I'm 33 weeks with a persistently breech baby. Now, I know that there is lots of time for baby to turn and my son did turn at about this point. However, this time feels different to me. Baby has been in the same sort of position since we started checking position. Head is almost always under my right ribs, one foot down that we can feel, we think one up. My son flipped about a lot before settling in vertex at about 33 weeks. This baby, to my knowledge has never been vertex, or even transverse, baby likes this spot!. I also have an anterior placenta, which complicates things. I need to "talk this out" a bit. My DH says he's talked enough about it, and what be will be... But I've got choices to make soon-ish...
We're planning to birth at a free standing birth center staffed with two CNM's and a DEM. So, at my 32 week appt. my midwife suggested that if baby is still in this position at my 34 week appt. they would like to start talking about version, if I'm going to do one. They don't do them, but they have a consulting OB (who had a birth at the birth center and a homebirth herself) who will. They also have a DEM they work with who does them out of the hospital that they could refer me to. They like to see baby head down by 36 weeks and with my anterior placenta, some OB's won't do versions at all, and others will but want to do them early, so I need to consult soon and be prepared by my next appointment (in a week) to either schedule a consultation with the OB or not. My midwife speculated the OB would want to do the version at 35 to 36 weeks, which is a whole 'nother topic, as I worry about an emergency c-section at 35 weeks resulting from a failed ECV.
Now, if baby doesn't turn, I've got other options. They said I'm a possible candidate for a breech delivery there because I've had successful vaginal deliveries, but there are other conditions, like baby must be frank breech. The one midwife there has attended "several" breech births. They have a DEM they can refer me to that has done "many" breech births and they have two OB's at the local hospital that will "consider" breech births, although the midwife said mostly they will monitor you and look for reasons for a c-section. Now, all of this is mostly conjecture if baby is still single footling breech, because none of the above people will do a planned single footling breech vaginal delivery, nor am I likely to consider that.
I have a history of fast, although not precipitous, labors and painless dilation. I'm concerned if baby is still footling about waiting until I go into labor for that reason. I'm 30 minutes at best from the closest hospital, up to an hour depending on traffic and the time of day. The hospital the back-up OB uses is a solid hour away at best, and with construction in between, probably closer to 1.5 hours. I saw an OB the first trimester that delivers at a hospital that is about a half an hour away, or 45 mins. at rush hour. If I'm scheduling a c-section, going back to their practice could be an option.
I am, of course, doing breech tilts, inversion, seeing a chiro (and have been for my whole pregnancy), I've ordered pustilla and I'm seeking an acupuncture/moxibustion treatment. My chiro (whose wife was a DEM and now is a CNM) said to me today, kindly, "You know Carrie, sometimes babies who are 'stuck' in a position like this are there for a reason, like a short cord, etc. It's worth starting to think about what you are going to do if baby doesn't move."
Okay, so now that I've typed all this out, I guess I'm looking for input. Thoughts, ideas, what to consider as I decide what we are doing. First things first, I've got to decide on a ECV, assuming they will do one given my anterior placenta. Thanks for reading all of this!
We're planning to birth at a free standing birth center staffed with two CNM's and a DEM. So, at my 32 week appt. my midwife suggested that if baby is still in this position at my 34 week appt. they would like to start talking about version, if I'm going to do one. They don't do them, but they have a consulting OB (who had a birth at the birth center and a homebirth herself) who will. They also have a DEM they work with who does them out of the hospital that they could refer me to. They like to see baby head down by 36 weeks and with my anterior placenta, some OB's won't do versions at all, and others will but want to do them early, so I need to consult soon and be prepared by my next appointment (in a week) to either schedule a consultation with the OB or not. My midwife speculated the OB would want to do the version at 35 to 36 weeks, which is a whole 'nother topic, as I worry about an emergency c-section at 35 weeks resulting from a failed ECV.
Now, if baby doesn't turn, I've got other options. They said I'm a possible candidate for a breech delivery there because I've had successful vaginal deliveries, but there are other conditions, like baby must be frank breech. The one midwife there has attended "several" breech births. They have a DEM they can refer me to that has done "many" breech births and they have two OB's at the local hospital that will "consider" breech births, although the midwife said mostly they will monitor you and look for reasons for a c-section. Now, all of this is mostly conjecture if baby is still single footling breech, because none of the above people will do a planned single footling breech vaginal delivery, nor am I likely to consider that.
I have a history of fast, although not precipitous, labors and painless dilation. I'm concerned if baby is still footling about waiting until I go into labor for that reason. I'm 30 minutes at best from the closest hospital, up to an hour depending on traffic and the time of day. The hospital the back-up OB uses is a solid hour away at best, and with construction in between, probably closer to 1.5 hours. I saw an OB the first trimester that delivers at a hospital that is about a half an hour away, or 45 mins. at rush hour. If I'm scheduling a c-section, going back to their practice could be an option.
I am, of course, doing breech tilts, inversion, seeing a chiro (and have been for my whole pregnancy), I've ordered pustilla and I'm seeking an acupuncture/moxibustion treatment. My chiro (whose wife was a DEM and now is a CNM) said to me today, kindly, "You know Carrie, sometimes babies who are 'stuck' in a position like this are there for a reason, like a short cord, etc. It's worth starting to think about what you are going to do if baby doesn't move."
Okay, so now that I've typed all this out, I guess I'm looking for input. Thoughts, ideas, what to consider as I decide what we are doing. First things first, I've got to decide on a ECV, assuming they will do one given my anterior placenta. Thanks for reading all of this!
Baby is still breech, I'll be 35 weeks on Saturday. I'm not shocked, as baby has been in this same position quite stubbornly. Things I have learned since my last post- the OB does wait to 37 weeks for ECV, so I'll be referred at my 36 week visit. I'll most likely have an ultrasound late that week to see if there is a reason baby isn't turning and to see if I'm a candidate for a version. This OB has had out of hospital births herself, and is very well liked and respected by the midwives. In the mean time, acupuncture next week and continued visits to the chiro, and breech tilts, hot/cold packs, etc.
