give me hope- STUBBORN breech baby

[bubbamummy]

I will be 34 weeks pregnant this weekend and last week discovered this baby was breech. Suddenly the movement id been feeling and the sore spot way up high on my bump all made sense, this baby had been head up for at least 3 weeks my DS was ALWAYS head down, so this is new to me...and worrying since I want a natural birth center birth and I get 'risked out' of baby wont budge and its an automatic c-section

I have been doing the spinning babies stuff like a crazy obsessed woman. I even made a 'baby turning checklist' and check off a ton of tilts/inversions daily. I feel like most of my days are spent upside down or on my hands and knees Im also seeing a chiropractor for the Webster Tech. Today will be my 3rd visit. Im slowing losing hope though I know im still 'early' and baby has time, but I just feel like he/she doesnt want to move...every single day the munchkin is in the SAME exact position...even after all ive been doing it doesnt move an inch

Anyone had a similar experience with s 'stubborn' breech baby?

I have an acupuncture appointment next weekend (i'll be 35.5 weeks by then).

I just need some hope...im actually finding this whole situation really upsetting and everyone (my family) seem to think im being silly, its really worrying and frustrating.

[triony]

I'm sorry you're stressing about this, Momma! I don't have any advice for you on that front, but I had a question.

Does your birth center not allow breech births? If not and you have to go to the hospital, something we talked about at my Bradley class was giving Power of Attorney to the dad. Someone else on here said "You can ALWAYS refuse a c-section". I don't know much about that, but if you give POA to your partner, they doctors can't say you are too incapacitated to make decisions for yourself.

Any legal-type folks on here know much about how this might go?

[bubbamummy]

no, no breech birth at the birth center at all. Im not sure how comfy id feel attempting a breech delivery either really, I mean I know I read on here that they can be perfectly safe etc but im not sure it would be for me.

The baby just needs to turn grrr its going to end up costing me a fortune!

[Adallae]

Is an external version not an option? I had this done at 36.5 wks with DD because she would not budge. For me, it was either that or schedule a C-section.

Sorry you're having to deal with this, I remember how stressed out it made me too.

[bubbamummy]

Originally Posted by Adallae

Is an external version not an option? I had this done at 36.5 wks with DD because she would not budge. For me, it was either that or schedule a C-section.

Sorry you're having to deal with this, I remember how stressed out it made me too.

I think external version maybe an option, im not 100% sure that the hospital offers it but It will def. be on my list of things to ask the midwife. The thought of that doesnt sound very appealing either though

[newmommy7-08]

DS was transverse until almost 36 weeks and finally flipped and I went into labor at 36 wks 6days. So yes, I think there's still hope. Also while a version may sound uncomfortable if it works it would save you from the discomfort of a c/s. Good Luck mama!

[sanguine_speed]

It sounds like you're not convinced about the safety of breech birth.
Here, it's an 'automatic c-section' too, unless you refuse a c-section. In my jurisdiction, a doctor is not allowed to forcibly confine, sedate or cut open anyone without consent. A doctor is also not allowed to refuse care if I refuse his recommendation of a c-section. But, from what I've learned on MDC, some jurisdictions apparently doctors can do these things (?).

My suggestion, as someone who has BTDT and is Here and Doing That Again (at 34 weeks myself with another breech), is to arm yourself NOW with information to make an informed choice, because you won't be able to do that in the throes of labour, and if you're unconvinced of the safety of breech birth then you're walking straight into that automatic c-section eyes-closed.

Definitely keep doing what you can to flip the baby, and definitely consider an ECV--I can't imagine thinking an ECV is worse than a c-section, right? My ECV is scheduled for next week--it has been found earlier is better, and even if more babies do turn back after an early ECV, the ones that turn in the first place and flip back are easier to turn again (vs late ECV with a stubborn baby, the outcome is better).

If you're not able to refuse a c-section, or don't think you will be able to, then finding peace with it as a possibility is probably also a good place to travel right now. There is even the possibility of counseling to work some of it out (or you could go afterward if you do find it traumatic or feel a sense of loss that you may or may not feel).

[bubbamummy]

thankyou ladies. Just got back from Chiro visit number 3 and he does say that the ligament on the left side of my uterus is pretty tight. He was much more 'forceful' today-not so it hurt but there was lots of sharp 'tapping' and manipulating of the table! I can feel baby going nuts right now, so I guess we'll see. Im back again on Wed and have an acupuncture app. a week on Saturday with someone thats turned 2 breech babies in the last year.

[Adallae]

Yeah, I wasn't happy to have a version. Very uncomfortable - but no 6 week recovery period! I got to have my wonderful waterbirth.

Sending lots of your way! Turn, baby, turn!

[bubbamummy]

Growing more depressed by the day...baby STILL hasnt moved, doesnt even seem to try Im sick of 'breech tilts' and 'inversions'. How long are you supposed to do them for before they work? feeling pretty dispondent at this point as I just feel that baby is NOT going to turn....im almost letting go of my dream of a med-free birth center birth.

I know that might sound rediculous since im only (almost) 34 weeks, but I just feel like it's not going to turn for it's mummy

[etsdtm99]

my ds was breech at 34 weeks too - we found out at 32 weeks and i started doing everything under the sun that i could do (which was not inversions btw.. i just couldn't do that without food coming out of me) .. . i started seeing a chiro. at 34 weeks and he turned at 35 weeks while i was sleeping .. i had one ligament that was really tight too and it just took a week or so to get it loose enough for baby to turn.. he turned transverse a coupel times before completely flipping..

anyway, don't freak out yet..relax and just keep doing waht you're doing!

[lyno]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...rticle1186104/

don't go too early for a c-section if that's what you feel is best. I've heard of babies flipping at 39,40 weeks etc. so if you give up, they might try to schedule you at 38 weeks, when baby coud have turned later. here is an article about what they are doing in canada to train docs on how to catch breech babies. I know I wouldn't want a doctor who didn't know what he was doing. you still have time! good luck

[olien]

go to an accupuncturist that does moxibustion. That is the important part of treatment for turning a breech baby.
Good luck!

[Mamatoto2]

I'm another BTDT mom although my transverse breech sweetie just.wouldnt.turn and I did end up with a c-s. I'm C&P a response I've posted before in hopes that it helps, although it sounds like you're already doing some of this:

Well, there's always time for baby to turn assuming that you haven't had it yet. That said, turning doesn't always happen so if in the end baby enters the world via a different route than you planned, try not to make it mean too much.

Ok, so here' all that I read, heard about and/or tried when my #2 was transverse breech:

1. Cold pack on top of belly, warm pack on bottom
2. Music, light, voices between your legs
3. Buzz an electric toothbrush near your belly (my then 3 year-old would hold toothbrushes up to her belly for the longest time after watching mommy try this move)
4. Lay down with head, back and feet flat on floor and lift hips in air. Stay that way for 20 min. every 2 hrs-or advanced class option-get an inversion table and hang upside down for 20 min. every 2 hrs. (I parked the inversion table in the nursery and would read stories to DD#1 while I hung there).
5. Go into swimming pool and do dives down in the water, touching the bottom of the pool-do this IN the water-not diving into the pool if that makes sense
6. Chiropractic Webster method adjustments (I did this 17 times)
7. Accupuncture/moxabustion (did this 4 times)
8. Visualize, pray, meditate, give baby permission to turn if s/he can do so safely (sometimes baby doesn't turn due to cord issues or the like)
9. Homeopathic pulsatilla
10. Try to identify stress in your life and release it. I remember someone telling me that when (transverse) breech the baby's head is closest to your heart and some believe that baby is trying to comfort/protect you.
11. External version

As I mentioned, I did almost all of these things (couldn't find a pool) many many many times over and DD was still transverse breech after my water broke and I was in labor (3 days before my scheduled version attempt). I of course do not wish the same for you, but just know that even if you do everything you can and baby still doesn't turn it is by no means a failure on your part. Sometimes babies just have different plans than we do. My DD is standing next to me as I write this waiting for me to read her a story, and it does not matter to me that she entered the world in an operating room whereas her sister splashed out in a birthing tub. They're here. They're healthy, and they're grateful that the same can be said for their mama....I wish you the very very best of luck.

[sanguine_speed]

Mama, I remember that feeling of knowing the baby wasn't going to turn. It is sad, and I don't have that feeling this time (though i'm not certain this baby will turn either).
But I knew my last baby wouldn't turn, and he didn't.

Sometimes there are very good reasons for a baby to be breech, and sometimes your baby cannot be head-down. This may become apparent to you during or after the baby's delivery, or it may not.

With this pregnancy (now just about 35 weeks) I'm taking the "what's meant to be" approach. I did all the hijinx last time, and people can say "oh I had Webster and my baby turned a few days later" but statistically speaking, that was likely to happen anyway.
I figure if my baby is meant to turn, it will turn, and I'm not spending my every waking moment and dollar trying to turn him/her anymore.
I guess you could call it finding my peace.

I hope that your baby turns, and I agree with a PP that NOT scheduling a c-section early is a very good idea.

[bubbamummy]

thankyou everyone, its a real comfort to me to read these as sometimes I feel a bit alone.

My family keep saying 'oh it'll turn' and I feel like screaming down the webcam at them

Today I was on pins and needles...we were driving along and I felt a huge movement, baby moved from breech to *almost* head down. I swear its little head was about 2 inches away from being in the 'correct' position ...basically it was transverse I guess you'd say. I got SOOOO excited. I wanted DH to stop the car so I could get out and get on all fours to facilitate the rest of the 'move' of course, we couldnt just stop in traffic for me to get out the whole of the time we were out baby didnt move...I wondered if I should give him/her a little 'nudge' in the right direction, but decided if it could turn fully, it would.

It was in this position for around 30mins and then gradually went back to breech which was upsetting.

Should this give me hope?? Do you think its 'gearing up' to flip? Is that how it works?

[etsdtm99]

yes, i would be hopeful! that is exactly what my DS did! his head would be down by my hip bone.. he did that at least a couple times that i n oticed before turning all the way and staying there!

[bubbamummy]

Originally Posted by etsdtm99

yes, i would be hopeful! that is exactly what my DS did! his head would be down by my hip bone.. he did that at least a couple times that i n oticed before turning all the way and staying there!

I sooooo hope that's the case with me

it sounds dumb but I really feel like this 'issue' is getting me down. I know I could have far worse issues to contemplate and I guess I should be glad that a breech baby is my main worry...but maaaaan...its taking some of the excitement out of it. I wish I could see into the future

[etsdtm99]

Originally Posted by bubbamummy

it sounds dumb but I really feel like this 'issue' is getting me down. I know I could have far worse issues to contemplate and I guess I should be glad that a breech baby is my main worry...but maaaaan...its taking some of the excitement out of it. I wish I could see into the future

I *totally* understand how you feel.. that is exactly how i felt with DS.. it was HARD and no one understood! my family was all like 'whatever, as long as baby is healthy!' .. yeah, healthy is great and all. but they didn't understand that there are obviously health implications to having a c-section along with the emotional issues..

[sanguine_speed]

It's getting me down too mama. It's not silly at all.

I was planning on finally having a home birth, and now I am facing yet another forced hospital birth. It's very sad.