Vaginal Breech or C-Section

[trinimommy]

Which would you choose and why?

I am so torn right now...please help!!!

[mommy2naomi]

I would choose a vaginal breech birth over a c-section without a second thought. I've already had a c-section and the recovery/trauma from it, is enough for me to never choose that option. But if anything should go wrong, I would of course do a c-section. I simply don't view a breech baby as a need to be c-section, there are still some doctors who still deliver breech babies, they are just few and hard to find.

Good luck with your decision...

[adtake]

The birthing center I go to doesnt do breech, but the hospital I would transfer to has 2 doctors that will access the situation and decide. I would want to try breech vaginal if baby and I were both ok.

It would just depend I think...

Best of luck!

Flip baby Flip!

[kalisage]

I would def try for a vaginal before a c-section. There would be several factors added tho, such as position, hiring a MW, need to be at hospital vs home.

Luckily the MW I would hire is willing to deliver breech, and is completely hands off - as that can be the biggest complication sometimes with breech (too many hands trying to "fix" things)

[Nate'sMama]

Originally Posted by mommy2naomi

I would choose a vaginal breech birth over a c-section without a second thought. I've already had a c-section and the recovery/trauma from it, is enough for me to never choose that option. But if anything should go wrong, I would of course do a c-section. I simply don't view a breech baby as a need to be c-section, there are still some doctors who still deliver breech babies, they are just few and hard to find.

Good luck with your decision...

Same here!

It's hard momma. I wish you peace with whatever you decide

[LittleRockstar]

I really want to try the vaginal breech, but my giant fibroids are scaring me off. I'm going to go for the C-section, but I'm not happy about it. I'm also refusing to schedule it. I at least want to know she's ready before such a disruption. I'm weepy over this decision.

[chpiper]

I agree with previous posts...my 2 biggest deciding factors would be the care provider (their comfort and experience level with breech) as well as baby's position. I also would feel more comfortable deciding for a natural birth now, vs. when I was having my first baby...now that I have given birth 4 times I think I would be more likely to go for a natural breech birth. I think I would have been too fearful the first time...

[Tulafina]

Definately breech birth over a csec and day of the week! I am horrified of getting a section so I think I would try to get that baby out vaginally if I could. I hope it all works out for you no matter what happens!
Take Care, Julie

[amyaebi]

I would give my breech baby a trial of labor and see how labor goes -- if things seem to be getting complicated I would transfer for a c-section. Many breech babies flip during labor and I would want to give baby that chance. And to wait and do it when baby is ready to be born rather than "schedule" anything.

Amy

[trinimommy]

See, I feel the same way.

My only issue is that it will be a birth center birth and not in a hospital so if a c sec is needed it will require a transfer to a hospital and a dr that I don't even know and that worries me. But scheduling a c sec just seems like a horrible idea to me. My boyfriend does not agree AT ALL and makes me feel like I am risking my child and God forbid anything goes wrong I will feel like it was all my fault.

[NatureMama3]

given a practitioner who was experienced in breech birth, vaginal all the way.

Given a practitioner who was inexperienced, I'd probably choose c-section since inexperience can lead to death.

if your birth center has experience, don't worry another second about it. they WOULD let you know if it was beyond their scope.

FWIW, breech babies are still difficult to delivery c-section too. Breech is breech no matter which way they come out.

[Intertwined]

It depends. I am comfortable having a double breech birth at home because I know my care provider well and I know that she is hands off and won't get antsy and meddle in the birth.

For me, personally, the risks of a breech are far outweighed by the risks of a c-section.

[Erdbeer]

I don't envy your situation, I also had a breech baby and decided to go for a c-section (this was 3 years ago). Scheduled it on a Friday for the following Monday, and went into labor on Saturday. When I got to the hospital, the baby had turned...and I delivered vaginally. So it CAN happen!

I wish you and your baby all the best!

[JoyandEd]

When my baby was still breech, I was planning to attempt a vaginal delivery to avoid a cx, but I'm all about hospital births - I'm not sure if I would attempt it in a birthing center or not. The potential transfer to the hospital does freak me out a little.

[mommy2maya]

I just had a csection for a breech- 6wks early. My due date was 6/8, she was born 4/29. My water broke Sunday 4/27, and was in a stalled labor pattern in the hospital for two days. They started pitocin Tues, not realizing baby was breech, and when I was checked several hours later, her hand was sticking out of my cervix- the mw called in the back up dr, who tried to reposition her manually, and then stopped the pitocin for several hours to give her a chance to turn. After 6hrs of not moving her hand, we consented to a csection. Once the dr started the delivery, they found that she was in a bad breech position, limbs all a-flail and arm down and out of my cervix. Between her breech, malpositioning and young gestational age, I am positive that the csection was the only safe way to deliver her.

[MarchWillow]

Originally Posted by mommy2maya

I just had a csection for a breech- 6wks early. My due date was 6/8, she was born 4/29. My water broke Sunday 4/27, and was in a stalled labor pattern in the hospital for two days. They started pitocin Tues, not realizing baby was breech, and when I was checked several hours later, her hand was sticking out of my cervix- the mw called in the back up dr, who tried to reposition her manually, and then stopped the pitocin for several hours to give her a chance to turn. After 6hrs of not moving her hand, we consented to a csection. Once the dr started the delivery, they found that she was in a bad breech position, limbs all a-flail and arm down and out of my cervix. Between her breech, malpositioning and young gestational age, I am positive that the csection was the only safe way to deliver her.

The beauty of this story is that you gave it your all! Even early with water broken you went for the vaginal birth. And it didn't work out. Sometimes it doesn't, and thank the Lord we have trained surgeons ready for these moments.

If I were in your shoes, I know that -for me- I would have to give it my all, as close as I could get to vaginal, natural birth, because I think that's what's best for my baby. Now, that said, I also agree that I would want someone with experience on hand, be it an ob/gyn who would let me deliver vaginally, or my hope and prayer would be for a mw who would let me attempt breech in my own home as planned...less envioronmental stress....etc etc.

And, you never know, those little ones can still flip last minute, and I don't care who says otherwise...I have heard so so many stories. Even my own son flipped from OP to face down as I was pushing, which I know isn't turning over from breech to head down, but was a large movement, in the middle of pushing-so they are still very slippery and able to wiggle around.

Best of luck to you mama. I hope you get the family support you need, and, in the long run, no matter what, you will be holding a beautiful baby that's all yours and warm and squishy and mmmmm so yummy!

[symesa]

While my midwives will not deliver a "known" breech, they have and can do it in those surprise cases. They were sure to tell me the 4 things you need to have a good and safe breech birth:

1. A baby in FRANK breech position.
2. A "returning" mother -- not your first baby.
3. A baby that is not "really big" (though size is so speculative at this point).
4. An experienced birth attendant.

For me, I could not be sure of #3 (as DD was 9lb 6oz) and #4 is where most people get hung up. Only midwives around here will even attempt it...and not all will.

What about you? Do you meet those criteria? If you do, do you feel comfortable in your ability and your birth attendant's? If you enter into it with fear and self doubt the outcome is less likely to be how you would like. However, having fear and doubt in a situation like this is nothing to be ashamed of -- seems very natural to me!

Have you had an external version attempted? I would question that if you have, and it was unsuccessful, there may be a *reason* the baby remains breech.

Also, I want to throw out there that it is *possible* (though I would not count on it) the baby will turn of it's own accord when labor begins. You can definitely continue to discuss it with your midwife...but waiting to see if the baby will turn in labor and then being prepared to make a hospital transfer for a c-section if it does not turn is still possible. Birth center transfers happen, and while the c-section *may* be a bit rushed after that...I doubt it. I think your midwife would have everything under control so you aren't feeling like you are in an emergency.

I know it requires some serious consideration...and I wish you luck and turn vibes!

[trinimommy]

Originally Posted by symesa

While my midwives will not deliver a "known" breech, they have and can do it in those surprise cases. They were sure to tell me the 4 things you need to have a good and safe breech birth:

1. A baby in FRANK breech position.
2. A "returning" mother -- not your first baby.
3. A baby that is not "really big" (though size is so speculative at this point).
4. An experienced birth attendant.

For me, I could not be sure of #3 (as DD was 9lb 6oz) and #4 is where most people get hung up. Only midwives around here will even attempt it...and not all will.

What about you? Do you meet those criteria? If you do, do you feel comfortable in your ability and your birth attendant's? If you enter into it with fear and self doubt the outcome is less likely to be how you would like. However, having fear and doubt in a situation like this is nothing to be ashamed of -- seems very natural to me!

Have you had an external version attempted? I would question that if you have, and it was unsuccessful, there may be a *reason* the baby remains breech.

Also, I want to throw out there that it is *possible* (though I would not count on it) the baby will turn of it's own accord when labor begins. You can definitely continue to discuss it with your midwife...but waiting to see if the baby will turn in labor and then being prepared to make a hospital transfer for a c-section if it does not turn is still possible. Birth center transfers happen, and while the c-section *may* be a bit rushed after that...I doubt it. I think your midwife would have everything under control so you aren't feeling like you are in an emergency.

I know it requires some serious consideration...and I wish you luck and turn vibes!

Thanks Alison,..this is so much for me to digest right now...

I am not sure what type of breech this little man is in...the tech did not get into it...so I will discuss it at my appt tomorrow.

This is my second child...8 years later though...

Who knows if he is really big...midwife guessed 7lb 4 oz...ultrasound said 8...my dd was 7lb 1 oz.

We have not gotten to have a detailed convo as yet since this is all new info so I am going to find out more about breech experience tomorrow. I think if she had no experience she would have given me the boot as soon as we heard the "B" word though...

Have not had the external version attempted...this info is all new as of Thursday. Started doing the versions described on spinning babies since Thursday and started the chiro Fri, then Sat. So now I am just hoping and praying that he DOES just turn himself over. I guess everything happens for a reason...and I keep asking my son if there is a reason he has flipped. I am hoping it was just to add some excitement.

[Intertwined]

If it makes you feel any better AT ALL, I have 12+ pounds of baby in my uterus right now and BOTH my babies flipped back to head down within the last two days (I think Ben's back there, anyway). I spent most of yesterday on my hands and knees draped over my birth ball or sitting on it with my legs spread wide to help open my pelvis. And I had Webster last week and some pelvic readjustment (ouch is all I have to say) because I've apparently got a separation I can't feel. So if I can get two 6 pounders to flip, you can get one 7 pounder to flip.

[chirp]

we are still holding out that our little stinker is going to present head down at the last moment...

BUT since we don't want to be caught off-guard...

we are also making plans to have a vaginal breech birth, in our home. As of right now we are still looking for a midwife or experienced doula who would take us on...so far, no luck...

i know this sounds crazy but since we are sure he is in frank breech position, if no midwife or doula comes through we ARE going to try and deliver him vaginally, at home, unassisted. we've been getting all the supplies ready and reading studies and manuals and all kinds of things to be prepared for any emergencies.

The nearest hospital is three blocks away. My preferred hospital is half an hour away. In the event of homebirth breech emergency we would just go to the nearest. After baby is born (if at home) G wants to take him to our preferred hospital anyway just to get checked out. I figured that was okay, even if they are gonna keep us there as "precaution."

But we just know he will flip. And if he doesn't, we know everything will be okay. I know that seems like a lot of blind faith, but I feel like everything will be okay.

I know how hard this decision is for you, and how scary it is. Fear is kind of my motivating factor in all of this. Which is bad, but i think i'm also finding courage in my fear. I am more afraid of a c-section and the operating room environment than I am of "possibly" having to breech birth at home and transfer to hospital. I am more afraid of dr. inexperience with breech birth than my own...because at least I will listen to what i am feeling. you know? With all this fear I'm also finding the courage to just relax and listen to my body and hear what's going on.

That's not to say that I don't cry about this at least once every 24-48 hours, but its high stress, so you know, i gotta get it out sometime! But still I would say, overall, I'm relaxed, and I really do know that everything will work out.

good vibes to your and your baby. flippin vibes and strength and courage vibes and a big ol' hug to top it all off.