Dear Laura,
I live in Bath, England and last year my baby was in breech position
from quite early on (head tucked up under my ribs). I was on the
domino scheme which meant I was seeing a team of midwives and would
stay at home for as long as possible (maybe even stay at home if all
went well) and if I did go into hospital only stay in for a short
time. Unfortunately, because the baby was breech the midwife sent me
to the hospital for a scan and the whole medical process started. I
saw one consultant who wanted to book me in for a c-section at 38
weeks and did not discuss any other options, I went back to my
widwife who booked me into see a more sympathetic consultant - who
said I had 50/50 chance of ending up with a c-section adn suggested
an epidural(I said I wanted to wait and see what happened he agreed).
Meanwhile, I was doing exeercises, spent alot of time on all fours,
had acupunture (moxibustion) and also had a doctor try adn turn the
baby at the hospital (all with no luck). They suggested induction...
but I eventually went into labour at 41 weeks Sunday afternoon and
had a night of contractions about 10 minutes apart never really got
any closer together, I phoned the domino team to come out and assess
me Monday morning but they said because I was breech I was how under
hospital care...so we had to go along to th hospital, we waited
around much of the day I was only 2cm dilated, I wandered around
outside...they gave me a bed but the last thing I wanted to do was
lie down! eventually, we persauded a young doctor to let me home,
promising we would come back if anything happened (waters broke etc),
another night of contractions, and then Tusday morning, exhausted! we
went back to the hospital (I am going on sorry) anyhow, evetually,
JAck was born 7pm Tuesday evening, with epidural (but no forceps or
ventouse - which they had said would be essential) A doctor seemed to
twist him out as he was presenting a foot, so feet first, out he
came.....
The reason that they wanted me to have the epidural was so that they
coull wisk me into theatre to do a c-section if needed and after two
adn a half days of labour and not dilating as Jack foot was pressing
down, I was relieved to have the epidural!
Looking back, I was very sad not to have been able to have the
midwives I had met through out the pregnancy at the birth, but
because I was a 'complication' I had to transfer to hospital adn was
time, and ended up with a vaginal birth not a c-section!
I am very sorry, to have waffled on with my birth story, to sucha
learned audience, but just wanted to share this with Laura, I found
it hard to find out what was standard practice with breech births and
maybe it varies from area to area...what is the procedure?
Good luck with the birth,
let us know what happens...
Elspeth Mathie
Exeter University
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