Baby in a Footling Breech Position

As the people before me have said versions don't normally work. My son was breech but luckly right after my water broke he decided to turn around. So I didn't have to go through either one, but I know lots of other people that had to go through the same decision you do and they went with the version first and then had to end up having a c-section anyways...one because the baby just wouldn't turn... another because they got the baby to turn and then she just turned right back around the next day... They all said it hurt very much. I would try all the non-surgery stuff first if you have the time and then if none work I'd do the c-section. Congrates on the little one and hope everything goes good.

You have more options than just cesarean or version! Definitely get chiropractic care: I also recommend Dr. Long in Tacoma. Also, call your childbirth educator or doula for suggestions. There are so many non-interventive things that can be done. Your doula will come to your house and help you with things like music and warmth to entice baby to move, lying on an ironing board inverted, the open knee-chest position to bring baby out of the pelvis and encourage rotation, etc. Versions often work and I would highly recommend doing one before jumping into major abdominal surgery. Please let me know if I can help in any way. I can refer you to a doula or many other birth professionals in your area if you'd like to try these very safe alternatives!

I have experience with both. My son, who is 6 months old, was breach, and I was in pre-term labor for 6 weeks. Lots of bedrest and running to the hospital to stop the contractions. I had contractions every 3-5 mintues for 6 weeks, but because my baby was breach, he wasn't being pushed out. Anyway, they decided to do a version, but they get you all prepared for the C-Section before just incase turning him sent me into full labor. Yes it is very painful, but since i didn't ever get the full-on contractions of the end of childbirth I don't know which is more painful. Anyway, we managed to turn him halfway, but not all the way. So we scheduled a C-Section for 38 1/2 weeks, to try and get him to turn on his own and a the same time get some more in-utero time to finish growing. The C-Section was no big deal for me, all of my family of course was freaking out, but I had done my research at that point, and I was okay with it. Once he was born, we discovered the reason he couldn't be turned, his cord was too short. This is fairly rare, and having the C-Section likely saved his life. Since you are currently pregnant I won't scare you with a second-hand horror story.
The C-Section itself was fine for me. I have a small scar, and it takes a little time to get back on your feet, but you get to spent the time bonding with your new child. You have to let yourself rest for the first 6 weeks, so you aren't up and running around during nap time trying to do house-cleaning or whatever when you should be resting. If you are really scared about the C-Section, look on the website for the Mayo-Clinic, they have a video that takes you through a woman's C-Section, as well as some info to help set your mind at ease. I'm the type of person who likes to do lots of research, hear lots of opinions, then make my own choices based on what I have learned. I hope this has been helpful, and I definatly suggest going onto the MayoClinic's website.

My daughter was breech a few weeks before she was born, and my midwives told me to play music on my stomach as far down as I could fit headphones, and my daughter turned right away. They say that the baby wants to hear the music. I hope this helps!!!

My advice would be chiropractic care. If you go between 35 and 38 weeks you have the best chance of the baby turning. If you live in the Puget Sound area, I HIGHLY recommend Dr Michael Long at Renaissance Chiropractic Center. I've been seeing him since I was pregnant with my first (I have 2 now) and he's a godsend. He adjusts my husband, and both my girls as well, since they were born. He has a strong success rate with turning breech babies.
Good luck

Don't be afraid! It's not as bad as you think! I've had a c-section and it went very smoothly and the doctors were great. I have to go in for a scheduled c-section for this baby on the way, and I'm like, just give me the epidural, I'll take that over labor anyday!! :) You will feel some pressure when they take the baby out, but it's a very safe procedure and you will do just fine. Do some reading on it and be prepared for it. :) Good Luck!!

Hello,
My son was in the breech position for a long time and never turned. He didn't have much choice though since he had his twin in there with him taking up the extra room. So I had a c-section and it wasn't bad and the nice thing about it was I didn't have to go through that much labor since they knew he was breech. I also have a three year old who was not a c-section so I can definitely tell you there are pluses and minuses to both. Don't worry too much because either way you have a wonderful present at the end. Hope this helps and good luck.

I had this same problem with my first child. You should know that the version has a small chance of working and it is painful. The way it works is a doctor and possibly one or two nurses press down on your abdomen really hard and try to turn the baby. Extremely painful and difficult. I ended up having to do the c-section anyway. I wouldn't be scared, you'll have a healthy baby at the end either way. A c-section is surgery you do have a recovery time, but if my next baby is breech next time I will just schedule the c-section right away.

Hi there! My daughter was born in October last year and at 37 weeks she had flipped around and was in the breech position. My dr. offered to either do the version or just wait to see if she moved in the next few weeks. I decided to do a little research on the version and decided against it. I felt that is was to much a risk for both my daughter and me. This is my opinion so whatever you decide to do is up to you! I had a friend do the version and she said that it was the most painful thing she had ever been through (even more painful than childbirth) and the next week her baby had turned right back around into the breech position. So, she ended up having a c-section. So I just waited to see if my baby would flip back around - unfortunately she never did so I ended up having a c-section. There are many things that you can try to make your baby flip back around. Swimming is a big one! And getting on all fours and staying in that position for about 10 minutes as much as you can. Obviously, these things didn't work for me but I know people that they did work for. Try not to be scared about the c-section. It is totally worth it once you see that pretty little face! Good luck!

I had a version. It was scarey, but it did work. I was on bedrest for a few days and had to drink A LOT of water to get my fluid level up. Its better to try to get the baby to turn than just go straight for the major surgery. Good luck, if you have other questions, let me know!!

Hi M.,
My middle child we found out was breach feet first with an ultasound....It was close to my due date and so they took measurements.....now my first child was 9.4 also c-section (emergency one though) and we they did measurements for my middle child it was close to 10lbs... I was all baby and they wouldnt try to turn her around and they figured she was so big anyways that she wouldnt so they scheduled me for a c section. I had the c section..and let me tell ya a scheduled one is alot easier...it was a bikni cut vs the emergency one i had and it healed faster... by the way she weight 9.13

Csection!!!! I had a good friend that had an inversion done and she said it was horribly painful, and 3 days later her little guy flipped back to breech and she still had to have a c-section. Based on her experience I would say don't do it!

I had a scare like that at the end of my pregnancy. She turned before anything drastic had to be done. Surgery may sound really scary, but I would focus on your health and your baby's health. It is much better to have surgery than a difficult breech birth. Try not to stress out(even though I know you will). I like the music idea. I would have never thought of that.

I watch the discovery health channel enough to know that you dont want to do a version. They are supposed to be very painful to you and very stressful to the baby. And they hardly every work (its like a 50/50 chance). C-Sections aren't all that bad. I would definettely go with the C-Section. I know its scary but remember that C-Sections are intrusive and dont give you the same memories as natural birth does BUT C-Sections are a LOT safer then natural births and trust me... a scar that is hidden by your pubic hair isnt as bad as a stretched out and torn vagina. (I have had both a section and a natural birth so I am speaking from experiance). Besides, your baby is breech so you dont have much of a choice. But dont do the version. :-) Congrats on your pregnancy and good luck!