So tell me about an external version for breech baby

[wdwmom0f3]

My son was breech my entire pregnancy and the Dr tried turning him the week before delivery to advoid a c-section, he actually turned sideways a little which was not painful during the process but very uncomfortable the next few days, then i felt him turn a little more in the middle of the night. They scheduled to enduce me but i did not want to do a c-section and prayed he would turn. Went to the hospital morning scheduled and was already in labor. The Dr suggested that I turn over and get on my hands and knees in the bed, i did not have any pain med so I figured if that was my last resort then why not! It worked and he did finish turning on his own and I was able to finish delivery with out c-section. I thought he was out of his mind but this worked so I was very thankful I tried. When they tried to turn him in the office the Dr did not force but more so guide the baby. He didn't keep at it for very long either. Good Luck!

My first baby had turned just days before I was due with her and I had a c section. With my second baby I found out a little earlier and I was told by my doctor to turn over and get on my hands and knees and to lower my chest to the floor, every night for a week. When I went back in, she had turned on her own. I would try this everyday. After all of that, I still ended up with a c section because she would not drop.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

I was almost 40 weeks when I went in to get induced with my son Danny(10). I was so ready to kick him out. He was kicking and squirming so much the night before I thought he threw a party and had invited friends. Turns out he turned straight north. My Doc offered to let me try naturally, I laughed in her face and told her she was earning her paycheck today. 2 hours later I delivered at 20 inch 10 lb 2 oz boy by c section. Thank God!!!

My best advice to you if you decide on a c section is TAKE IT SLOW!! That especially includes getting up. Take your time and use a chair. I found with going through 2 sections that someone trying to help tends to pull on my stomach. A chair is more passive in their help

Good luck in what you decide and remember the most important thing is coming home with a baby.

 

[Green Tea]

One was started on me. One doctor was prepped for the delivery while the other was doing the version. The version had only just begun when the other doctor yelled push. About half a push later out came the baby. The doctor saw a foot and pulled. So, no version.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I had a version with my DD (child #2). I was given about a 50-50 success rate. As said, it was done in the hospital "just in case" they needed to deliver right away. (It was a regular L/D room, not an OR as someone else said.) I was monitored extensely before, during and after. My Ob had done them many times and I felt ok taking the change on it working. (My best friend did have a successful version.)

It was painful (truthfully, I threw up on my OB ) but when they stop pushing, pain stops. (Not to be blunt about this, but any way that child comes out will involve pain, lol.) DD wouldn't budge an inch, OB successfully predicted she'd be a very stubborn child.

I also tried alll the old wives tales (Staying on your hands/knees, floating on a pool, playing music and shining a light "down low"...) that I didn't think were going to hurt anything. I learned about the acupunture technique after or I would have tried that too.

I did end up having a csection. I wouldn't hesitate, though, to try the version another time.

If you opt to do it and would like a run down how it goes, PM me, would be happy to give you a longer explanation. (I looked all over the net before mine trying to find one!)

 

[vettechick99]

Definitely find a Webster person. And if I were in your shoes, I'd find a new OB. Because an OB that doesn't trust him/herself to let a baby figure things out on its own is an OB that is working from fear. I had two midwives and one OB working from fear, and it did NOT end well.

Other countries deal with breech. Trick is, I've learned, is to NOT interfere. Problems happen when OBs and midwives start interfering. I read a book that said with breech, the main work the professional needs to do is get a cup of something and go sit in a corner. Getting involved is what leads to problems.

I also question this OB because he wants to take the baby out before the baby has decided it's time. My kid was over 42 weeks, and he had signs of prematurity. DH was born at 44 weeks (normally, because in '72 things were more sane than now) and he was under 9 pounds. Can you IMAGINE if someone had taken him out 5 weeks before he was ready???? Makes me ill to think about.

So this OB is wanting to go against the March of Dimes and everyone else trying to STOP this trend of taking babies out early, why? Why would he schedule things EARLY? Why not wait until labor starts and then have you come in, even if you want surgery? Why make up a date?

I was unable to stand up for myself, ultimately. Even though I thought I could.

My cousin, however, dealt with a pushy OB and very well. She knew her body and her body could actually work under immense pressure (where my body acted like a gazelle in labor when she hears the roar of a mountain lion...things stopped entirely so I could run away, but no one would let me run away...gazelles at least have a chance of running away), and just kept putting off her OB again and again, excuse after excuse, until she knew her babies were just about there, and then she went in. She had two babies all natural, without even a heplock, in Florida, and that's impressive.

Anyway, this OB is throwing out all sorts of questionable things. He wants to take your baby out early, he doesn't feel comfy with breech (and I know this is normal in America NOWadays...still tells me that the OB is a poor OB who hasn't seen enough births quite yet and wants to get in there and interfere), etc etc....it's never too late to change professionals until the scalpels are being used.

That's what I've learned.

Find a Webster chiro and get some referrals to better OBs/midwives. I wish you all the luck and POWER in the world!!!!!!!!!!

Alright Judgy MrJudgerson! Obviously you are against c-sections and medical interventions, but it sure doesn't make her OB a bad one.

And what was sane about the 70s? That doctors gave x-rays to pregnant abdomens to check on pregnancies, and smoked in their offices with their patients? Patients probably smoked with them. Maybe mom even met dad for a drink after her appointment. Yes, fantastic times back then!

All I can say is that neonatal mortality is half of what it was back then.

I'll take my planned c-section and healthy baby anyday of the week.

 

[kt_mom]

Thanks for all the replies. Lots of contractions last night and a very active baby. Maybe we'll go in tomorrow and when they check he will have turned. He was head down last and I'm pretty certain he was head down over the weekend so I think he had just turned within the last few days. So maybe he'll turn back on his own before we go in tomorrow.

I'd really like to avoid the c-section but in the end we're going to do whatever is best for the baby. The Dr. thinks it's worth a try to try to turn him. I think because he just turned. He had been head down all along until this week. I'm just hoping not to go into labor before tomorrow.

They will most likely give me the medicine someone else mentioned because of how many contractions I've been having. They can't do the version while you're having contractions.

I have a friend that is a L&D nurse so I called her last night to get some advice. She thinks it's worth a try if I don't go into labor before tomorrow. They don't induce or plan c-sections prior to 39 weeks here unless medically necessary so if the version doesn't work and doesn't put me into labor or the baby into distress then we'll be waiting until then. And there is still hope that he'll turn on his own. I don't think I'll last another week and half though and neither did my Dr. She seemed to think that I wouldn't last through this weekend.

So we'll see what happens. DH and I will go in tomorrow and I'm praying that when they check he will be head down again on his own. For today I'm just taking it easy and hoping not to go into labor.

 

[Geoff_M]

Our #3 was frank breech. After talking it over with the midwife, we opted to let my wife labor to see what happened. After several hours of hard labor there was failure to progress. Our son was showing signs of distress, so we went for a C-section. We were very lucky we did because it turned out the reason for the lack of progress was a "cord issue". The surgeon said that if we'd let our son "figure it out on his own" he wouldn't have lived. Afterwords, my wife said that she wished she'd have just opted for the C-section to begin with instead of going through all of that labor first and still ending up in the operating room. In our book a "happy ending" is a lot more important that what takes place in the middle chapters. BTW, he turned 11 last week!

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

My first child was breech - head up under my right ribs, positioned slightly diagonally with legs dangling down. I asked my OB about turning her because I'd known a few people who had that done. He would not even consider it because of the danger to the baby. There was another OB in town at that time who had killed a baby in the process of turning him/her. That was all it took for me. I know that no one dreams of a c-section, but in the end a healthy baby is the goal. So my precious 9lbs, 5 oz daughter was born by planned c-section at 39 weeks.

My son was also a planned c-section. I was all pumped for a VBAC, and he was pointed in the right direction. However, he was big. I didn't have gestational diabetes; I just have big babies. The OB said he was at least as big as my daughter, and she was afraid I could have a long labor, with increased chance of uterine rupture from the first c-section, and still end up with another section. So, I just opted for the planned c-section. Good thing, as my bouncing baby boy was 10lbs, 15oz!!!!

In the end, it's about having a safe delivery and healthy baby. I never pushed a child into the world, but I very much delivered two. And, on the positive side, I don't pee when I laugh because those muscles were never stretched!

 

[happygirl]

They tried that with my first daughter. It was horrible so painful they gave me pain meds and it didn't help one bit. After they tourted me they still couldn't get her to turn. I would say not to do it.

 

[kt_mom]

I don't think c-sections are evil, I just prefer to not have one if I can help it. They will do another ultrasound tomorrow before trying the version and my hope is that maybe he will have turned on his own.

I want to do the best thing for my baby and if it turns out to be a c-section then that is certainly the route we will go. My Dr. is really good and I trust her. She was willing to try the version or schedule the c-section for 39 weeks, whatever I wanted to do. I don't think I'm going to make it to 39 weeks though. I'm hoping to make it to tomorrow. If I go into labor today and he hasn't turned on his own then I will end up just getting the c-section and that is fine, obviously its what is meant to be. I just want my baby to be healthy.

But if I haven't gone into labor before tomorrow then I want to at least let her try to turn him. I'm also not afraid to say stop if I feel that its too much for me or the baby. If he's just not budging then I'm not going to them keep pushing him.

Maybe we'll get there tomorrow and he'll be head down again. He's been really busy in there last night and this morning so maybe he'll turn on his own.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I don't think c-sections are evil, I just prefer to not have one if I can help it. They will do another ultrasound tomorrow before trying the version and my hope is that maybe he will have turned on his own.

I want to do the best thing for my baby and if it turns out to be a c-section then that is certainly the route we will go. My Dr. is really good and I trust her. She was willing to try the version or schedule the c-section for 39 weeks, whatever I wanted to do. I don't think I'm going to make it to 39 weeks though. I'm hoping to make it to tomorrow. If I go into labor today and he hasn't turned on his own then I will end up just getting the c-section and that is fine, obviously its what is meant to be. I just want my baby to be healthy.

But if I haven't gone into labor before tomorrow then I want to at least let her try to turn him. I'm also not afraid to say stop if I feel that its too much for me or the baby. If he's just not budging then I'm not going to them keep pushing him.

Maybe we'll get there tomorrow and he'll be head down again. He's been really busy in there last night and this morning so maybe he'll turn on his own.

You've got the right attitude! Good luck! Just think, soon you'll be holding a newborn baby and the world will seem just a little bit brighter!

 

[kt_mom]

You've got the right attitude! Good luck! Just think, soon you'll be holding a newborn baby and the world will seem just a little bit brighter!

Thanks! That's what I keep trying to tell myself. In a few days I'll probably have my baby boy here one way or another and that's all that matters.

 

[mrsv98]

DD was a frank breech for a LONG time, what fun having a head and two feet pressing on my diaphragm for three months... My OB group wouldn't even consider a trying a breech birth and frankly, seeing her enormous head, there is no way we would have survived a "regular" birth.

Since we knew she was breech for so long, we did try a few folk remedies but darling stubborn child was firmly ensconsed and cozy... I had heard some not great things about a version so we just opted for a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks. It was a good thing we did, when I went in that morning, I was hooked up to a monitor which showed I was starting contractions. DD was 8lbs 8 ozs so she was fully cooked and ready to come out!

Your attitude is exactly right, try and get him to turn but in the end, the best outcome is a healthly mom and baby. Good luck!

 

[AZ Mom]

I had an external version with my second child (frank breech) at about 37 weeks. It was uncomfortable, but not really painful. The procedure was a success and the pregnancy proceeded with no further issues or complications. He was born 1 day early and weighed 8 lbs. -- normal "v" delivery. Now 15 and almost 6 ft tall (him, not me)!!

 

[aduck126]

working in fear...

gazelles....

oh bumber, you have outdone yourself this time. Thank you for all the entertainment.

 

[dsnymomof4]

I don't think c-sections are evil, I just prefer to not have one if I can help it. They will do another ultrasound tomorrow before trying the version and my hope is that maybe he will have turned on his own.

OP - this was my thought exactly when they told me by babies were breech. I am definitely not a medical professional, but know that c-sections carry risks that all surgeries carry. So, I was willing to try the version to get the babies to turn. I say babies because I actually have had 3 successful versions! (Those babies just liked being head up!) Two of them were actually planned about one week before my due date, the other was a surprise - we went in to be induced at 41 weeks and they discovered she had flipped! Anyway, for me, the actual procedure wasn't really "painful", but involved a lot of pressure. I guess by the third I was so used to the procedure, it didn't really bother me at all. I remember the hardest part was laying for that long on my back. I think with the first, I got lightheaded and they gave me an oxygen mask and let me turn on my side for a while, then they went ahead a completed the procedure. They monitor the baby very closely and I'm sure were prepared for an emergency delivery had anything gone wrong. I just wanted to give you a little reassurance that the procedure can work. Good luck to you! Please let us know what happens.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Thanks! That's what I keep trying to tell myself. In a few days I'll probably have my baby boy here one way or another and that's all that matters.

Absolutely! Honey, once you get a whiff of that sweet smelling little head of his, this whole discussion will fade from your memory! Good luck and try not to stress!

 

[Princess Peach]

I had a version the week that I was due with my third baby. Seemed to work for a little while, but then my son turned again. The dr suggested to go home and sit on my hands and knees with my butt up.

I laid like that for three days and sure enough he turned again. I don't know if it was the position or just coincidence, but I was happy with the result.

 

[sunnyday123]

Thanks! That's what I keep trying to tell myself. In a few days I'll probably have my baby boy here one way or another and that's all that matters.

Exactly!! My birth plan was this: 1. Go to hospital 2. Come home with a healthy baby.

It worked!

 

[tammymacb]

I've never had a breech version. However, I was a labor and delivery nurse for 15 years with 8 of those years in a high risk medical university setting.

I, personally, wouldn't do a breech version. They have risk, they appear quite painful, and they often don't work.

Your two major risks are cord entrapment and placental abruption ( from all the hard pushing ) so if you do end up going for the procedure, you should be ready for Csection at that time. I've seen several versions end up in the OR and we used to schedule ours so that the OR was always empty ( we had our own dedicated ORs ) while a version was in progress. You'll have to give informed consent, should have your IV and you should not have eaten prior. I've seen some versions done under epidral, which is supposed to relax the mother, relieve pain and is also good for that "rush to the OR". Another thing you should be aware of is that in a real emergency, if you don't have an epidural, you will go under general anesthesia which is much riskier for yourself and the baby. It's also a more painful recovery.

I've also seen a lot of babies turn on their own and if your baby was head down until last week, there is a good chance it will find its way head down again. I'm hoping that if you went to the hospital in labor/went in for a scheduled CS, that your MD would put an ultrasound on your to confirm position prior to bringing you to the operating room. ( Though I was in a C-section before when I'd seen the doctor check presentation- still breech- and at delivery the baby had turned back to head down. )

I've also seen breech versions work. In my experience not a lot. But some. Make sure you're monitored after the procedure. We kept our patients for at least 2 hours after for continuous monitoring.

As far as delivering a breech, its very risky. If you've had a baby before that was bigger than the baby you are currently carrying, you know the head will fit. If you haven't, you don't know the head won't fit, until it's too late. And then it's too late. Most physicians will not electively deliver a breech unless it's VERY preterm ( like a set of 30 week breech/cephalic twins ) and that is done in a high risk environment in the OR with anesthesia at the head of the bed.

Hope this isn't too much info. But, this is my 15 years worth of experience. Take it as you want it.