[Jessghetti]

So I went in for what I thought was routine exam. I even came in 30 minutes early because I have been having NTS before getting my cervical checks. The baby's heartrate was good and she was moving alot.

I have been having trouble with swelling and gained about 3lbs since last week !

Anyways, went in for an exam and found out I was at 3cm, my Dr also stretched my cervix (owww.) but after the exam he seemed rather concerned because the baby's head didn't feel 'right'.

He got out the ultrasound equipment and started looking around, I wasn't sure why exactly but I found out she is breached, in the 'Frank Breach' position, which is the worst possible position.

I got a bit freaked out with the news - everything had been going great up until now.

He told he I could go in and have an external transverse where they tried to turn her around - but risks included placental abruption, cord getting wrapped around her neck, water breaking and me going into labor. He also said I'd have to take pain meds in order to have the procedure and it wasn't guaranteed to work.

Then I had an option of a c-section - which obviously the risks included it being a surgery and it effecting every other pregnancy I had (that they would all be c-sections). As much as I wanted to have a natural birth I talked it over with DH and we decided the safest route would be to have a c-section.

So she is scheduled to be born on August 28th at 8am. I have to go in at 6 am to prep for the surgery.

I'm really unsure/scared and was disappointed that I wasn't able to have a natural delivery - but even if I tried and she was still breached it would be incredibly dangerous and difficult.


The funny thing about this is that last week he thought he felt her head down and that the heartbeat has been found in the position of a baby that was head-down.

[Brittanie]

It's possible that she flipped. Babies do, even this late in the game. Are they going to do another ultrasound before the surgery to make sure for you?

I'm sorry that you're not getting the birth you wanted.

[Jessghetti]

Originally Posted by Brittanie

It's possible that she flipped. Babies do, even this late in the game. Are they going to do another ultrasound before the surgery to make sure for you?

I'm sorry that you're not getting the birth you wanted.

They didn't mention anything about doing another ultrasound, so Im not sure.

[momof6lopez]

I would check out that website "spinningbaby's" just for sh**ts and giggles, lol, you never know, it might work! Also, in your position, I would of opted for the c-section, hands down, not even second guessed it! Get the u/s done no matter what!

[Pitridge]

This is the same thing that happened with Alex. It was at 36 weeks when I found out and at 38 weeks he was still breech. Do the u/s just in case.
I opted for a c-section as well, and with Liam I was able to do a VBAC, so just because you had a c-section now does not mean you will have to have another.

[doremi]

I totally agree with your decision to opt for a c/s rather than a version attempt. However, I would ask for another u/s prior to delivery date just IN CASE baby flips! It can happen, even this late in the game! As for the c/s... here are a few things I wrote in my birth plan for this time around, after having an emergency c/s with Josiah:

1. Administer anti-nausea meds with epidural/spinal
2. Don't let me see the needle
3. Insert catheter AFTER giving epidural/spinal
4. Remove catheter in the early morning of day 2 rather than right before bed on day 1, so that I don't have to get up to use the bathroom multiple times the first night and can sleep.
5. Let me see the baby above the curtain before he is cleaned up
6. Delayed cord clamping please
7. Skin to skin contact as soon as possible following the birth

A c/s is not fun, but to be honest, it wasn't the pain from the surgery that was the hardest for me... that part was manageable. I had other complications and was worn out from laboring first- THOSE were the things that made it so hard last time around. Everyone has told me that a planned cesarean is SO much easier!!!

[Leanne78]

I agree with all the above. I would probably opt for a C too, but I would also want them to double-check at the end. I know of people who have had their babies flip during labor, so it can happen.

[lindsey2000k]

I agree... I would demand another u/s before the C section. Most Drs are happy to push women into a section because 1. your birth becomes more medical and most of them like to be surgens and 2. They get paid more if you do a section, dont have to come in the middle of the night, and it's all on there terms.

I also agree this does not mean you can never have a vaginal birth your current OB might not do Vbacs but you can always find one with the next baby that will. My friend had a section with baby number 4 and then went on to have a home birth with baby number 5!


Good luck and you are so close

[melissalaw]

I agree about making sure she is still breech before the c-section. I would have opted for the c-section also. Your getting so close. Not much longer!!

[StaceygirlPa]

When I was pregnant with Cody he was breach most of the time. He did flip around a lot towards the end because all the extra fluid I had. They talked to me about them trying to flip him. Dh and I both talked about it and deceided on a c-section. To us the risk of them trying to flip him was greater then the c-section. They should recheck you before they do the surgery. Good luck on Monday.

[ashj_1218]

Sounds so familiar. My second did the same thing. He was head down on a sonogram at 36 weeks...and transverse breech (meaning his bum was sitting on my pelvic bone and there was no way he could come that way!) at 36+6 weeks. I was not a candidate for a an external version because of the blood clotting issue and his anterior placenta.

I HIGHLY recommend checking out a chiropractor. Especially if your insurance will cover it (mine does with just the copay left for us). I think that opting for the c-section is fine. And probably a good choice, since it's not like breech delivery is common anymore (and therefore less safe). But I tried some spinning babies techniques (laying on an ironing board upside down, heat at the lower part of my belly, crawling around more often and sitting Indian style a lot). I am fairly convinced it was the adjustment that made him flip. There are also acupuncturists who will cite pretty good stats at getting babies to turn. I had an appt but never made it to it.

My baby turned back at 37+1 (two days after the sonogram). And was born that next day.

And absolutely have another sonogram to check position. Although the stats say it is hard to flip a breech baby late in the game....you can remember that she flipped THIS way recently (as long as you know she turned) and therefore has the room and potential to flip back. If you have a lot of water, she is even more likely to.

[Jessghetti]

Originally Posted by ashj_1218

Sounds so familiar. My second did the same thing. He was head down on a sonogram at 36 weeks...and transverse breech (meaning his bum was sitting on my pelvic bone and there was no way he could come that way!) at 36+6 weeks. I was not a candidate for a an external version because of the blood clotting issue and his anterior placenta.

I HIGHLY recommend checking out a chiropractor. Especially if your insurance will cover it (mine does with just the copay left for us). I think that opting for the c-section is fine. And probably a good choice, since it's not like breech delivery is common anymore (and therefore less safe). But I tried some spinning babies techniques (laying on an ironing board upside down, heat at the lower part of my belly, crawling around more often and sitting Indian style a lot). I am fairly convinced it was the adjustment that made him flip. There are also acupuncturists who will cite pretty good stats at getting babies to turn. I had an appt but never made it to it.

My baby turned back at 37+1 (two days after the sonogram). And was born that next day.

And absolutely have another sonogram to check position. Although the stats say it is hard to flip a breech baby late in the game....you can remember that she flipped THIS way recently (as long as you know she turned) and therefore has the room and potential to flip back. If you have a lot of water, she is even more likely to.

He said I only had 2 large pockets of amniotic fluid - I didn't have too little that he was concerned but not alot of fluid like he would like. He mentioned my placenta was interior? therefore behind the baby so that was the only 'good' thing about it. I have been 'dropped' since around 36 weeks and he said her pelvis was lodged pretty deep into my pelvis -so that would make it difficult to turn her.

I'm trying to think back now to any big movements recently and it does seem to me that she moved alot - I've had some times where it felt like she may have been flipping? because my whole stomach would move.

The weird thing is that at 37 weeks he said he thought he felt her head and when I was doing the NST monitoring (because of my high blood pressure) they would get the heartbeat in the right place (as if she was head down?)

I'm going to try to make sure I stay good and hydrated with water, I read you are suppose to drink about 2 liters of fluid a day to stay hydrated when pregnant. Maybe that may help, I am hoping they will do another u/s, I will certainly ask before the surgery but I am not sure they will give one to me?


I read up on breech babies and that sometimes there is something wrong with the baby or abnormalities with the mother's womb that causes the baby's not to turn. Although every u/s and test I've head has told me she is very healthy and any previous testing on myself and my reproductive organs I've never had anyone say anything was abnormal.

I'm probably just overthinking and over-worrying about things.

[3Sapphires]

my fluid was down to an 8 at my last appointment after upping my water from 2L to 1.5 gallons. I am now at 3 gallons hoping to increase my fluid levels.

you should check out spinningbabies.com and you don't have to settle for once a c/s always a c/s - that is why I am trying so hard to get my fluid level up, I had a primary c/s, then a VBAC, and I desperately want another VBAC.

[martilynne]

whatever way it works out, good luck! Either way you are going to be holding your sweet baby soon

[ashj_1218]

Originally Posted by Jessghetti

He said I only had 2 large pockets of amniotic fluid - I didn't have too little that he was concerned but not alot of fluid like he would like. He mentioned my placenta was interior? therefore behind the baby so that was the only 'good' thing about it. I have been 'dropped' since around 36 weeks and he said her pelvis was lodged pretty deep into my pelvis -so that would make it difficult to turn her.

I'm trying to think back now to any big movements recently and it does seem to me that she moved alot - I've had some times where it felt like she may have been flipping? because my whole stomach would move.

The weird thing is that at 37 weeks he said he thought he felt her head and when I was doing the NST monitoring (because of my high blood pressure) they would get the heartbeat in the right place (as if she was head down?)

I'm going to try to make sure I stay good and hydrated with water, I read you are suppose to drink about 2 liters of fluid a day to stay hydrated when pregnant. Maybe that may help, I am hoping they will do another u/s, I will certainly ask before the surgery but I am not sure they will give one to me?


I read up on breech babies and that sometimes there is something wrong with the baby or abnormalities with the mother's womb that causes the baby's not to turn. Although every u/s and test I've head has told me she is very healthy and any previous testing on myself and my reproductive organs I've never had anyone say anything was abnormal.

I'm probably just overthinking and over-worrying about things.

To the first bold...that is probably not a great thing for flipping. It was the good thing about Kieran, he was still "floating" (aka: nothing was engaged in the pelvis) making it easier for him to flip. Although if you spent some time lying upside down, she could come back out of the pelvis to turn. I think drinking lots of water is a good thing, no matter for turning or not. I always had a lot of amniotic fluid (in both pregnancies). Frankly, if your little one managed to turn once after 37 weeks, unless she turned and engaged at the same time, there is still a chance she will turn again. You might have more water than they thinK. My sonographer even told me when they were doing the biophysical profile that they don't put a ton of stock in the water measurements. She said they are always conservative, since they are more worried about too little fluid than too much. So I wouldn't totally give up (unless you want to, of course...I am not meaning you should try to flip her if you are fine with the c/s. Like others said, its not "once a c-section, always a c-section" like they like to tell you).

And to the second bolded....I have never heard of breech babies having issues. I know that some women who have breech babies throughout the whole pregnancy *could* have a uterus that doesn't support the vertex position as well. I have a good friend who has had two breech babies (and two c-sections) and they suspect that her uterus is shaped funny and doesn't allow the baby to be comfortable head-down. But I think that is pretty rare. And of all the babies I have known to be breech at some point in pregnancy...they are just stubborn, nothing wrong with them at all I am sure Chelsea is just fine. She is prolly just testing ya!

[LindseyE117]

Layne was head down at 29 weeks and then turned breech for the rest of the pregnancy. He never turned and I tried everything including spinning babies, chiropractor, etc. and nothing worked. It drove me insane but I finally came to terms with it. My c-section was not bad. In fact, the recovery was way better than my other two vaginal deliveries believe it or not. We did have issues, but that was caused by my GD and early delivery at 37 weeks. Other than that he is all good.

[kaylakay]

I had an emergency c section and I'll tell you something do NOT get behind on your pain meds! Even if you feel find for the first few days after I suggest taking them. I was feeling fine 2nd day I didn't take them and BAM it hit me so hard I was crying. C Sections are rough but totally worth having a safe baby over. You don't have to have another c section for sure. I have heard of many women having VBACS.