Version...to turn or not to turn?

[Christyne]

O.K., help me out here. I need your advice.

I'm 35 weeks PG with baby # 3. He's breech and has been since week 28.

From what I've seen/heard a version can be quite painful for mom and carries a risk of brain damage for baby.

Now, baby already has some serious problems (see my sig.) that will need to be addressed shortly after birth.

Well, it seems that "they" are pushing me to have a version and are making me feel like a bad person for preferring to schedule a c-section instead. Please, no lectures on how no one can MAKE you feel anything, I'm in bad enough shape as it is.

What would you do?

TIA for any advice

Christyne

[TwoForUs]

Gosh... it's not as simple as yes or no to me, so I can't answer your poll! I don't know - I know version performed safely, monitored etc., is pretty safe. But I don' t know the impact of any heart problems in this case.

I think YOUR gut feeling is the one you have to follow. Do the research and make your decision. Listen to your medical team, but find out WHY they think one option is safer/better than the other and take that into account too.

Sorry I wasn't much help!

[January]

My baby turned after the 8 month apt. everyone said he was too big to turn but he was 9lbs and had no problems. I think I did some exercises to help him, but I can't remember what they were now! UGH!!

[hedra]

If there are already risk issues, my approach would be:

Hypnotherapy turn (scripts) - Zero intervention, zero risk, if baby doesn't turn, you are no worse off.

Chiropractic turn (Webster technique) - low intervention, minimal risk, if baby doesn't turn, you are still no worse off.

Both have higher success rates than obstetric turning, and higher maintenance (that is, once turned, the kid stays turned more often), and lower risk. Plus, less painful for mom. The u/s nurse at the hospital was thrilled when my son turned with hypnotherapy, because she hated helping with versions - very violent and painful, in her opinion, though perhaps they just had sucky OBs doing it...

Hypnotherapy and chiropractic both use the fact that babies turn more naturally when the uterine muscles are fully relaxed. If you are tense, nervous, conflicted about the birth/having another baby/risks post-birth (which would be normal in your position), then your uterus can tighten up and make it harder for baby to turn by itself. If you resolve the tension (HB doing it through your brain, chiropractic doing it manually by adjusting the ligaments in your pelvis), then baby can turn on its own, as its instincts demand anyway. If baby doesn't turn with those methods, chances are decent that there's a cord wrap or other issue present. Not 100% there, either, though.

But that's just MY opinion. I was prepared to opt for an external version at 40 weeks exactly if the HB didn't work. But it worked fine. :)

[Shari]

My son was breech and turned at 37 weeks. I've heard of MANY late turners. I can't remember (how silly of me) what the exercises were that I did back then, except the one of lying upside down on an ironing board propped against the couch.

GOODLUCK!!

Shari

[djk42]

My first choice would be to do exercises to help baby turn and have a vaginal breech if not, since you are already comfortable with the idea of a c-section if you need to be.

I have never heard of version risks, other than that baby can turn back or that baby cannot turn due to cord issues. We all know that a c-section carries risks, but in 5% of cases it does improve the outcome for the baby, so for those 5% (including some forms of breech), it is a good idea. It is safer for a butt-breech baby and mother to have a vaginal birth, but in other positions it depends on the experience of the doctor and the exact position of the baby which is safer I think.

Discuss with your doctor which risks each procedure carries (and the amount of risk there is) to help you decide.

Abigail turned at 32 weeks after about a month of exercises, but she was only transverse, not upside down.

[Ursula]

I had an EV. It wasn't as painful as recovering from a cesarean. In fact, it wasn't painful. It was awkward and uncomfortable. Also, my baby never turned and I ended up with a cesarean. However, if I had it to do over again, I'd try the EV again because the risks are extremely minimal in the States, much lower than are stated.

Also, if your OB doesn't know how to help you deliver a breech baby vaginally, then he really doesn't know how to deliver one himself surgically. The truth is, that with a vaginal birth, you can at least push and work together. WIth a c-section, the doctor needs to be trained in breech vaginal birth (which they aren't in the US) because there is actually great risk to the baby when being pulled out by the feet by an OB that doesn't really know how to do it.

My OB delivers breeches vaginally whenever possible and desired by the mother. He's delivered over 70 babies that way and more than that surgically (because he's a local expert) and it was a very difficult cesarean because the baby was stuck in the womb, all wound up in the cord. So, she never would have turned, but during the EV, she was monitored very closely and never went into distress. They stop at any sign of fetal distress.

Anyway, I'd go for the EV.



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Ursula
Me: 35, Dh: 34 (1989)
<font color="#FF850B"><font size=2pt> Dd: May 2001</font></font>
19 Months
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[Christyne]

Thanks to one and all for your responses. This is such a difficult decision.

My original choice was to deliver vaginally, but because of the heart issues with the baby, the OB said that it was not a good idea.

I am seeing Jonathan's cardiologist on Tuesday and will see what she has to say about it.

Thanks again.

Christyne

[*Sprinkles*]

Just wanted to let you know that I had an EV with my now 3 year old. I was 36 weeks when they did it. It was uncomfortable, but worth it for me. I did start having contractions afterwards, but they stopped and I ended up having a 9lb. 2oz. baby girl at 41 weeks.
Oh, after the EV my belly was red and was soar for about a week. And they continually check with the US throughout the whole thing so they can be sure the baby is safe. Good luck with your decision!

[luvbeingAmom]

I had the version done with my thrid baby. It was not painful at all and everything went very good. i have a great deliveery the next day.

Now looking back I wish i did not have it done. I have NO proof if this is what has caused my Sarah to have a speech problem (she was diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech) and be a bit slower to learn but if I knew then what I know now I would not have had it done. I would have waited 2 more weeks until my due date to see if she would have turned and if not I would have the c-section. Like I said before I have no proof what so ever if the version has caused her learning disabilities but really I would not do it again. I would not chance it at all. Good luck in your decision.

Tracie

[Christyne]

Well...I saw Jonathan's cardiologist today, and she recommended against it. Her feelings are the same as mine. He'll have enough to deal with after birth, we don't want to stress him out unnecessarily (sp?) before he is born.

C-section has been scheduled for the 21st of Jan. unless he tries to make an appearance any earlier.

Hugs~

Christyne

[hedra]

I'd recommend hypnotherapy, then, as it has zero health risks for baby - it is the baby who turns, or not, on its own. No pulling on the placenta or cord. I really do highly recommend that approach, and their success rate is better than the OBs (our midwives start with hypnosis first, now, rather than scheduling a version, because it is so successful).

Please consider this, as you don't really want to be recovering from a c-section while trying to care for a baby with health issues. JMHO, but a strongly felt one.