37 1/2 Weeks and Breech..Help!

I had a c-section for both of my girls (hoping for each one to do a vaginal birth but needed an emergency c for my 1st one & medical reasons for my 2nd). My 2nd was in the regular position, flipped & was breech, then flipped back in the middle of the night & I was quite far along. It could still happen for you!

First, there is absolutely no way I'd consider a breech vaginal delivery in a home setting. You may have a doc who would consider it in a hospital setting but it is clearly not worth the risks in a home setting inmho.

Because of complications, my son had to be delivered at 32 weeks via c-section and he was breech. Because he was so early and so high up, my uterine incision was vertical *BUT* with my second, also breech when they did the c-section at 37 weeks, they were able to do a horizontal, traditional incision in my uterus and the recovery was very easy. Getting up and walking as soon as they will let you is very important. Just don't over-do it. And staying ahead of the pain-best advice my nurse gave me after I delivered my 1st. By doing that-taking the pain meds-I was never really in a significant amount of pain. Discomfort of course but she explained that in the first day or so if you let the pain get ahead of you it's harder to control it and get back on top of it.

The bottom line and most important thing is getting baby here with both of you healthy and safe.

my daughter would change from breech to upright on a daily basis. I have no idea how she managed, she was almost 9 pounds at birth, but my OB was so worried we were doing daily ultrasounds and then they decided we should induce a few days before my due date simply because she was in the right position. Thankfully she stayed there and everything went fine. It is completely possible that your little one won't turn until labor starts.

On another note, while it's a different situation, a good friend had 2 c-sections and then went to naturally deliver her third son at home, with no complications.

good luck!

My husband is an OB/Gyn, and we had our first son when he was in residency. He practiced his ultrasound techniques quite a bit on me, and that's actually how we discovered our son was breech around 30 weeks or so--when he should have been head down. Both my husband and my OB checked on my son's position a lot after that, but unfortunately, he never turned and stayed head up the entire time. We scheduled an external version/C-section at 39 weeks. My doctor tried to turn the baby from the outside, but his little behind wouldn't move out of my pelvis. When his heart rate dropped with each push, my OB, husband, and I all agreed a C-section was the best course. It was the first major surgery I'd ever had, and even though it was painful afterward (you don't realize how much you use your abdominal muscles until they've been cut!), I was actually walking around the block about two weeks after leaving the hospital! I recovered fairly quickly and had no complications afterward. In fact, about a year later, my OB had trouble finding my C-section scar!
When we decided to get pregnant again about a year ago, my husband, who is now a practicing OB/Gyn, said that I was qualified to try for a VBAC. All of the doctors in his practice were supportive, although I was a bit scared, since I never went into labor or dilated with my first son. I was able to go over my due date, since the baby was head down and looked great, and three days after it, I started contracting. I contracted all day, and since I spent that time at my husband's office while he saw patients, he pretty much monitored me and the baby throughout the day. Everything was progressing slowly, so we had time to go to the hospital and get me set up for an epidural. Once I had the epidural, my doctor (not my husband; he was the daddy, after all) was comfortable with breaking my water. She was going to give me pitocin afterward, but when she checked me, the baby, who was still a bit high before then, came down and his cord came with him--something which is rare and which we wouldn't have foreseen. Since cord prolapse is an emergency situation, I ended up getting another C-section. At that point, all I cared about was having a healthy baby. He turned out just fine and bigger than my first son. I'd had him at 10:00 at night, and by the afternoon the next day, I was off my IV and catheter and was starting to get out of bed and get around. I recovered much more quickly the second time around, since I knew what to expect and had another child at home to care for.
The best advice I can give you is that if you know your child is breech, you should think very seriously about having him/her in the hospital--and I'm not just saying that because my husband is an OB. You and your child would both be monitored throughout the entire process, and the hospital can take care of any emergencies that may arise (and could arise with such a situation), whereas you don't have the equipment and support you might need at home. That being said, it's your decision, and I've heard of babies turning on their own at the last minute--even during labor. Just do what you feel is best for your situation.

has your midwife delivered breech babies before? how does she feel about doing it?

i assume your chiropractor is doing the webster technique? just an adjustment may not do the trick, but there is a specific method for turning breech babies.

have you tried accupuncture? i've not turned a baby around, but it works wonders with so many things, i bet it would help.

i hope things turn out well for you and baby! (ha ha, no pun intended!)

Not all babies flip way before they decend. Some wait till the very last minute. Keep Positive and the hospital close.

All during my pregnancy, my son was breech. Due to that and a few other reasons, I had a c-section. Recovery wasn't as bad as I had expected. I did take my pain medications as needed, which helped. I was originally told it would be 6 weeks before I could go back to work, but received the all clear at 4 weeks.

As they had to tell me all of the options, they did mention the possibility of my ob turning the baby. Although, it was something that would have to be done at the hospital. If I remember correctly, they would monitor both you and the baby. If the baby starts to show distress, they would then force delivery, albeit by c-section. So, while you are trying to avoid it, there is still a possibility of a c-section anyway.

My last son was breech. I tried everything you've tried, to no avail! I was not planning a home birth, but DID NOT want a c-section at all! I was getting so nervous/frustrated/discouraged/scared! Suddenly, on the due date, he was head down, yay! He was born 5 days later with no problems...in fact, he was the easiest of my children to give birth to :)

Good luck, and I hope your little one does something like mine did and turns just in the nick of time!

1) Yes, I had a natural breech delivery at Miami Valley Hospital, with Dr. Stephen Guy and a wonderful doula, Amy Chavez, assisting with the birth. I tried everything to turn the babe first, but she was very clear she was coming out breech. I had a great experience, labored for a long time at home (with our doula present and supporting) and then went to the hospital. I had to be in labor and deliver (not Family Beginnings as hoped for) but otherwise it was a wonderful birth. Dr. Guy was supportive because he knew how committed I was to natural birth and he knew that I had a wonderful doula in Amy.

Going to April Dunnington (Chiropractor in Centerville) was helpful in trying to have the baby turn.

Having support, whether your partner or doula or someone else who knows what you want, and also is willing to take the journey with you, is helpful.

It will all turn out fine, just trust that your body can deliver the baby however it goes!

You probably know about spinningbabies.com, right? They have lots of good advice.

Good luck, and enjoy it all!

My DS was a butt-first breech, so vaginal delivery was not an option. He was breech for the entire pregnancy, so I had lots of time to get used to the idea. I didn't try to turn him; it just did not feel right to me. As it turns out, I have a bicornuate uterus (heart-shaped), and he never could have turned.

Anyway, I had a C-section, and everything went great. He was born Wednesday morning, and we were home Friday afternoon. The C-section is major surgery, but I was feeling back to normal in a few weeks.

Just do what you feel is best for you and your baby, and I'm sure it will go fine.

Good luck!
P.

Acupuncture!!! I know of at least two women who's babies turned after one visit to an acupuncturist. They know exactly where to place the 'needle' - for lack of a better word -. I was at my acupuncturist's one day when a woman came out of the room after having an acupuncture. She sat in the waiting room for ten minutes and then said, with sheer disbelief and amazement, 'that;s it, I can feel him turning now!!!" Well the results may not be That fast, but I do believe it's a very valid avenue to try.

I had a breech baby for my first. She was that way the whole time. My (wonderful!) doctor did a version -- tried turning the baby in the hospital, to no avail. It was somewhat painful, but I knew then that I would do it again if the need arose. She never turned, and I had a c-section. Come to find out, my beautiful 7 year old is quite head strong -- no wonder she wouldn't turn! :) At the same time, I had a professor that was pregnant with a breech baby. They used a flashlight to "lead" the baby to flip -- and it did!

No worries -- God never leaves us & will be with you & your baby. Enjoy!