UC breech *updated at bottom

[Illiana]

Thoughts? I just confirmed that baby is breech and I'm 39 weeks. I still want to UC but conflicted.. Anyone with experience in this area or turning baby have any advice to offer? Looking for a chiro who does webster but no luck yet. and doc tried external version but it hurt too bad so he stopped. I'll have him try again in the next week or two as he's being good about not pushing me to schedule a c/s yet and he has 40 and 41 week appts scheduled already. BUT in this area it is auto c/s but he's willing to let me go into labor on my own..

Also did a VE just to see where things were with him being breech.. 1 cm, thick and high which is probably why he's being good so far.

[zapzipzee]

Have you checked out the spinning babies website?

Mine isn't breech, but I'd still UC in the water. Not sure if I would out of water as when their bodies are exposed to air it starts the process for breathing and they need to come out quickly at that point....

I figure at worst, we'd end up transfering to the hospital for a c/s...which sounds like what you'll have if you dont UC.

Good luck in your decision....

[dayiscoming2006]

I think I would try it but do what feels comfortable to you. I wouldn't want a C/S. That tip about giving birth in water was a good one. I never heard that.

[hennaLisa]

Is it your first?

I think that makes a difference to some extent. Also, are there any home birth midwives in your area who do breech births? You could try the spinning babies website, maybe some different methods of relaxation to help the baby turn. I agree that water would help!

[Illiana]

there is ONE mw in the area and she is not allowed to do breech. You also have to get cleared for hb in this area by an ob and no one would at this point its hard to get cleared as it is for a normal low risk birth and she's also way more than I can afford right now.

I had dd naturally in a birth center 4 years ago, and had no problems what so ever with her birth which lead to wanting to UC this time. I did have my membranes swept at 40+4 with dd and had her the next day after a 5 hour labor. BUT I was facing inductions due to paranoid MWs. This time i'm not facing induction as this OB is ok with going to 42 weeks. I just have all these other problems now.

I've looked at the spinning babies site and starting to try the inverson stuff and also looking for someone to do webster but no luck so far. Hopefully i'll find someone (affordable) in the next few days.

I still want to UC but I guess I"m just concerned since i don't know if he's footling or frank and no idea where the cord is or even could be at this point. I'll have my OB try an ECV at my next appointment if he's still breech. I guess I'm just worried about cord prolapse since i know that it is a true emergency and one of the few reasons I'd agree to auto c/s esp being so far from the hospital. I have no desire to get cut and will try everything first. thanks for the tips/info ladies.. I did read up on laura shipelys (sp?) website about her breech UC and it was def. helpful and inspiring.

ETA: I wasn't planning on a water birth but maybe that would be better? What I got from the sites i read was that gravity was the best tool to use for breech. basically a standing or squatting position is best to help bring baby down and out. Would laying in the water be better? Any idea where I could find some info on that?

[basje]

Hypnobabies has a turn, baby, turn audio track. That might be something to check out.

[Just1More]

So, you are far from a hospital?

What about getting a hotel room very, very close to the hospital?

My understanding is, according to my midwife, if the baby's head is stuck, you don't transfer. You don't have time. You've got to get it out. Yes, it can be very, very scary...but it's not a time for transfer.

[rainbow_mandala]

This site has a lot of do-it-yourself techniques for helping to turn a breech baby (several I've never heard of before): http://www.suite101.com/content/turn...ech-baby-a7421

This is a very well-written blog post on why giving birth to a breech baby may not be as dangerous as our country has made it out to be: http://jeremyscorner-grifter.blogspo...emergency.html

[lovestolearn]

Several UC mamas on the Bornfree site have given birth to breech babies--including Laura Shanley, founder of Bornfree. Check out her story on the main site and join the forum to search for more info/stories on UC breech birth.

Remember that breech is a variation of normal and it's very possibly the best position for this baby! That said, you need to feel safe and comfortable, no matter what you decide! (((hugs)))

[Illiana]

Thanks ladies, DF and I talked about it along with expressing to him the risks of such a birth and he's still on board with having a UC. I still want one as well and have a strong feeling that nothing will turn this baby. We're still planning on it though I will continue to try ways to turn baby.

Thanks for all the encouragement. I know its a normal way of birthing, and still seems like the natural way to do it, just a bit more paranoid about the potential risks. I guess I just have had enough negative reactions to mentioning having a UC much less baby being breech now, though we haven't told anyone yet.

[Illiana]

well just got back from my 40 week appointment. No change at all.. in either position or dialation. I guess I'll see how things go this week and if he doesn't come on his own I'll see about scheduling something for as late as possible. I feel alot more comfortable now about UCing with breech (he's footling btw). I do have a question. What do you ladies think about castor oil or the cohoshes to get things going? I never tried either before but i really want to avoid a c/s and get things going soon if at all possible.

I've been taking EPO for about 5 weeks now and its not doing anything and sex isn't either so i'm willing to try something else.. also does anyone know recommended doses?

[smeep]

Personally, I would be cautious about using induction techniques, even natural ones, because there is always the chance baby may turn in labour and when the body is essentially forced into it babies don't always turn the way they do when things progress normally. I would also be worried about baby's footling breech turning into a different breech that may truly necessitate a section. Just my personal thoughts, there may be different opinions.

[smeep]

Also remember that you can have ZERO changes and then BAM go into labour and give birth. I wasn't dilated or effaced at ALL prior to labour. I had about 24 hours of early labour then my water broke and active labour started. I got to the birth center an hour after active labour started and I was 5-6cm and then I had him 4 hours after that. So don't worry too much if you don't have any signs, it doesn't mean it won't happen soon! I'd also be willing to bet that if your OB is fine with waiting until you go into labour to section you that he wouldn't freak out if you had to suddenly reschedule the section date...and continued to reschedule.

[Sijae]

IMO if you are going to UC a footling breech baby you'd best not do anything to induce labor. Let your baby and body communicate and pick the right time to birth. Induction isn't a good idea in regular situations, much less a situation where the risk of cord prolapse is greater and you need to be fully ready to labor and dilate fully and smoothly etc.

I'm supportive of the decision to UC, but definitely not with an induction.

Laura

[weliveintheforest]

I would absolutely not induce with any herbs or anything. I would take it nice and easy and allow things to go slowly.
Lisa Barrett knows a lot about breech birthing. So does Gloria Lemay.

[lundaylove]

i dont think i would try any induction methods myself. as for ways to turn the lil one, my mom is a LMT and my son was transverse for a while. she did a light pressure massage, hard enough to feel and manipulate my son in utero and she massaged in a slow clock wise motion over and over again. it took around 5 times though she got my son to go head down. Maybe you or your SO could try this, if you cannot afford to see an actual LMT to do this for you. Good Luck!

[sg784]

Originally Posted by Sijae

IMO if you are going to UC a footling breech baby you'd best not do anything to induce labor. Let your baby and body communicate and pick the right time to birth. Induction isn't a good idea in regular situations, much less a situation where the risk of cord prolapse is greater and you need to be fully ready to labor and dilate fully and smoothly etc.

I'm supportive of the decision to UC, but definitely not with an induction.

Laura

If it were me, I would not try and force my breech baby to turn. (force being different than suggest) I would think that there was a reason and I would trust that. I were UCing with a breech... I would make sure I had a birth pool and not do any conscious pushing. Just let the body do it. If I felt pushy I would get into knee chest for as long as possible *just to make sure* i was completely open. If I felt my body pushing while in knee chest, I would get back in the water and let my body push the baby out in the water.


Trust your body. Trust your baby. Listen to your instincts.