BC MW suspects baby's breech at 34 weeks

[MrsTani]

My DH and I had our 34 week appointment yesterday at the Special Beginnings birth center in Arnold, MD and to our surprise the MW thought the baby (our first) might be breech. She asked us to get an ultrasound done to confirm if it is or not. She said that if it is, there are things we can do to get it to turn, but my big concern is, what if it doesn't want to turn despite all our efforts? I have heard that breech babies sometimes even turn during labor, but I am concerned they wouldn't even let me try laboring. The BC's policy on breech babies is C-section, and my DH and I really don't want that, especially after what we've learned in Bradley class about the risks to mom and baby during c/s. I understand the BC's policy is probably because of malpractice insurance, etc., but still I feel like screaming because I don't want to be forced into major abdominal surgery for a "reason" like that.

So today I talked with Evelyn M., a home birth MW in the Baltimore area, and she said I should talk with David or Joanne (she didn't know, Rachel, the MW I saw yesterday) at the BC about doing external version and if there are any things I can do now besides waiting.

A friend of mine who had an UC with a footling breech gave me some links on breech babies/birth, and I am checking them out. Still, I am wondering if I should just give up on the BC and see about pursuing HB after all.

DH and I had decided not to do HB in March when we found out that my insurance didn't want to cover it but I don't think that is as much of an issue now since the MW would be willing to do a payment plan, but now we're not sure that the BC will work out anyway - despite my insurance covering part of it, we'd still owe the BC around $1,000 and we don't know if the MCHP insurance application will be approved - MCHP led us on to think that we had been, but we never got a letter in the mail (which should have been our first clue that something wasn't right) and apparently someone in their office either lost the application or it got lost in the mail, but they wouldn't be honest about it and tell us the truth. Both DH and I are super ticked off about that. DH is going to try to get the application to them in person and see if they'll approve - if not, then if we stick with the birth center we'll have to see about a payment plan - if we decide not to use the BC and head home for the birth, we'll have to do a payment plan anyway.

BTW:
1. To those in MD: Who'd recommend Karen and who'd recommend Evelyn for HB with a breech? I've heard both do them, and Karen's less expensive, but I am not sure...
2. Anyone think it a good idea to ask close friends of ours if we can use their home for HB? They'd be closer to the hospital if needed, and I feel as safe in their home as in our apartment. How should we ask?

Anyway, long-winded as this may have been, thank you all.

[honeybee]

Well, personally, I'd switch to the hb. But, then I HATED getting in the car to drive to the hospital with my first, and I don't think I would've had time to make it ANYWHERE with my 2nd if I hadn't been planning to stay home.

At 34 weeks you still have lots of time for that baby to switch positions. I think I would delay an u/s for now and just proceed as if the baby is breech. Check out spinningbabies.com for information on how to help persuade baby to get in a better position. You can also look for a chiropractor who knows the Webster technique. Then, in a couple weeks if your mw still thinks baby may be breech, you can confirm w/ and u/s and ask about doing an external version. I don't think there's any point in doing a version before that, as baby may just turn again (but someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I would definitely at least check out hb midwives now, and see who clicks with you, what their breech policies are, and -most importantly- whether they would be available to take you. How soon would they need to know? Would they still be available if you waited a couple weeks to see if baby turned on his/her own so you could go to the bc? A hb would definitely be worth the money compared to a scheduled c/s, so I would want to make sure I'd covered all my bases.

This is just my personal reaction... but I would find it strange to go to someone else's house to birth. I mean, maybe if it was someone really close to me who was supportive of hb and we lived way too far from a mw or a hospital, then maybe. What is the time difference between your friends' home and yours to the hospital?

[Jackies Ladybug]

stay home, dont use your friends house, stuff comes up in labor that you may not be prepared for and being in a strange environment(even if you are comfortable before you go into labor there) doesnt help and with a breech birth you want as many factors helping you as possible.

find a midwife that has done lots of breech births, preferably one that will let you birth in any position you feel is necessary.

talk to your baby, see if she will turn on her own. get quiet in the bath tub and meditate with your baby a bit!

[Eresh]

nak


here's a small study about trying versions in 34-36 week timeframe vs post 37 weeks.

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/conte...l/327/7428/0-g

basically the study showed a slight decrease in babies breech at birth, but the women also did multiple ecvs. but they say the study is too small to draw any conclusions.

i'd personally start looking for a cp that would help me birth a breech baby vaginally, though, just as a backup plan and try the stuff on spinningbabies.com. also, before you do an ecv, do some research on risks.

good luck!

[Robinna]

Originally Posted by Eresh

nak


here's a small study about trying versions in 34-36 week timeframe vs post 37 weeks.

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/conte...l/327/7428/0-g

basically the study showed a slight decrease in babies breech at birth, but the women also did multiple ecvs. but they say the study is too small to draw any conclusions.

i'd personally start looking for a cp that would help me birth a breech baby vaginally, though, just as a backup plan and try the stuff on spinningbabies.com. also, before you do an ecv, do some research on risks.

good luck!

There is a more recent and larger study, done in Hamilton ON (I think) in 2006, because I was too late to participate with my breech baby born 2 years ago. I don't know for sure it's been published yet and don't have time to check just now but it may be out there.

Don't have time to respond properly right now but bottom line, I haven't yet stopped regretting not going home wiht my breech baby to an "acquaintance MW" (not my primary CP MW) who was breech-experienced and would have come. At the time I didn't understand this to be a safe thing to do, and I consented to a late-labour c/s and I continue to believe that even though i consented, the situation constituted an assault. Strong words, I know, and I am an extremely rational person, but those strong words are appropriate. If I could take the decision back and go home instead, or lock myself in the bathroom, or ANYTHING other than signing that consent form, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Please go read my website (link in my sig) for the actual peer-reviewed studies regarding the safety of breech birth. If you're interested in "my" story, go into the birth stories archive, I"m Miriam Hannah's mama.

xo Robin

[Robinna]

PS - found it - study ongoing until 2010

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00141687

[MrsTani]

Hi, all - thanks for your replies. We went for the sonogram yesterday morning and the baby's not breech after all (whew!) but my DH and I are still considering switching to HB. I am feeling even more inclined after all this. The only concern is finances - I know the BC is covered at 80%, but I feel insecure about continuing there. The mw I spoke with, Evelyn, says that she hasn't had problems in the past with getting paid by CIGNA for HB but when DH and I checked back in March CIGNA seemed disinclined to cover HB with her, but would do a hospital birth with her.