VBAC hopeful with breech baby UPDATE had my ECV! - Page 2

[cairomama]

For the version you need to completely relax so that you provide no resistance to her attempt to turn the baby. The more relaxed you are, the more comfortable you will be and the easier it will be to move the baby.

The average VBAC success rate is higher than the average vaginal birth rate in first-time moms. A lot has to do with the mom being mom informed and prepared. Truly supportive providers have higher success rates than non-suportive providers and truly supportive providers have "higher risk" moms. Providers success rates vary greatly. Don't let her limit you by that number she gave.

Print out Walcher's Position from Spinning Babies. This can help a baby engage and come down. I have used it with doula clients and it works very well. 

http://www.spinningbabies.com/techniques/activities-for-fetal-positioning/walchers-trochanter-roll

[DMG8]

I'm feeling very unsupported and anxious right now.  This morning I was basically told by my DH that I'm selfish (ok, not basically, he used the word selfish) and said if he was making the decision he would schedule the c-section.  He thinks a scheduled c-section is significantly more safe than a VBAC and even the version since it carries some risk as well.  I've known all along that he wasn't 100% thrilled with my decision but he's at least kept his mouth shut since our initial conversation many months ago.  The conversation started after I told him I found an acupuncturist here in town who will do moxa for $65 and send me home with the tools to do it again on my own.  He said it's a waste of time and foolish (he doesn't agree with non-western medicine AT ALL).  

I could really use some words of wisdom from you ladies so I can stop feeling like the biggest selfish jerk on the planet.  Rationally, I know my reasons for trying for the VBAC are all valid reasons but with all these dang hormones I'm quite a bit emotional.  I just feel so alone - and it doesn't help I live in AZ and my family is on the east coast.  Ugh.  

I'm so worried my version won't go well on Wednesday and I'll end up not getting my chance to try for my VBAC.  :(

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by DMG8 

I'm so worried my version won't go well on Wednesday and I'll end up not getting my chance to try for my VBAC.  :(

What helped me was the mindset that if I did everything I could to get baby to turn to no avail, there was a REASON that baby was breech and baby was making darn sure he would be born the best way FOR HIM. 

Beyond that, I'm sorry your DH isn't backing you. The data supports YOUR side of the arguments (both for VBAC and for moxibustion). I think a lot of times, though, it's hard for our partners to see logic when they consider the (infinitesimally small) chance of losing you and their unborn child all in one fell swoop. Frankly, I think our partners are more likely to fall prey to the fear mongering of some OBs than we are. I don't have any good advice on changing his mind, though. I was lucky in that my DH saw the data and supported me 100% even when I was doing "crazy" things like acupuncture and driving over a half hour to an out-of-town chiro.  

((HUG))

[dannysgirl2004]

Have you tried going to this website.

http://www.spinningbabies.com/

[cairomama]

Partners are not always supportive. You can't control his views, but you can control your reaction to them. Be realistic about what he is capable of, if he can't/doesn't support you in this VBAC, don't expect him to. Hire a doula to help you, instead. He is telling you right now that he doesn't support you (probably because he is scared and doesn't like the uncertainty) so listen to him and make sure you have support, but don't expect it from him. You can do this, but don't fight a losing battle or set your partner up for failure by expecting him to give you the support you need and deserve when he is telling you that he can't.  

Think about how much you want to VBAC. If you really want it, do everything you can to get baby head-down and give yourself the best chance for VBAC. You have to decide very quickly and commit your energy.  Do you believe you can do it? If so, then go for it. 

Try the moxibustion, try the version, try the positioning/breech tilt:

Breech Tilt (by Anne Frye)

If visualization alone does not lead to spontaneous version of a breech baby, have the mother begin the breech tilt at 30 to 32 weeks. For 15 to 20 minutes, six to eight times daily, prop an ironing board or other flat object the height of a couch; pad the board and have her lie on it, head down. Mother should massage the baby preferably in a face/head forward position with one hand cupped around the occiput and one cupped around the breech, moving the head forward and lifting the bottom in a rotating motion. As soon as the baby turns, she should get up and walk or squat. Often, if mother performs the tilt three days in a row as described and then stops for the fourth day, the baby seems to assume the vertex position on its own in anticipation of the exercise.

— Anne Frye,
Midwifery Today Issue 18

WHAT IS KNEE CHEST POSITION?

This is the knee-chest position for turning breech babies.  Twice a day for 20 minutes.  This is also the best way to keep women from pushing prematurely (before full dilation will allow the aftercoming head through the cervix) and, overall, the ideal position for physiologic birth of a breech baby. 

If baby doesn't move after all that, you can try to wait until you go into labor and see if baby turns then, investigate your options for breech birth or schedule a c/s. Whatever you decide, just make sure that it is a decision that you feel good about so that you don't blame your partner later.

Hope baby turns for you!

[DMG8]

I've become best friends with the spinningbabies website!  I've literally had that website open on my laptop for weeks now.  I've been doing all the moves, several times per day almost everyday (there have been a few exceptions due to not being at home).  

I agree that my DH is scared - he's expressed concern for me and our baby several times and it's really worrying him.  He came to me this afternoon and apologized and said he's sorry for not being more supportive.  He knows how much this VBAC means to me and he understands my reasons for wanting to avoid another c-section.  He was amazing during my first labor with my DD - when it came time to decide if I wanted to go through with the c-section he reminded me how much I wanted to avoid one and he kept saying "are you sure?".  He's also agreed that I can do whatever I want to help turn this baby even if he doesn't think it will work.  There is a lady who teaches a VBAC class at the hospital where I'm delivering and she told me a few of the nurses on the staff there have had VBACs and are great with VBAC moms so I should request one which I intend to do.  

Thanks for all the advice and support ladies.  I'm feeling much better now and am trying to remain optimistic about my version on Wednesday.  

[TiffanyToo]

You might have a movie night and show The Business of Being Born to your husband.

JMO the money for the moxa treatment is pretty cheap compared to the cost of a c-section. What happens if baby does not turn? Do you have support for vaginal breech birth?

[marquess78]

Originally Posted by DMG8 

UPDATE:  I just got a call from a nurse at my OB group and apparently I was the subject of a group meeting this morning.  Some of the OBs aren't on board with doing my version next week.  The nurse said they really want to meet with me to discuss this and asked when I could come in.  I asked what time was good and she said whatever time was good for me . . . this doesn't sound promising to me, it sounds like bad news and I'm worried.  Luckily I was able to talk my DH into going tomorrow - it's over an hour drive to their main office and he has patients in the afternoon so it's not exactly convenient.  But I need him there with me to show them he supports me and since he's a doc too I'm hoping his support will carry some weight.  

I've read research that says versions are safe on VBAC moms, heck breech births with providers that know how to deliver breech babies are safe too (just too many OBs don't seem to have this skill anymore).  I know they can't force me into a c-section.  But I'm worried.  Any words of wisdom ladies?  I'm freaking out.  

wow this doesnt sound familiar at all :( the same thing happened to me when i was almost ready to deliver my twins. my son was all over teh place and 2lb bigger than my daughter who was persistently head down (sweet angel that she is) 

my ob was fine his partners not so much. as it turned out i ended up with the worst one when i went into labor and i am convinced she paid the anesthesiologists to mess up my epidural so i would be forced into a c/s emergently.

anyway, dont sign anything. seriously. they cant make you do anything u arent comfortable with. i did webster with my fabulous chiro.if u were in teh nashville tn area i woudl put u in touch with her. it worked forme except that my son wasnt happy in one position or another so he kept going backand forth.

keep us posted
 

[DMG8]

Well, I had an OB appt today to get my GBS test done.  I was having a hard time sitting comfortably before the appointment and could feel the baby's head right below my ribs and directly above my belly button so I knew she was still breech.  But I was wondering where her butt was because she moved a lot this weekend.   I had a brief u/s the appt and the tech said her head is exactly where I said it was and her butt is to the right side above my hip, so no longer down in the pelvis area.  I can feel her sitting there, it's so weird.  And the baby is facing my left side.  After when I saw the doc he said that's great that her head is where it is because that means she's still floating and he was thrilled to hear her butt isn't low anymore.  He said it sounds like my version should go very well.  So I'm hopeful!  

I did two 20 minute breech tilts this morning before I went to the appt so I'm wondering if they helped move the baby up out of my pelvis.  I'll be sure to do more today and tomorrow plus other exercises.  

[DMG8]

I had my ECV yesterday and it was a success!  It took the doctor less than 2 minutes to turn my daughter and it wasn't painful at all.  It was a bit uncomfortable but most of that was due to the doctors fingers digging into my skin and she scratched me with her nails (which were pretty short!).  The first time she attempted to turn her my baby popped right back over above my belly button, but the second time I closed my eyes and kept visualizing her turning while taking nice deep breaths and letting them out slowly.  I felt her push the baby's butt up, then start pushing her head over and then I felt her butt pop up out of my pelvis and up past my hip, then as the baby's head went below my belly button it just kind of moved right into place in my pelvis - it was a weird feeling but not painful and it was over so quickly.   The baby tolerated the procedure very well with no issues with her heart rate at all, and I was released after an hour of being monitored.  

The doctor gave me a belly binder to help keep her in place - though she said I probably don't need it since my ab muscles are so tight.  I've been wearing it ever since though because I'm terrified of her turning back around!  I've been sitting cross legged on the floor most of the time since getting home and will take plenty of long walks to help her settle in.  Any other advice to get her comfy in her new position?  

After the procedure the nurse said she was really impressed with how I handled it since she's seen several versions and the moms were in pain.  The doctor said she fully expects to see me back in there delivering my VBAC baby because with my determination she doesn't think it will go any other way.  I felt a great boost of confidence by her words.  She was the doc who went over my VBAC informed consent for with me and to hear she has faith I'll get my VBAC really made me feel good and confident.  Plus she was very pleased with how well the baby and I tolerated the procedure.  It's such a relief to have the procedure behind me, now if only I could stop worrying about her turning breech again! 

[JessB]

Yay!  That's great news.   :)

[DoulaAngie]

Congrats!!!!

[Ms. B. Sprout]

Fantastic news!! Congratulations!
 

[Izzy's Mom]

Really pleased to hear this!! You are doing a great job of working toward your VBAC and hopefully soon we'll all be reading your birth story!

[cairomama]

Awesome! After the ECV on my VBAC baby I just kept squeezing her butt butt to make sure it was still up. The doc who did my ECV said that most babies turn right away if they are going to turn back so you are probably in the clear. 

[roadfamily6now]

Awesome!

[Beccasteve03]

Congratulations!  Can't wait to hear about your VBAC! :)

[ShwarmaQueen]

Very hopeful for you!! :)

[dannysgirl2004]

So happy for you and babe!!!