(4) Stories about breech births
Kelly, Lancs - C section after baby became breached at 37 weeks
I had a great pregnancy without any major complications. Things were going smoothly and I felt really good. Then one night
during my 37th week I felt my little baby moving around, she kicked for over an hour! They weren't frantic kicks, so I reasoned
she wasn't in distress but just very active. The next day at my check up I discovered that she had moved herself into a breach
position! I don't know how she found the room to do that! I was booked in for a C section the following week, I went home
in shock. After experiencing such a smooth pregnancy, a C-section was certainly not in the plans!
A week later I woke up at 3 am with some period like cramps that seemed to come 10 minutes apart and once in awhile five
minutes apart. They were very mild and I lay in bed for a few hours before waking my husband. I tried walking around, taking
a shower, but they kept coming, so I called my doctor. He told me to come to the hospital so he could check me out. They don't
mess around with breech babies so if contractions start, even if they're far apart, they act on them. My husband and I were
convinced that this would be Braxton hicks and I would be sent home.
I was admitted to the hospital and they hooked me up to machines to check my contractions and the baby's heart rate. They
discovered that with each mild contraction I had, the baby's heart rate went down a bit, and since she was still breech they
decided to do the C-section promptly! I was immediately prepared for the surgery. I really did think I'd be sent home, so
I was really surprised that this was it, no time to get scared it was all done in minutes!
The catheter burned a lot when they put it in, but as soon as I went numb from the epidural I couldn't feel it. I was surrounded
by extremely nice nurses and doctors who answered all my questions. I was whisked into the operating room I was already shaking
like crazy, but that's just the drugs they give you and hormones reacting. It's quite comical how you have no control over
it! I could feel some tugging as the doctor did the surgery, but it certainly didn't hurt. Our daughter, Summer Ann, was born
at 9:40am on January 16 2006. She was 7 pounds, 3ounces.
My recovery was super easy! I have the best scar, it's so thin and has been healing wonderfully! I have had my moments
of uncomfortable pain around the incision area, but it's certainly manageable. Looking back it was nice not to have to go
through hours of labour pain, so I focus on that and also on knowing that I have a precious, healthy baby girl! If I have
to do a C-section again it won't bother me. For any of you, who are awaiting an upcoming C-section, don't worry! It's not
that bad and there are benefits to it.
If you have a story or a comment on this stories please share it with us
Jane, Reading - C section at 38wks due to breach
I found out that Charlie was breech at my 36-week exam. So I was told it was most likely that I would have a C section,
if he wouldn’t turn by himself in the next few weeks. I did try every alternative therapy I could to turn him and I
believe that he did turn a few times and then turn back. Three people experienced with feeling babies believed that he had
turned head down during the process, but always he went back.
He surprised me by deciding to come one day before his due date. By the time I figured out I was really in labour and woke
up my husband, contractions were three minutes apart. They then quickly became quite painful and intense. By the time we got
to the hospital, I was fully dilated and ready to start pushing, we were both scared that the baby would come before the doctor
arrived. The nurses gave me shots to slow down labour (a very welcome relief!), and the doctors arrived soon after.
Sitting still for the epidural was difficult, but the pain relief was very welcome.
Note that none of the procedures they did while I was in labour (other than the vaginal exam, which required me to lie
flat on my back) bothered me because the discomfort was nothing compared to the discomfort of labour. This included the IV,
the shots, inserting the catheter without any pain relief and the spinal block. When you are that far along in labour, your
mind is so gone that all you care about are the contractions and when they will be over. I did ask about the baby several
times, so he was also a concern, but nothing else was. My whole carefully prepared birth plan was out the window, but it did
not matter to me at the time.
I was very scared of the C-section and afraid that it would hurt or something would go wrong. But I did not feel any pain
at all, only tugging, which did not hurt. And very soon I heard my husband exclaiming joyfully, He's so cute! And then heard
him cry.
After a few minutes, they brought him to me and held him near my face so I could see and then I didn't get to see him or
hold him until we were both back in our room. But it was OK because my husband was with him the whole time, and I was enjoying
listening to him rejoicing over him.
I didn't have any pain that I can remember until the next day, although I didn't want to move either. I was quite happy
to lie in bed and not move a muscle. However, the next day, the nurse removed the catheter and announced that I would be walking
to the bathroom before the day was out. Standing up for the first time was hard (I can't remember if they made me stand the
first day or waited until the second), and going to the bathroom the first two or three times was hard, but after that, the
pain was no big deal. I had to shuffle everywhere I went, but it wasn't too difficult to deal with.
One other thing is that the C-section did not interfere with nursing. My milk came in just fine, and I had enough pain
medication that I was able to hold her comfortably. The nurses were fabulous at helping us nurse. I did have problems because
my baby had trouble sucking – he was sucking like a preemie even though he was not, and we had to supplement with formula
since he was under 6 pounds. I highly recommend getting a lot of help in the beginning with nursing. If done properly, it
is not painful, and my nipples have never been sore or cracked. Nursing is a wonderful bonding experience that can't be duplicated
with a bottle. Also, try reading the ingredients in formula. Corn syrup solids were the first ingredient in our soy formula
we bought.
In hindsight, the C-section seems much easier than a vaginal birth – both in the procedure itself and in the recovery,
although the doctors tell me that it's a shame he was breech since I would have pushed him out so easily. I now realise I
wasted a lot of time being afraid of the C-section and spent too much energy worrying about the birth process. Now, all I
care about is how precious and wonderful my little boy is!
If you have a story or a comment on this stories please share it with us
Debra, Kent - C section at 38 weeks after baby found to be breach
I thought I could never have kids, so imagine my amazement when after only five month together I ended up getting pregnant.
I was so excited to be finally having a child of my own. My pregnancy went well until my 14th week. I started bleeding, so
they put me on bed rest for two months. Then I was on light duty. Everything was OK, other than at my 5th month I had an ultrasound
and found out my son was really big. They tested me for diabetes, which I didn't have. So they monitored me.
At 38 weeks they did another scan and found that my son was breech, so they arranged a C section. I was supposed to have
him on May 7, 2003. But on May 6th I woke up at 7 with contractions, so I went to the hospital. They did an emergency C-section.
My son was born weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces. He was a real healthy baby. That is it, my story.
If you have a story or a comment on this stories please share it with us
Holly, Sussex - Had C section after intending a home birth
I was a midwife and decided to have my baby at home with the help of a friend of mine licensed midwife. All prenatal visits
were done in my home it was great and every thing went on fine. I had an ultra sound at 21 weeks, and everything looked fine
with the baby so we continued on our way to having a home birth.
Two weeks after my due date and two weeks of having lots of sex, walking miles, curries there was still no labour! So reluctantly
I called my doctor. She of course flipped out since I was so far overdue. She checked me and didn't feel the baby's head so
looked with ultrasound and he was breach!
I reluctantly (with several tears) packed up my homebirth supplies to give to another mummy-to-be and packed my suitcase
for the hospital. I had a surgical birth at noon. Since I worked at the maternity unit we of course cheated and had a few
extra people in the theatre. I guess I still felt like I was at home since all my friends and family were there and truly
cared about me. Joseph came in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces.
I had a little trouble with heavy bleeding, I was feeling better later and I was able to get out of bed at 4am. I have
been breastfeeding him ever since, and he now weighs 16 pounds and is not quite 3 months old. In the end we had a great birth
after all!
If you have a story or a comment on any of these stories please
share it with us 
