life, and we came across a very interesting section about cesarean babies that are first exposed to labor for several hours before the c-section. The "birth stress" has been found to be especially beneficial for a newborn. I know you know this, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can as quickly as possible so I can have an educated conversation with the OBGYN.

There have been studies showing that babies born by c-section without the benefit of labor beforehand are at higher risk for things like asthma and diabetes. This one from June considered epigenetic changes. Given the bit that I've read on epigenetics in the past I can see how this certainly could play a role.

Sometimes I think in our technological/medical culture our measure for a "positive" outcome is too short-sighted - that we look at a few years, months or days instead of decades or even generations. I wonder about the impact on my grandchildren and great-grandchildren...especially when it comes to my c/s born ds.

As far as the "let" part...no one's "letting" you do anything. You're the one who makes the ultimate decision to "let" them participate with you. It might be helpful to reframe the conversation that way in your mind.

[Happiestever]

If you haven't already join your local ICAN. There will be plenty of women who have been in your very shoes and wishes someone had told them (fill in the blank) such as taking photos of your birth, be it vaginal or surgical- birth is beautiful no matter what. I cannot tell you how beneficial my friends in ICAN were and are in my life and birthing.

You are not alone. And I too would recommend a breast friend pillow to help with nursing. FWIW I wish I had let my son decide his birthday.

Peace and Hugs mama