Breech baby (long-ish...sorry)
So, I've been a silent observer on Pregly for nearly my entire pregnancy. This will be the first time I've ever posted a discussion and asked for advice/opinions. This is the first time I felt like I really needed some guidance and unbiased opinions. If you have anything helpful that you are willing to share I would be most appreciative!
Here is my situation: I am a FTM, due Aug 23rd with a baby Boy. My husband and I have been planning & preparing to attempt a natural, unmedicated childbirth in a hospital with an ObGyn from the beginning. We even hired a doula to help us achieve this goal. I've had very few complications throughout the pregnancy, my baby has measured small the entire time but still growing (my husband and I are not big people) but he is healthy and checks out ok (we've been seeing a perinatologist & obgyn throughout). Anyway, my baby has been breech for about 10 + weeks now - he is in a Frank Breech position (butt down, legs in pike position and head up at top to the right) and I have an anterior placenta. We have tried everything imaginable to get him to turn (swimming, ice packs, music, moxabustion/acupuncture, Webster technique with a well known prenatal chiropractor, and even the external version). All of this has been unsuccessful. My OB said it is too risky to do a vaginal breech delivery (even though he's done over 500 of them) and that I have to schedule a c-section. There is no option here and he will not do this past 39 weeks. So, despite the fact that I don't want this c-section, it is scheduled for next Friday, Aug 19th.
I'm having a hard time with this whole thing. My doula suggested switching doctors to one in the LA area that will attempt a vaginal breech. Requirements are that it is done in the OR, you have an episotomy and an epidural. Also, with the understanding that it could very well result in a c-section. I'm not comfortable with switching doctors for a few reasons that only someone in my shoes could understand (sorry, it would make this so much longer to explain those reasons).
So, my question is....do I ask my doctor if he'd be willing to at least let me go into labor naturally with the understanding that I will come to the hospital right away and have a c-section? It doesn't feel right to me to plan when my baby is to be born. I would like to have the benefits of going into labor naturally (the hormones that your body secretes are so important) and I would prefer to know that my baby is ready to come into this world that day rather than when I choose him to be here).
I'm so upset to be in this position and knowing what I know now I would not have chosen this doctor or I would have switched 10 weeks ago instead of at 39 weeks. I know that having a c-section is not the end of the world and the important part is a healthy baby and healthy mom. Trust me, I am SO excited to meet my little man. However, I don't want him or I to be denied or deprived the benefits that you get from a vaginal childbirth (not to mention not having to deal with a VBAC the next time around). I mean, with a c-section you may not even get to hold your baby right away and that just makes me cry thinking about it.
What would you do? @homebirthadvocate do you have any thoughts or advice? Am I failure or a bad mom for not switching doctors at this point?
Here is my situation: I am a FTM, due Aug 23rd with a baby Boy. My husband and I have been planning & preparing to attempt a natural, unmedicated childbirth in a hospital with an ObGyn from the beginning. We even hired a doula to help us achieve this goal. I've had very few complications throughout the pregnancy, my baby has measured small the entire time but still growing (my husband and I are not big people) but he is healthy and checks out ok (we've been seeing a perinatologist & obgyn throughout). Anyway, my baby has been breech for about 10 + weeks now - he is in a Frank Breech position (butt down, legs in pike position and head up at top to the right) and I have an anterior placenta. We have tried everything imaginable to get him to turn (swimming, ice packs, music, moxabustion/acupuncture, Webster technique with a well known prenatal chiropractor, and even the external version). All of this has been unsuccessful. My OB said it is too risky to do a vaginal breech delivery (even though he's done over 500 of them) and that I have to schedule a c-section. There is no option here and he will not do this past 39 weeks. So, despite the fact that I don't want this c-section, it is scheduled for next Friday, Aug 19th.
I'm having a hard time with this whole thing. My doula suggested switching doctors to one in the LA area that will attempt a vaginal breech. Requirements are that it is done in the OR, you have an episotomy and an epidural. Also, with the understanding that it could very well result in a c-section. I'm not comfortable with switching doctors for a few reasons that only someone in my shoes could understand (sorry, it would make this so much longer to explain those reasons).
So, my question is....do I ask my doctor if he'd be willing to at least let me go into labor naturally with the understanding that I will come to the hospital right away and have a c-section? It doesn't feel right to me to plan when my baby is to be born. I would like to have the benefits of going into labor naturally (the hormones that your body secretes are so important) and I would prefer to know that my baby is ready to come into this world that day rather than when I choose him to be here).
I'm so upset to be in this position and knowing what I know now I would not have chosen this doctor or I would have switched 10 weeks ago instead of at 39 weeks. I know that having a c-section is not the end of the world and the important part is a healthy baby and healthy mom. Trust me, I am SO excited to meet my little man. However, I don't want him or I to be denied or deprived the benefits that you get from a vaginal childbirth (not to mention not having to deal with a VBAC the next time around). I mean, with a c-section you may not even get to hold your baby right away and that just makes me cry thinking about it.
What would you do? @homebirthadvocate do you have any thoughts or advice? Am I failure or a bad mom for not switching doctors at this point?
Comments
I hate being in this position and feeling like I don't have a voice or a choice. It's simply not right and truly understand now why people choose midwives & home births.
Now I just need to find the strength and courage to find another provider if an attempted vaginal delivery is what I really want.
Thank you very much...wish me luck!!!
Homebirthadvocate is an OCEAN of information
PS-I agree @homebirthadvocate is truly and amazing resource. Pregly is lucky to have her on these boards!
@homebirthadvocate my Doula has given me some recommendations and I am about to give one of them a call right now. I will let you know if I could use some additional references. THANK YOU!!
http://doctorberlin.com/
Additionally, I have been reading through this website too and it seems to have a lot of great information too about breech and how to avoid an unnecessary c-section.
http://ican-online.org/
My doctor isn't budging, he simply doesn't believe it's safe to do a vaginal breech or even allow me to wait until I go into natural labor to see if he will turn then. I am not going to force him because if he isn't comfortable then I think the risk of something going wrong would be higher. I can't seem to get another doctor to take me at this late stage. They say no
I know that a vaginal breech can be done and can be done safely. It kills me that I won't even get a chance to try.
@tricesbaby i can understand why this is a concern of yours. If you haven't already, you should ask your doctor what they would rec if your baby is breech. Ask if you will even have an option of a vaginal delivery. Finding out now will be best. If your doc is one that won't even consider it like mine then I would switch doctors. It will be easier to switch before 28 weeks rather than later when doctors are more hesitant to take on a new pt that late in her pregnancy not having cared for her the whole time. Also, if your baby is presenting breech around 30 weeks or after start trying the natural methods of getting them to turn then rather than wait till later. Your chances of success will be higher. But remember, only 3-4% of babies are breech at full term. Your baby has a high chance of getting head down when they should.