Breech Babies Club

  • Facebook
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Breech Birth
  • Other Information
  • Contact

Naomi’s story: a calm elective c-section

I found out at 34 weeks that my baby was breech and a 36 week scan confirmed that. I tried yoga positions, moxibustion and osteopath to move her, and whilst these made me more comfortable she did not turn.

I was very reluctant to have an ECV because of the low quality rate of success and by that point I felt like she was just facing that way “for a reason” sort of thing. But I went to the appointment at 37 weeks and the midwives and doctors put my mind at ease so I went for it. In my experience it was not painful, just uncomfortable. They were happy to take a break when I asked for it and I practiced hypnobirthing breathing to make myself calm. It didn’t work so we went for a c-section.

I had not wanted this initially but after researching I didn’t feel I could calmly go through a natural birth and wasn’t sure the support they offered was enough (they didn’t have any breech specialists). So for me and my husband c-section felt like the best option.

I can honestly say it was one of the most special experiences of my life and I would not hesitate to do it again. My fears about c-section were completely misplaced – seeing my daughter being lifted over the drape within a few minutes of the op being started was so wonderful and still so special I fell in love with her straight away.

The recovery has not been that bad at all, only the first few days were tough and I am now 13 days in and can bend, change her on the floor, can go for walks and am no longer taking pain meds. Scar is healing really well. If you are having one, my advice would be to drink loads of water and eat fruit and veg on the days leading up to the op to aid digestion and not get constipated and get up and walking as soon as you can. Take it easy and get as much help as you can and if this is the path you end up taking I assure you, you won’t feel “guilty” or like you didn’t earn the birth.

It is still a wonderful way to meet your breech baby.

Filed Under: Birth Stories, Featured Tagged With: Elective c-section

Zoe’s story: a planned c-section for breech

Here is my breech birth story for those that are also having caesareans or may have one unplanned!

My wee boy was born a month ago by unplanned caesarean. He was frank breech from 34 weeks onwards in my pregnancy and wasn’t for turning despite spinning babies and chiropractic treatment. We declined ECV after a good discussion with both midwife and doctor, it was the best decision for our circumstances and personal feelings. We had an elective c-section booked in for the 27th of January and began to prepare for this! However, the wee man decided to pick his own birthday and I went into labour on the 22nd!

Thankfully I finished my work early as I was technically still meant to be working until then ?‍♀️ I had done lots of preparation and reading on hypobirthing so I used all the breathing techniques during labour and also in the hospital too which made a massive difference. I called first thing on the 22nd and was advised to stay home as the contractions were too far apart but by 10pm I called back as they were much closer and beginning to feel painful.

Once I arrived the midwives calmly assessed me and baby, did another scan to check his position (he hadn’t moved still) and advised caesarean that night was going ahead! So I knew it was coming just not 5 days early! After two hours of being in the hospital I was given a vaginal examation just to check that I wasn’t too far along to not have surgery and would have to given birth vaginally. I was 4cms dilated and they all couldn’t believe how calm and collected I was for being at that stage! I definitely put it down to my hypobirthing so I highly recommend this to anyone! I had also done my research on a vaginal birth and for numerous reasons it wasn’t an option.

The caesarean went ahead and I was able to have all of my requests for a positive calm birth. I had music playing, was able to see him being born, got skin to skin, delayed cord clamping and the midwives got him breastfeeding straightaway too! I was so so pleased as all of this really made a huge difference to my experience of birth and my wee boy has been successfully breastfeeding since. Something I was so worried about!

Recovery from surgery has been slow but good. I’ve been able to go for short walks the last week and my wound is healing really well. It’s so important to keep on top of your pain medication post-surgery as this really makes a difference in your recovery I feel and drink plenty water too! The first ? after surgery I’ll be honest and say was horrendous!! I don’t have any advice there as I was drinking, eating fibre and taking lactose ? so just ensure you keep those up!

Overall, it’s been a really positive experience with a few eek moments here and there, but for anyone about to go through it I would say to do your breathing exercises, ask for what you want, don’t be afraid to stick your guns if you need to and look forwards to your beautiful bundle arriving! The pain and stress is more than definitely worth it all ❤️ My boy’s legs and hips are totally fine despite being breech – I was worried about this too.

Filed Under: Birth Stories, Featured Tagged With: Elective c-section

A c-section for breech

“After some thought we decided to have the c-sec. I had done no research on the topic and my beautiful home birth was gone to be replaced by a major surgery I knew nothing about! Some googling happened that evening.”

http://www.powerfulmothering.com/a-birth-story-my-first-born-the-breech-baby/

Filed Under: Birth Stories Tagged With: diagnosed, doctor, Elective c-section

A gentle c-section birth for a breech baby

Our breech baby Jennifer born by c section.

Had hoped for vaginal breech but new decisions needed to be made as not in a good enough position for me to feel confident with vaginal delivery, back to back footling breech.

At consent form signing with consultant he offered me another chance to try and turn baby under the spinal and if she turned to break my waters and transfer to DS for a natural birth allowing the spinal to wear off. Overjoyed to get another ECV and at least a chance for a vaginal birth. Baby didn’t turn with 3 attempts so proceeded with C/S.

Had radio station of my choice, all the staff picked up on my desire for a joyful relaxed environment and each and everyone of them contributed to making it the amazing experience that it turned out to be. The consultant asked if we wanted to see her being born and the screens were dropped, we saw our baby gently eased from within me, her little bum first, she came out so gently and easily. The consultant handed her directly to me, she was pink apgar 9 at 1 min. I held her against my chest with my cord still intact. We were both covered with dry towels and I rubbed her all over talking to her, she breathed without support or assistance in under a minute. Within the next 30 seconds she searched out my breast and latched herself on. Weighing etc was delayed until I was ready. I had delayed cord clamping and cut my baby’s cord after about 5 mins.

The staff were amazing it was an atmosphere of calm celebration and I felt so involved. I was fine throughout and the anesthetiser then took photos of us all together. My baby never lost her connection with me, she was on my breast feeding and I cut her cord. The staff took great care to involve my husband.

I really didn’t want a c/s felt it would be clinical and that I’d be detached from it. My experience has left me with nothing but joy. My consultant (University Hospital North Stafford) had been fully supportive during my pregnancy and there is nothing more I could have asked for or expected, he made the birth of our baby unique and so personal for us and the theatre team were also amazing. We are blessed to have our beautiful daughter she is feeding so well and I believe this is wholly contributed to her being left to do what nature intended.

Filed Under: Birth Stories Tagged With: diagnosed, doctor, ECV, Elective c-section, planned

A story of three cesareans, the first for breech

A story of three cesareans, the first for breech

“I am not afraid to say I was depressed. It was hard. It took one day a few WEEKS later for something to click. He was crying, and when I picked him up, he stopped, and looked at me and a calmness came over me and him. I was his momma. No one else. I was all he had.”

http://birthwithoutfearblog.com/2013/03/11/three-cesarean-births-military-family/

Filed Under: Birth Stories Tagged With: diagnosed, doctor, Elective c-section

A planned c-section for footling breech (with video)

A planned c-section for an awkward breech with one foot up and one foot down, and a family history of breech (with a video):

“I don’t feel guilty about doing it, though. There were no doctors or midwives on the island who would deliver a breech baby. Giving her position, I wasn’t going to risk doing it by myself. In the head, we weighed our options and felt fairly in control of the whole process. Still, I feel some disappointment in missing out of the experience that I was envisioning, though I hope with our next baby we can have a home birth after cesarean.”

http://birthwithoutfearblog.com/2013/11/14/a-cesarean-for-breech-birth-with-video/

Filed Under: Birth Stories Tagged With: diagnosed, doctor, Elective c-section, footling, hospital, planned, video

Lessons in Bomb-Diffusion – how it feels

How does it feel to be left with no option but a c-section for breech when you planned a home birth?

“I spent every day I had a breech baby trying to turn her–and my mind–around. I would wake in the morning, remember I was headed toward cesarean, and cry in my bed. One day my two year old lay next to me, put her hands on either side of my face and said, solemnly, “Sad Mama.” Sad, indeed. And confused, lonely, and very stressed.”

“I don’t have the answers. Especially not for you. I do believe it should be easier to find information, and that there should be more choices in childbirth. It’s not OK that breech is an automatic cesarean when even ACOG recommends vaginal breech birth in select cases. In cases of surprise breech, it’s not OK that no one knows what to do. Someone as highly trained as an obstetrician should be able to handle such things. They can’t do so by training exclusively on pelvic models, although that would be a start. Someone has to have a vaginal breech birth for them to witness. Someone has to be at that birth as the expert attending. And someone has to have a breech baby and want that birth.”

http://homebirthcesarean.org/lessons-in-bomb-diffusion/

Filed Under: Birth Stories Tagged With: diagnosed, Elective c-section

Search our breech birth stories and articles

Categories

  • Academic papers (3)
  • Birth Stories (64)
  • Featured (14)
  • General information (2)
  • Publications (3)
  • Uncategorized (1)

Copyright © 2023