How Risky Really Is a Vaginal Breech Birth as apposed to a C-section???

[NaciravBanks]

As the title suggests, I am trying to evaluate the real risk to having breech birth as I really want to avoid a c-sec. If anybody wishes to share there experiences with me, I would really appreciate it. Advice, links general info would be gratefully received.

I have read that at 32 weeks only 17% of babies are in breech, and this improves to 3% (if I remember correctly). Is that true?

Kind Regards

Nac

[caro]

Have you got reason to believe you might have a breech birth? They normally turn as delivery approaches. Breech birth

[ErikaPNP]

Depends on the individual patient, I would think. If it's any consolation, my mother has 6 children, he fifth, my brother came out bottom first with SVB and she was fine, he was fine. My DD2 turned about a fortnight before I gave birth SVD (and hasn't stopped being awkward since!) again, both mum and baby were well. All I can say from my experience was that the labour was more painful than first time around, and also more speedy but I doubt that had anything to do with her position as a woman in the post natal ward I befriended, also having just given SVD birth to her second child, felt the same about her labour.

 

As I said, risk depends on the individual person, their history etc. It may be worth a chat with your consultant if you are overly concerned. In this day and age it is possible to go through a "trial of labour" which basically means you go into labour (usually, but not always, induced), and they will monitor you more closely with preperations in place in the case that an emergency section may be necessary. If the labour progresses in a manner that is considered safe for mother and baby, it will be allowed to continue. If immediate risk becomes evident during the process, they will section you. My friend had a trial of labour as it was her first pregnancy and she was expecting twins. She got to 9cm dilation but had complications and needed to have a section in the end. Trials of labour though may be a post code lottery, or agaon dependant on risk. If your consultant feels that a breech birth would place you or your baby in immediate danger due to your specific case criteria, he may encourage you to undergo a section.

 

HTH

[NaciravBanks]

Hi and thanks for the responses (sry about delay)

Yes, the reasons are as follows.

I am currently 31 weeks and a scan last week revealed that the child is in a breech position. I am hopeful that the little miracle will present himself head-down by the time I go into labour.

 

Also, and excuse me for not remembering the correct terminology that should be used, but the scanning guy (sonarologist maybe) has discovered, and is monitoring 2 things;

 

1) The baby is “growing to big”

2) There is too much fluid surrounding my baby.

 

I understand that diabetes during pregnancy can be a cause for the issues above and I accordingly had a glucose tolerance test done on the 26th august (28-weeks). Waited 2 weeks for the results and received nothing, when I called I was told that if something negative had come from the blood test, I would have been called.

 

Went back for a scan on the 11th September when the scanny guy noticed no blood results back. He advised I walk over to antenatal to chase it up which is what I did. Nothing. They couldn’t find it on the system at all at which point I suggested coming in in the morning to have another sample taken, which is what happened.

 

Received a call from the lovely midwifes yesterday (31-weeks) informing me that the blood results are back showing that I have gestational diabetes and that I should come in asap. I did, went in yesterday where I was shown how to monitor my blood and eat correctly. I was also told to go to my GP to get a prescription for the needles that the machine uses as they can only provide the strips.

 

Once at the GP reception, I was told that neither they nor the pharmacy have any reference to the needles my particular machine requires, but the pharmacy have kindly agreed to supply me a machine of there own with a supply of strips/needles. Perfect!

 

Once at home, I proceeded to monitor my blood sugar levels and am sticking to a strict diet. But there is 1 problem. The 2 machines I have are giving off different readings! I am using the correct strips with the correct machine but the one I got from the hospital always shows1 or 2 higher then the machine I got from the pharmacy! Which one do I use? I would love to hear you opinions. Also is it normal to have a glucose tolerance test so late into the pregnancy?

 

Thanks Folks

 

Nac

Edited September 17, 2008 by NaciravBanks

[caro]

My suggestion would be that you contact the midwife for advice on this. Also, it seems very early days to be worrying about a breech birth as the head tends to engage much nearer the time that the baby is due to be born.