I have had 2 kids by vaginal birth so far. I am pregnant with my 3rd and have developed pre-eclampsia and am on bed rest due to the condition. I love having vaginal births because I have heard the healing time is better and you won't have to worry about scar tissue build up, infections, etc. So far my blood pressure has been good with being on bed rest and meds and the protein count has been mild so far. I really, really don't want a Cesarean birth, but if it is for the health of my baby, then it's what I will have to do.
Right now I am 33 almost 34 weeks pregnant and our son is measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule and at about 5lbs 2oz. I have been given 2 steroid shots to help lung maturity and we are hopeful to make 35 weeks so that I can deliver at my hospital (they only have neonatal 1). The problem is that our dear son is currently in the breech position, well he was last week anyways. Today I have an NST and Ultrasound so we are hoping he has flipped to head down position. I have heard of babies flipping at the last minute before they deliver to head down, but I don't want this. I want him to flip before this time just in case I deliver earlier than expected (my doctor is inducing me at 37 weeks regardless due to the pre-eclampsia if not before this). Does anybody know what I can do to help him flip if he hasn't already? I don't have an acupuncturist in my area. I do however have a good chiropractor and maybe I just need to be aligned. I haven't gotten this since my last pregnancy.
I have heard the cold peas trick at the top of the uterus can help, but not that affective. I have spoken to my ultrasound technician and she said he has plenty of time to flip to head down, but I don't believe she knows I will be delivering from now to 37 weeks either since she isn't the doctor. I am speaking with my doctor about this on Wednesday at my appointment if he hasn't switched to head down position.
Can women actually have a breech baby by vaginal or does it always need to be c-section? I am still praying that everything works out and that our baby can be healthy, happy and delivered by vaginal. Has anyone ever had a breech baby by vaginal? Does it harm the baby if it is delivered this way?
I was a vaginally delivered breech baby, with no complications. I was 5lbs 11oz, as well as baby #3(all vaginal) for my tiny mother. Also, that was in 1980.
My daughter was breech and after a lot of research I decided that a c-section was the route for us. The potential problem with a vaginal breech delivery is that the baby's head is the biggest part. Their body may be delivered easily, but then their head may get stuck. If the baby's head is still inside while the body is out, the umbilical cord is being compressed (think about the cord from baby's stomach up into you. The cord is pressed between its head and your pelvic bones.). Unless delivered quickly, the baby can have some serious complications. Vaginal delivery can be done. Many breech babies have been born safely this way, but you need to decide if the risks are worth the rewards.
You can look up turning tips on www.spinningbabies.com. If that doesn't work, your doctor could do an external version at 37 weeks just before inducing. If the baby is lying (or winds up lying) transverse, a c-section is considered the only option (after external version.)
The majority of OBs won't do a breech vaginal birth because they're not very experienced with them. It's rare to find one who is. Midwives are more likely to have practiced that skill.
My babies tend to turn late, so I've weighed my options several times. For me, despite having excellent midwives and previous easy deliveries, I always opted to go for the c-section if they didn't turn (but they all did, most around 35/36 weeks.) It's a very personal choice.
There are risks with breech vaginal deliveries. They go down for women who have delivered vaginally before. They go up in the presence of unexperienced breech baby catchers. I don't really know if preeclampsia has an impact on the risks.
There's some good info on the spinning babies site, though.
I have no experience with breeched births, but I have had three vaginal births and I spend a lot of time on the "head down thing" near the end. I use a lot of visualization - visualizing baby with head down, the opening of a flower, the pull/push of the ocean (similar to the fluids in the womb splashing against the "door") and thinking about baby "surfing" down that canal to me. I also spend a lot of time rubbing my pregnant bellies in the downward direction and telling baby that s/he needs to get ready and needs to help Mama out by getting into the right position. I also spend a lot of time on my hands and knees letting my belly hang (this is suppose to open things up and give them flipping room) and rocking gently back and forth and arching my back like I am stretching. Not sure if/how much all of this helps, but I do it anyway...
I wish you the best of luck and find your strength and positive attitude so refreshing! You will do wonderfully and your beautiful little bundle will be here before you know it.
~C.
This doesn't really answer your question but I would pass on some info. I had a similiar situation - with added low platelet counts. My baby was sideways and I had to have a c-section. It was a blessing because the baby's platelet count was low as well. His brain would have hemmoraged if I had delivered vaginally. So, the baby's position shouldn't be the only consideration. It might be safer to have the csection anyway.
The vast majority of doctors will not do a breech birth, due to the high risks of a breech birth. my two boys were both vaginal births, then i had to have a c-section with my daughter, because she was breech. I had low fluid, so they would not attempt to turn her, and it is a good thing, because when she came out, she had the cord wrapped around her neck multiple times (one of the risks of trying to turn the baby is if the cord is wrapped around their neck, and it gets pulled tight). I absolutely prefer the vaginal birth to a c-section (i would try a vbac if we have another baby), but the health of the baby gave me the strength to get through it. good luck to you - i hope all goes well with your delivery. sending hugs & prayers,
~T.
I know of midwives who do breech births but no doctors. Try acupuncture with moxa, the Webster technique with a chiropractor (there's a website that lists all doctors certified in it), cold peas up top on belly, flashlight, music, and talking down low on belly, lying inverted with head on the floor, rocking on all fours.
I refused an external version because of bad experiences with two friends doing it and it didn't feel right to me. I'd rather have a planned c-section than an emergency! My instincts were right, she was too big to have turned and my placenta was blocking her from turning anyway. My recovery was surprisingly easy, but then again I'm a fast healer in general. Getting up and walking for the first time was hardest and sneezing, laughing, and coughing hurt like hell for a few days, but at least I didn't tear down there like the first time!
babies can be born breech, but very few doctors are willing to take the risk for liability reasons. you'll have to have a pretty awesome doctor to even try. most believe it's too risky, but i would definitely go for it if it were me, especially since the baby is so little.
There's a lot of different tricks you can try for turning them, but at the end of the day, those little kiddos are going to do what they want!
Just wanted to send a note on the C-Section. I was really really against having one, too. I also didn't want to deal with the recovery. I was actually crying when they took me in for the section after 2 hours of pushing, when it became clear that my daughter wasn't coming out.
Ask you doctor how they perform the C section. If they don't cut through muscle, your recovery time will be quite fast. I was back to working out 2 weeks after my c section. My doctor simply separated my ab muscles, rather than cut them (at my request between sobs going into the OR).
My recovery from that was actually faster than my recovery from the vaginal birth of my son.
Just something to be aware of. Do you homework and talk to your doctor, especially since you know it's a real possibility that you could wind up with a section.
Some things that work -- cat/cow stretches, moxybustion, a chiropractic technique called the Webster Technique is very very good for turning breeches -- it was designed specifically for that purpose. A chiropractor has to be certified in it, so look for one in your area. I would try to get ahold of any doulas in your area who might have recommendations.
Yes, it is definitely possible to deliver a breech vaginally, though most OBs won't do it, and don't have much training. Many widwives will do it, and though you might be considered high risk with the pre-eclampsia, you might be able to find an OB/midwifery practice to work with.
Good luck and congratulations!
There are many ways to help turn a breech baby. If you know where the head is, put something cold there and usually the baby will move down and away from the cold. You can also use a flashlight, as babies will follow light. There is also a breech tilt and the inversion ( http://spinningbabies.com/techniques ) that can help. Depending on the location of the placenta and the baby's position, doctor's can do an external turn that can be pretty painful for mom. There is a pressure point on each of your pinkie toes, just above the first joint and on the outside, lower portion of the toe nail. Some chiropractors also have a technique ( Webster technique I think it's called) that can also help. **Ask your doctor and fully research all of these to be sure they are safe for you to do in your condition as some techniques could cause premature labor if done incorrectly. **
I had two babies out of four turn sideways into a transverse breech position. My first transverse turned about the time she was due and then into full breech a week later and ended in a c-section because my doctor at the time said she couldn't turn the baby (something I think she lied about) and lack of knowledge on my part. She didn't give me any idea of anything I could do to help turn the baby on my own. I've since learned otherwise. The second baby to turn transverse (my second vbac and fourth child) was turned using the cold packs, flashlight, inverse position and the pressure points. She turned about three weeks before her due date and after using those techniques mentioned had turned back to the proper position with in a week. Note: I hadn't ANY complications during my pregnancies. My doctor also would turn the baby up to the day of deliver if necessary, if baby stayed in a transverse position.
I hope your baby turns so you won't have to worry about a breech delivery. Some doctors will deliver breech, but they are far and few between. Good luck!
The OBs who used to do breech vaginal births are mostly dead or no longer practicing. Many states allow Midwives to deliver breech babies - but with your pre-eclampsia, no Midwife would take you.
Eventho a Midwife cannot deliver your baby - you can still call and consult with them about how to turn your baby. They deal with this situation often. To my understanding - acupuncture, re-alignment with a chiropractor and certain specific positions/postures are what they usually recommend before an external version is considered. You may be able to get some info from the local Midwife population...
If someone without knowledge of breech births delivers your baby... the head may get stuck and the umbilical cord could be squeezed between their head and your vaginal walls for too long.
You still have time. My 3rd was breech until literally the last minute... I was induced, and he flipped when I was at 2 cm and they broke my water (and things went REALLY fast after that!) You could also try getting on your hands and knees, and putting your butt as high up as possible, and your head down. Or, your doc can actually try flipping baby from the outside (this is kind of painful for you though, but it's been done). Yes, babies CAN be born breech, vaginally, but the risks are very high and most doctors won't do it; they'll opt for a c-section because it's safer for mom and baby both. Don't stress too much over a c-section... whichever way your baby decides to come into this world will be the right way :)
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