My first two births were caesarian for frank breech. I was 'not allowed to labour' because then I'd be risking causing my babies 'death', according to the OB who straight-out, boldly lied to my face as she pretended to read the study that proved the 'near-criminal risk' involved in labouring with a frank breech baby.
Btw, my friend and midwife who was required to transfer my care did find a copy of the study after ds2 was born and it pertained to prematurity risk (less than 34 weeks gestation) for breech babies with genetic abnormalities, not healthy, potentially full-term babies who happen to be frank breech, like mine. I had no risk factors whatsoever.
My birth stories for these first two babies involve no labours, near death for me and one of my babes (due exclusively to the c/s) and for me, years of pain and health decline again to near death because of these 'safer' alternatives to labouring and vaginal birth with breech babies. Midwives in that region were required to transfer care of breeches once the pg was at 36 weeks (mine was dated by U/S at what they thought was 18 wks because I had been on bcp when he was conceived and had no idea for months since my period kept coming like normal-- obviously this dating was dubious at best, but nobody told me that and I didn't know enough to ask the right questions, let alone take the time to research when I was working FT, and falling asleep at my desk until I took leave so I could do that on my couch all day...). No OBs would 'do' vaginal births of breech babies there either. Sick.
The reality is that an hcp who is properly trained to 'deal with' breech birth will be the one who stands back, and does not in any way interfere with the labouring woman or the baby. S/he is the one who does NOT even
suggest drugs (but does confidently discourage their use because they interfere with labour and that is NOT what you want for breech presentation even if you would be fine with it otherwise), does NOT insist on any pushing, or positioning at all, but simply stays out of the way and waits. The most professionally qualified hcp will be the one who does nothing. Absolutely nothing. "Hands Off" is the proper 'protocol' for breech birth and any hcp who tells you differently is either ignorant or lying to you (and neither makes an acceptable caregiver imo).
Please do your research.
It turned out that the right side of my pelvis was in a locked position (likely from 4 yrs of commuting 3+ hrs/day) and it took a lot of chiro and massage to unlock it, at which point, the baby then in my belly (ds3) turned head down and stayed there. Ds4 was never breech and I kept my pelvis loose by using an exercise ball for a chair and squatting to 'sit'. There are many reasons for breech position, one of which is that it is more comfortable for the baby not to have a hard bone pressing on his head, as in my case. I needed a chiro, not 2 caesarian sections.
Assume there is a reason the baby chooses to be in this position, and then instead of fighting it or considering it somehow a deficiency or abnormality, recognise it as the particular variation of birth you may experience and do what you can to assure that the baby is in his/her optimal position (chiro, exercises, etc...). Breech may be optimal for your baby.
My pelvis, allowed to go to full term may have unlocked itself (both babes were taken early to 'lessen the risk of labour'...) with relaxin or the natural movements of labour that I would have otherwise experienced and did with subsequent births. They were taken at 34 weeks ( a BIG oops by the OB
This relates to the abovementioned dating U/S at supposed 18 weeks) and 39 weeks, respectively. My subsequent pgs were 44+2 and 42+3 from conception, so they were taken very early for my normal gestation time.
I am disgusted with the climate of hosital birth in general and the rate of c/s. Women coerced into it, all the while thinking they are making informed decisions for the benefit of their babies, can choose to step up and take on the role they assumed when they became pg. We are mothers, and the second act of motherhood is empowering ourselves to choose our circumstances for the peaceful and healthy births of our children. The first is empowering ourselves to nurture our growing babies in preparation for birth during pregnancy.
I'm happy that you've been able to schedule chiro and I hope that your birth is wonderful for you.
. If you do plan to refuse a c-section in an unfriendly environment, please prepare yourself as best you can emotionally for your loss to be used as ammunition against you. I know it's horrible, but I don't think it's unlikely that it would be used as coercion.
I find myself feeling alot at night to see where it's head is and get a surge of panic when I feel it up at the top. My 2nd ds was sideways (always) until 38 wks which sorry, would have been an automatic section and I was really starting to panic w/him, but he did turn and came out head first..he just needed to prepare me for the road ahead w/him! lol!
