Vag. Breech birth ? (for those w/2+ DC)

[fairymom]

LO was breech at our 20 wk us, and I'm prettly sure he still hasn't really changed positions much- maybe gone sideways a few times. And I know he has plenty of time to turn and get head down (I'm only 26 wks) and there are lots of ways to try and get him to turn on his own. But I'm still wondering....

How is giving birth to a breech baby different than one head first? (All my others were head first.) Is it more painful?

We're having our first homebirth and I really really want this but am a bit worried. Please help reassure me, tell me your stories of how one is different than the other.

TIA

[breanna31]

I just wanted to say try not to worry too much. Our baby was always head down and then at 34 weeks I found out he turned breech. I was freaking out because we were planning a homebirth too. By 37 weeks he was back head down and he was just born this past Friday, head down, at home. I looked at the spinning babies website and they have a section on vaginal breech birth with tons of videos and articles. I felt better about things after reading more about it and watching videos and decided I would try laboring and delivering at home if he stayed breech but would not hesitate going to the hospital if I felt like I couldn't do it or things weren't working out. Talking to my midwife helped a ton too because I was able to find out what she would be comfortable with and she made me feel at ease with whatever choice I decided to make (hospital or home). Good luck and I hope your baby turns for you!!

[ibusymomto5]

I understand the worry you're feeling. I don't think anyone would hope for a breech birth, but I want to share a positive outcome story of a breech homebirth. Breech is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you have a proven pelvis(previous vag delivery).

My 4th was a vaginal, footling breech homebirth and my 2nd VBAC. My mw had checked me the day before my due date, because we were suspicious of breech and sure enough she felt feet upon checking me. She scheduled an u/s and external version attempt for the next day, mainly because "I" was not totally comfortable with attempting a footling breech at home. That night, though, I went into labor. It was a fast, easy labor(which made me mistake it for pre-labor), and by the time I finally realized "this is it" I didn't have time to go to the hospital anyway. My baby was born about 15min after the mws got there.

It wasn't any more painful than any of my head down births, and me and baby neither one had any complications. I do remember the mw telling me to push with all my might to get the head out. At the time the pushing phase seemed like it was lasting forever, probably because I was scared of him getting stuck. But, in reality I only pushed a total of 15min, and ds was born totally healthy. He's now a happy, healthy 10yo. My mw says that if breech labor progresses smoothly that often the birth will too, so I guess that held true for me.

Oh, and just a little background. It was only my 2nd vag delivery, and baby weighed 8-2. I'm 5'2" and petite and had previously been told by my ob(after 2nd dd was born by my 2nd c/sec) that my pelvis was only big enough to birth a 5lbs baby. Right.. Each of my VBAC babies have been over 8lbs with the biggest being over 9lbs, and I've never torn or had to push longer than 15min with the exception of my first VBAC and I pushed 1 1/2hr with her which is normal for a first time vaginal birth.

Best wishes to you, and I hope hearing a positive story will help ease your mind a little.

[fairymom]

Originally Posted by ibusymomto5

I understand the worry you're feeling. I don't think anyone would hope for a breech birth, but I want to share a positive outcome story of a breech homebirth. Breech is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you have a proven pelvis(previous vag delivery).

My 4th was a vaginal, footling breech homebirth and my 2nd VBAC. My mw had checked me the day before my due date, because we were suspicious of breech and sure enough she felt feet upon checking me. She scheduled an u/s and external version attempt for the next day, mainly because "I" was not totally comfortable with attempting a footling breech at home. That night, though, I went into labor. It was a fast, easy labor(which made me mistake it for pre-labor), and by the time I finally realized "this is it" I didn't have time to go to the hospital anyway. My baby was born about 15min after the mws got there.

It wasn't any more painful than any of my head down births, and me and baby neither one had any complications. I do remember the mw telling me to push with all my might to get the head out. At the time the pushing phase seemed like it was lasting forever, probably because I was scared of him getting stuck. But, in reality I only pushed a total of 15min, and ds was born totally healthy. He's now a happy, healthy 10yo. My mw says that if breech labor progresses smoothly that often the birth will too, so I guess that held true for me.

Oh, and just a little background. It was only my 2nd vag delivery, and baby weighed 8-2. I'm 5'2" and petite and had previously been told by my ob(after 2nd dd was born by my 2nd c/sec) that my pelvis was only big enough to birth a 5lbs baby. Right.. Each of my VBAC babies have been over 8lbs with the biggest being over 9lbs, and I've never torn or had to push longer than 15min with the exception of my first VBAC and I pushed 1 1/2hr with her which is normal for a first time vaginal birth.

Best wishes to you, and I hope hearing a positive story will help ease your mind a little.

TY this is exactly what I was hoping for! All my DCs have been vag births- and the longest I've pushed was w/my first too and that was an hour. The last I pushed for 30 mins but that's due to pain meds (epi shot) immediately before (I had actually said I need to push but they made me finish the epi first- I'd only been numbed at the sight) and the fact I couldn't feel any ctx. I feel comfortable birthing a breech if I need to just wanted to be a bit prepared for any major differences. (I'm not going to look into what could happen simpily because I don't want to plan on things going bad.)

TY again!

[ibusymomto5]

You're welcome.:-) Best wishes for a healthy birth and baby!

[miss_nikki]

I have 4 children. The first 3 were vag head down deliveries. Number 3 was born at home. My 4th however was a frank breech. He was also born safely at home. He came out just as quickly as the rest did. My labor with him was more intense and longer than it was with my 3rd. With my 2nd I went to the hospital at about 5 cms and with my 1st I went before I started labor because I thought my water broke and I knew NOTHING about anything then. haha I'd say it wasn't much different giving birth to a frank breech baby as it was giving birth to head down babies. I didn't tear and my little one had no bruising or anything. Just trust your body, do your research, and talk to as many women as you can (or read their stories) who have been there done that.

Here is my son's story
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...345&highlight=