breech mamas roll call!

[crunchy_mama]

thought I would see who all is out there again! This little one keeps flipping around. I am trying not to worry as I am only 34 weeks, but I want to start working on this early as I have heard others say that your chances are better if the earlier they start to turn them. I have an appt tomorrow with the backup ob and I am getting a quick ultrasound to check position. If the little one is still breech then I plan to find a chiro and accupuncturist (unfortunately due to my area this will likely mean a 2.5-3 hr drive (one way ) to St. Louis. I am hoping to get anything but transverse, although it is my preference not to try and birth a breech baby.

[heathenmom]

Here!

Babe has been breech since at least 27 weeks, and I'm now 36-1/2. The ob is terrified I'm going to have another "gigantic" baby (insert eyeroll here) so they're really stressing about getting her to turn, which is of course causing ME to stress about it. :

She was straight up-and-down on Friday. I had my first Webster adjustment on Monday, and on Tuesday, she was transverse -- a HUGE change, according to the mw ... she's very encouraged that the baby will turn vertex with more adjustments. I have my 2nd Webster today at 11AM and my 1st acupuncture session (EVER) at 3PM. I'm currently trying to decide if taking a dose of pulsatilla before the appointments will help things along.

I'm willing to try just about anything ... I'm desperately trying to avoid the EV, scheduled for Thursday, the 22nd. Their standard procedure is to immediately induce if the EV is successful. The mw said we could decline the induction, which we plan to do, but she flat out told me they (she & the ob) would try to guilt/scare us into it anyway. : If we decline, and she flips back to breech, then it's a c/s for me. :

[phunkylady]

my little peanut is roa and I guess should be loa - but still, an anterior position, so that's better than posterior. anyway, my bradley instructor suggested this website: www.spinningbabies.com

[Pyxi]

My lil one was breech last Thursday (I'm at 33 weeks now) and yesterday he flipped sideways and he hasn't budged since. My belly is as hard as a rock, so I'm thinking he's got his back facing out against my belly. I don't know all of the technical terms, but hopefully he will turn all the way. The pressure is really weird to feel.

[Leetahalfelven]

My Vaginal Breech Birth Story

Do not give up hope women! My son turned footling breech about 2 weeks before Delivery and we tried a version w/o epidural so that we wouldn’t risk forcing a C-section if it didn’t work- It didn't work. But worth trying! But all was stable and fine so they let me progress naturally hoping he would turn. Also tried the many breech tilt exercises - keep on trying girls! The EX's are good for us anyway! Thankfully he turned to a frank breech where his bottom was presenting and his legs were up in front of him. As long as his chin is tucked down to his chest and not extended up, then he is in a safe position for delivery. But the head cannot be looking up – will cause nerve damage as its coming through the canal.

Most US hospitals prefer C-sec..... I was just one of those moms trying to go as natural as possible and hated the thought of a C.... I didn't want any unnecessary surgery on my womb. And I got lucky, everything was favorable for a vaginal try as long as I agreed to the Epi and was already in the OR for emergency C. I know there are some mamas like me that hated the idea of a C unless it was truly unavoidable. I was just lucky in that it was avoidable for me; it is not always for others. And the baby's safety IS most important! It’s just not always as necessary to do C sections as the Doctors in this country believe. Sometimes they can do more damage trying too hard to be "preventative". Women have been delivering breach babies for over 100,000 yrs! It just has to be the right kind of breach position with no other complications, that's all. And now a days, with our technology we can see if it’s going to be ok before they commit to one option or the other! Ultrasounds & heart monitors are available during labor!


BUT- he folded his legs up (frank) and was butt first by the time my water broke and my midwife and doctor agreed to try a V-birth (w/epi) and have everything ready for a C if necessary.

It was easier than my first! He just rolled on out and they were both there to help keep him in the right position for his neck - NO PROBLEMS!!!!

Don't despair Ladies! Of course there had to be no other complications for my DR to agree with it but we were in the OR and all ready if it went wrong & IT WENT BEAUTIFULLY!

~Here wishing you all the best & safest outcomes!
Good luck!

[heathenmom]

You are very, very lucky to live in a place where you could find care providers willing to attend a vaginal breech delivery. My hb mw won't (she's the ONLY hb mw in my area); the fsbc won't (they're the only fsbc in the state); and there isn't an ob in the entire metro area who will catch a breech ... if the EV doesn't work, they are automatic sections. :

[crunchy_mama]

Gin- Thanks for your positive story!

oh, I have to say I am pretty well positive that this little one has moved head down! I am seeing the ob tomorrow so will have him double check-= then I will be doing some exercises to keep the lil' one in place!!!! wish me luck!!!!

[jecaly]

i've got a flipper, here--i *think* it's vertex now, but not sure. we're getting an ultrasound today to figure out if there's some reason s/he needs to be breech (cord, placenta placement, etc). i have a hbmw who is willing to attend me but hasn't ever done it before, and there are two doctors at my backup care hospital who can do it, too, but it's luck of the draw whether you get them when you're in labor...chiropractic has been the secret weapon for flipping this one head down, but the fact that s/he has flipped back so many times has me a little concerned.

[crunchy_mama]

well, the lil' one is head down, as I thought. Now just to keep it that way.

[wildthing]

Oh heck, mine is flipping around, I am 34.5 weeks. I am not worried at all. My last baby was flipping up through 38 weeks. I actually know of 2 midwives in our community that have experience with breech births, and I am pretty sure they would be willing to help out. But, I will do what I can to encourage a vertex position. ROA or LOA makes no difference to me, I have had babies in both positions....in fact, I am not concered with posterior either. BTDT.

[wanderinggypsy]

Wildthing, you're my favorite. You're so damned cavalier, it just bloody well inspires me.

That's all I had to say.

[wildthing]

Aw, WG....thanks! I hope I don't sound insensitive to anyone, but I just am not worried.

I have been having babies for 22 years, and it is interesting t me the way things have changed so much. Seriously, when I had my first 5 babies, u/s was rarely offered. You had to be pretty high-risk to have an u/s. I was 4 weeks past my "due date" with my first baby, and the doctor (and midwife I was seeing in the practice) never batted an eye. I mean, there was NEVER discussion of induction. It was more them telling me "Babies come when they are ready" to my whining every week that I would be pregnant forever!

Being part of that birth culture has been a good thing for me, I think. I know there were difficult situations for others, back then. But my experiences were so dramatically different from what I see people going through now, and even what I have heard and been told by doctors with my later children. I have no problem telling doctors now, that I will take their advice and make my own decisions, and so much of it is based on my past experiences. I KNOW my body will go into labor. I KNOW I can birth a posterior baby. I KNOW I can birth a 10+ pound baby. Because I am one of those that was not interferred with, because it wasn't "the thing to do" to interfere back then.

Sometimes, I miss the old days.

[Yummymummy74]

Originally Posted by wildthing

I have been having babies for 22 years, and it is interesting t me the way things have changed so much. Seriously, when I had my first 5 babies, u/s was rarely offered. You had to be pretty high-risk to have an u/s. I was 4 weeks past my "due date" with my first baby, and the doctor (and midwife I was seeing in the practice) never batted an eye. I mean, there was NEVER discussion of induction. It was more them telling me "Babies come when they are ready" to my whining every week that I would be pregnant forever!

Being part of that birth culture has been a good thing for me, I think. I know there were difficult situations for others, back then. But my experiences were so dramatically different from what I see people going through now, and even what I have heard and been told by doctors with my later children. I have no problem telling doctors now, that I will take their advice and make my own decisions, and so much of it is based on my past experiences. I KNOW my body will go into labor. I KNOW I can birth a posterior baby. I KNOW I can birth a 10+ pound baby. Because I am one of those that was not interferred with, because it wasn't "the thing to do" to interfere back then.

Sometimes, I miss the old days.

WORD!

I agree Donna! I have been at it 15 years and there was nothing of the hullabo we see today back then.
43 weeks?? NO problem

Now you hit 41 weeks and they breathe down your neck :
Same with alot of these routine tests they offer now.. back then you just lived and were pregnant.
I miss it honestly.

[mezzydotes]

Just found out today that bubs is frank breech. Unfortunately, since the m/w I'm seeing is at a hospital which only accepts low-risk births, if we can't get the baby to turn, I'm to be referred elsewhere He wants me to go for an ECV (if I opt not to, I get scheduled for a caeserean instead).

HOWEVER, have sat here for an hour or so researching breech presentations and ECVs and when I got up to go and get myself a piece of chocolate (!!), I noticed that the baby seems to have moved now, and seems to be lying transverse! I might give the knee-chest position a go in order to encourage her to move the rest of the way.

[heathenmom]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

well, the lil' one is head down, as I thought. Now just to keep it that way.

Yay for you!!!

Does anybody else already have their EV scheduled? If I can't get babe to flip by Thursday, it's to the hospital for me. I don't WANT to stress about it. I wish I had the confidence to tell them to f-off, honestly ... that she'll flip when she's ready, and if she doesn't then there's a reason. She was frank breech before all the monkeying around with her, and I was perfectly willing to try for a vaginal birth. Unfortunately, there's not a care provider around here that was willing to let me and I didn't want to uc a breech baby. Too chicken.

[babycatcher01]

Mamas of breeches fear not they come out, even breech, sending good position vibes to all you guys.

[crunchy_mama]

Elizabeth- thanks for the update. I am sorry to hear that the chiro and moxbustion has not worked for turning your baby! I cannot imagine your frustration. It is just not right in this culture that we cannot find people to birth breech babies. Unfortunately not all of us live in places where an attended breech birth is possible

[heathenmom]

You know, to be perfectly honest ... she might already have flipped. I simply cannot figure out her position based on her movements or by feeling -- makes me feel kinda stupid, but there ya go. Regardless, I haven't given up hope yet. I'm headed to the chiro for another adjustment in a few minutes, and I have a massage therapy appointment this afternoon -- the therapist is a doula who I hope will be able to offer some additional suggestions and who HOPEFULLY is better at palpating than I am! I expect I'll be at the chiro again on Wednesday, and I have another acupuncture/moxa appointment that afternoon too. Whew!

I'm thankful that my bosses are being so supportive. They know how desperately I want to avoid a section and aren't giving me any grief about how much I'm gone for the various appointments. I am, however, cleaning out my flexible spending account with all the co-pays and stuff not covered by insurance. Oh well ... let's just all cross our fingers!

[crunchy_mama]

I wish you the best of luck. I do hope the doula can give you some good news. If the baby has turned will you continue to your appointments?
On the palpating I really, really stunk at first but I think I have kind of gotten the hang of it now. First I have found that I have to be lying down. I feel for the biggest lump and follow that. The big lump the butt is at my left side now and I can follow it down along the back to my pelvis, I felt kicks and they are on the right side, sometimes high and sometimes a bit lower. Hiccups are always low now as well.

[mezzydotes]

Originally Posted by heathenmom

Yay for you!!!

Does anybody else already have their EV scheduled? If I can't get babe to flip by Thursday, it's to the hospital for me. (

Yes, mine is scheduled for this Thursday afternoon. I'm also in the position that it's either the EV or get scheduled for a caeserean. If the EV doesn't work, my m/w tells me they'll schedule a c-section too, probably for around the 38 - 39 week mark.

For the past 12 hours or so she keeps flipping btw transverse and frank breech, so I am hoping she will go all the way around to a full turn.