Breech baby and MW wants me on chromium.. « Back to Group Discussions

[micah_mae_]

She says it'll keep baby from getting too big in case he ends up breech. I have a history of big babies (9 13 and 10 7).

What do y'all think?

[cabbitdancer]

Is she saying she'd deliver him breech, but she wants to make sure he doesn't get too big so he doesn't get stuck? I have never heard of using chromium to limit a baby's size, before.

[Melany]

Originally Posted by cabbitdancer 

Is she saying she'd deliver him breech, but she wants to make sure he doesn't get too big so he doesn't get stuck? I have never heard of using chromium to limit a baby's size, before.

Me, either. 

Are you measuring big? Also, if you've had larger babies in the past, why does she foresee it be a problem this time around? Your body is proven to be capable, before. 

[jodieanneanton]

Hmmm... seems fishy to me.... But I am very conservative when it comes to taking anything while pregnant.  

Sorry I am not much help. :(

[micah_mae_]

Originally Posted by cabbitdancer 

Is she saying she'd deliver him breech, but she wants to make sure he doesn't get too big so he doesn't get stuck? I have never heard of using chromium to limit a baby's size, before.

Yes, she says it will regulate my sugar and thus his size..

Originally Posted by Melany 

Me, either. 

Are you measuring big? Also, if you've had larger babies in the past, why does she foresee it be a problem this time around? Your body is proven to be capable, before. 

I'm measuring a little big. 34 cm at almost 32 weeks. Nothing like my other babies. I have also only gained 15 lbs. I think she's only concerned about him being big if he's breech. I don't know enough about breech delivery to know if that's a factor or not.

Originally Posted by jodieanneanton 

Hmmm... seems fishy to me.... But I am very conservative when it comes to taking anything while pregnant.  

Sorry I am not much help. :(

I'm the same way. She also recommended taking 5-W starting at 35 weeks which I haven't read about..

[jodieanneanton]

After I posted, I looked up chromium.   It is sometimes given as a supplement for diabetics. I have big babies, but they run in my family, so it is not an issue of diabetes. thus, chromium wouldn't do any good for someone with babies who are just big due to genetics.  

Is diabetes/blood sugar issues the reason for your big babies? 

Would she (Would you) be willing to birth a breech baby?  If no is the answer to both, I wouldn't mess with a supplement like chromium... If the answers are yes, it'd be a judgement call.

What about going to chiro for help with turning a breech baby, ordering the hypnobirthing cd for turning a breech or doing techniques on spinningbabies.com?

In what little I read, (I am in no way an expert considering I knew nothing of chromium prior to reading your post) I see that the effects of chromium prenatally in humans are unknown...That lab mice show some harmful effects... I also read that one must be careful when choosing a supplement for chromium, making sure it is in whole food.

That's all the input that I have for now... Still processing... 

[Melany]

I looked it up, too, and came across the same info. If you haven't been diagnosed with GD, I'd avoid adding the supplement. I'm of the opinion that less is more. If you don't "really" need to take it, don't take it.

[rnra]

How much chromium did she want you to take?  If it is a high dose, I'd be wary of it.

The abstract of the article mentioned above can be found here:  http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/8540218/reload=0;jsessionid=YDbvthp6E6giMijo292P.20

Quote:

Our study suggests a risk to the developing fetus if the mother is exposed to high concentrations of chromium (VI) during pregnancy. 

If regulating your sugar is the issue, there's a lot more effective methods than using chromium supplements.  You can follow a diabetic diet, check your blood sugar, ensure that you have a good balance of carbs and proteins at all meals, eat frequent small meals, avoid refined carbohydrates, go for regular low-intensity walks, etc.

[withlittlelungs]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I agree with rnra that there are simple ways to keep your blood sugar in check without taking a supplement. I would think that chromium would be a last resort.
If you or your midwife are worried about a breech, there are exercises on the spinning babies site that can help you turn baby. One of the babies has been persistently breech my entire pregnancy (I'm 32 weeks today), and after doing the exercises on spinning babies he is now vertex!

[cabbitdancer]

Congratulations on getting baby to flip, WLL! That's great news!

If I recall correctly, the issue with breech (besides cord prolapse, if the water breaks) is that baby's shoulders or head can get stuck, with the umbilical cord, cutting off baby's oxygen supply. Honestly, though? If you haven't had a problem with getting baby out before, I wouldn't worry about getting them out the other way 'round. That said, though, your midwife sounds like she's nervous about delivering a big breech baby. If she's nervous about her ability to do so, I might also be nervous, because she has to believe in herself, and you, 100%.

[cocoanib]

If you don't have GD, I would skip the chromium, focus on diet and also encouraging baby to turn.

I'm of the beleif that some babies need to be born breech(short cord, placenta placement, etc), but it doesn't hurt to encourage them to turn if they can.

Also, has she said 100% that she will deliver if baby is breech? Does she have breech experience? What's her breech plan?

[SlimP]

Chromium is helpful in balancing blood sugar levels and therefore alleviating cravings for sweet foods.....but as everyone else also advises, there are easier, and probably safer ways, to do that through your diet. If you decide to supplement, choose a low dose, whole food range.
I, too, would question your midwifes insecurities about helping you birth a large breech baby, trying to restrict babies size seems a bit odd. WithLittleLungs, that's great that you managed to flip baby, well done. Was that mostly with inversions and breech tilts?

Edited to add: What's 5-W?

[withlittlelungs]

Thanks, Cabbit & SlimP!

SlimP- It was strictly inversions. The breech tilts looked way more complicated and I worried I wouldn't be doing it right or that I would injure myself lol

[micah_mae_]

Originally Posted by cocoanib 

If you don't have GD, I would skip the chromium, focus on diet and also encouraging baby to turn.

I'm of the beleif that some babies need to be born breech(short cord, placenta placement, etc), but it doesn't hurt to encourage them to turn if they can.

Also, has she said 100% that she will deliver if baby is breech? Does she have breech experience? What's her breech plan?

I skipped the GD test. I am overweight because I never lost weight after my last baby so maybe that's why she assumes? I take my blood sugar regularly in the mornings and it stays in the 80-90 range.

I agree that some babies need to be born breech, it made me a little nervous that she was moving him around as it was..I was worried she might tangle him up in his cord or something. Can they tell that sort of thing with an u/s?

If he is still breech at the next appt I will be quizzing her more about it. Problem is that she is my only option where I am. Well, except for UC or hospital. I'm definitely not going to the hospital though so it's her or UC.

Originally Posted by SlimP 

Chromium is helpful in balancing blood sugar levels and therefore alleviating cravings for sweet foods.....but as everyone else also advises, there are easier, and probably safer ways, to do that through your diet. If you decide to supplement, choose a low dose, whole food range.
I, too, would question your midwifes insecurities about helping you birth a large breech baby, trying to restrict babies size seems a bit odd. WithLittleLungs, that's great that you managed to flip baby, well done. Was that mostly with inversions and breech tilts?

Edited to add: What's 5-W?

Yeah I feel a bit unsure about how unsure she seemed. I think I need to do some reading but I still have time for him to flip, I mean my other babies were so big I'm sure my uterus is just roomy.

[cocoanib]

Originally Posted by micah_mae_ 

I skipped the GD test. I am overweight because I never lost weight after my last baby so maybe that's why she assumes? I take my blood sugar regularly in the mornings and it stays in the 80-90 range.

I agree that some babies need to be born breech, it made me a little nervous that she was moving him around as it was..I was worried she might tangle him up in his cord or something. Can they tell that sort of thing with an u/s?

If he is still breech at the next appt I will be quizzing her more about it. Problem is that she is my only option where I am. Well, except for UC or hospital. I'm definitely not going to the hospital though so it's her or UC.

Yeah I feel a bit unsure about how unsure she seemed. I think I need to do some reading but I still have time for him to flip, I mean my other babies were so big I'm sure my uterus is just roomy.

I'm not sure if they can tell on US.

Seems like cord length would be a difficult thing to detect before birth.

Hopefully baby boy will turn and you won't have to even journey down this road further.