Oblique breech, not allowed ECV and told I have to be admitted

[hilslo]

Just hoping someone who has encountered this before might ba able to help.

My midwife identified that she thought baby was oblique breech (a cross between transverse and breech) so sent me for a scan. Scan yesterday confirmed it so I was told by the consultant that I could go for a ECV today and if it didn't work then I would be booked in for a csection. I asked what would happen in between and she said there was a v small risk of cord prolapse and to phone hospital immediately if I had any signs of labour.

I went in for my ECV today and the consultant who was going to do it did a quick scan and then said she wasn't going to do the ECV as it was oblique breech and therefore it wouldn't work. She says I have to be admitted to hospital on Monday and wait to see if baby turns if not I will have a csection at 39 weeks.

The two opinions of the risk of cord prolapse are completely opposite so now I'm very confused if the consultant today is just being ridiculously cautious?

I hate the thought of staying in a hospital ward for a week being bored out of my brain - especially when I have so much to do at home before baby arrives.

Sorry for the long post but just wondered if anyone else has had an oblique breech and what happened?

 

[gemstone]

No sounds like midwife might of not wanted to alarm you. Its best you stay there as if far safer for you both. If that cord or any other body part presented. If can quickly become life threatening. Good luck baby moves for you x

 

[Tulip]

He'll be admitting you due to the risk of cord prolapse, so the consultant and midwife are in agreement in that respect. It's hugely frustrating I know, but hospital is the safest place to be in these circumstances.

In your position I would spend some time this week doing some spinning babies exercises, reflexology and moxibustion to try and turn LO yourself

 

[hilslo]

Thanks ladies. I know I have to remind myself that they're doing it to take the best care of me they can but still hate the idea of spending a week climbing the walls and getting no sleep on an antenatal ward.

I only live a 15 minute drive from the hospital so I might see if they will compromise and let me stay at home on Monday and Tusday (my DH or parents will be with me all day and can drive me if anything should happen) then I'll have a day to settle in on Wednesday and only 2 days on my own without visitors (friends and DH will be at work) before I can get company at the weekend.

 

[gemstone]

I'm not sure if they will let you go home. Its just way to unsafe. If the cord was to drop down. The wait of the baby would stop blood flow to the baby. Sorry hun but it's the best thing for baby. I was admitted with both my dd's it's horrid. But if just a small piece of the bigger puzzle hun. Gd luck x

 

[Kittycat155]

I would personally wait it out at home. As long as your water does not break there is no risk of cord prolapse. I would feel I have a better shot at home of baby turning then in the hospital where I most likely will be in bed or a chair and not want to do natural techniques due to so many people in and out of my room. You could go for a couple more weeks in this pregnancy and baby still has plenty of time to move/turn.

 

[gemstone]

True you could go another few weeks. But if it was to go? Then what? Would there be time. Do you know what to do if cord or another part of baby was to present itself? I wouldn't want to risk it personally. But that's me, seen & heard horror stories. Wouldn't want that to happen to me. Gd luck

 

[Kittycat155]

For how rare it is I would be willing to take the small risk. First baby is usually longer labor, 15 minutes from the hospital, call emergency services and do hands and knees. Request US upon arrival to check position. Cord prolapse can happen in ANY delivery. More prone in certain presentations.

A reason stated for not doing ECV is that the baby will just move again anyways at times. If it can flip back to where it was then there is reason to think a baby in a bad spot can flip into a good spot.

If baby stays in its current position it will not be able to come out anyways and the prolapse will not end with baby being suffocated if there is nothing pressing on the cord.

 

[gemstone]

Breech babies can be born just find. I think with given the fact that baby is in this funny position there is a greater risk of cord prolapse. I think the professionals are far better trained to be making the right & correct decision. I was just stating that I know what I would rather. A small stay in hospital than run any kind of risk. Also there is nothing to say that a ftm can't labour in that time. True most don't but I know first hand they can. I was trying to just lift her spirits on the stay & being the safest place for baby

 

[Kittycat155]

Got you I guess I am coming from the side of if you do not like what is offered look into your options. You may have to really stand up to Drs to do anything different but if you come armed with info on what you would do if you went before the 39 week c-section date they may be more willing to work with you vs just saying I don't want to go. And in the mean time baby may move in next few weeks. In this day and age with so much intervention you may not find to many who went another way

 

[Brightxeyes]

I read something in the labour board about a lady who went into labour, they told her to go home, something wasn't right and she went back in, the heart rate kept dropping in certain positions and they didn't realise until examination that suddenly the cord had dropped and they were literally seconds from losing the baby as the babies head had started it's way out and was pressing on cord. The person examining literally had to keep their hand inside her to push the babies head away from the cord so the baby still had oxygen, whilst rushing her to theatre. I can't find it now, but if you take a few minutes you may spot it in the labour and delivery board. Luckily baby was okay due to the quick acts of the person examining her, but it didn't sound like a very good birth experience!

Obviously that wasn't the best of stories, but, it shows how quickly things can escalate and 15 minutes travel would not have been a good ending to that story.

Luckily you know there's a risk before going in, so if anything does happen, they're fully prepared for it and it lowers the risk of baby or yourself being in danger.

If you can see if you can stay at home a couple of days before going in then fair enough, but any little signs or changes I'd be going in immediately. I'm a worry wart so I'd personally go in. I know it's a pain, it's not what you want as an ideal pregnancy, but I'd definitely go in as soon as you can just to be perfectly safe.

Hoping your labour and delivery go as safe and easy as it possibly can be xxx

 

[Tulip]

The user is BrandiCanucks if anyone wants to read. I would probably advise against the OP doing so though - it's terrifying and very graphic indeed. I can't imagine the terror and physical pain of someone holding your baby in while your body tries to push it out. Thankfully Asher is OK. However we should probably note that the prolapse was caused by polyhydraminos rather than oblique lie.

 

[imogenwanted]

I have just had scan at 36 weeks and consultant said he is totally transverse and in some hospitals they keep you in. I have to go for another scan next Tuesday to see if still that way nobody thinks he will move, then I have cs on 11 sep.

Now I'm worried that I should stay in as only having cs three days before due date.

 

[Brightxeyes]

Yes it's not the same circumstances, but it shows how quickly you need to act if you do get a prolapsed cord.

That's why I'd personally go in, I too am less than 15 minutes away from the hospital, but if they gave me the option of being in for a week to reduce risk, I would take it.

Obviously consider all options, but if that's what they recommend then id do it. If unsure because you've had two different opinions from them, then there's no harm in asking to see them again to get a bit more understanding of why they're recommending it and they may even check to see if baby is still in the position and if they still stick by their opinion.

They wouldn't advise staying in for that amount of time unless it was for a good reason
Xx

 

[hilslo]

Thank you all so much for your advice and words of wisdom. Having done a little more research I think I'm going to be a good girl and take their advice. I may be bored out of my brain but if anything were to happen in those two days I'd never forgive myself (I'm a worry wart too Brighteyes!)
If the cord does prolapse then there is around a 10% mortality rate which is scary.

I've spoken to another girl who was in my antenatal classes and it sounds like she might have the same issue and she's at the same hospital so I may even have some good company whilst there!

Thank you all so much again! X

 

[Tulip]

Good luck honey, take a load of knitting / reading / whatever keeps you sane and rest up. Please let us know how you get on

 

[Brightxeyes]

Aw that's good you may have some company
Well because you're prepared and in the right place, the likelihood of anything bad happening is lower! We can give you some kind of company when you're feeling lonely too!
Xxx

 

[WelshMammy84]

Why would you need to stay in hospital for a week after c-section? Literally everyone I know who has had a c-section is home around 24 hours after.

 

[hilslo]

It's a week before not after. I should only be in for a day or two after

 

[bumpbear]

Doctors don't like to have beds blocked unnecessarily, so if they are recommending admission, I would do what they say and not take any risks. A bit of personal discomfort and inconvenience is way better than major regrets later on. First labors are not necessarily slower and I wouldn't bank on waters not breaking before contractions start either. If your water breaks and the baby lands down on the cord, he'll be in distress pretty fast and a 15 minute trip to the hospital plus the time it takes for an emergency doctor to tend to you could be the difference between a good outcome and the worst. I would seriously just go in hun. x