My daughter-in-law is 32 weeks pregnant, the baby has gastroscesis (intestines on the outside of his stomach). She went for a 2D ultrasound, the baby is breech. The Dr. said is he stays breech by 36 weeks, he would want to try and turn him. Her Dr. will either induce or do a c-section at 37 weeks (which is the normal time for a baby with this condition). She is very scared and over whelmed with this whole situation. Has anyone been in this situation?
Baby was born by c-section on Sat., March 15th at 35 weeks. Baby Dade Allen weighed 4lbs 11oz, 17" long. He had alot of complications, which is purpose of taking him early. It was discovered after birth that his stomach was also out with the intestines. Dade is doing very well today. We say he is our miracle baby, b/c we were told he may not survive due to complications he was having on Saturday. Please keep him in your prayers.
It is scarey,ifeel for you my niece'es first baby was born with that and he is fine,he is three year's old now and we have him rotten,god heal's and he answer's prayer's,good luck.
i was a nurse at the university hospital in the labor and delivery unit. i have seen many cases of gastroscesis. tell your daughter to refuse to have the baby turned. this can cause serious damage to the exposed intestines. early c-section is what i have alway seen with these births as well. the baby will be taken to the nicu, and the exposed intestines will be protected with damp dressings. this is one of the most recoverable defects that i have seen. generally requires two or three surgeries in the first months, and then near full recovery.
S.,
I have heard of the condition, only from watching the birthing shows on Discovery Health. You can probably go to the Discovery Health website and get information. I can completely understand being scared witless. The good thing is that the shows that I've seen with babies with the condition have to undergo surgery (some immediately, to push the bowels back in, some over time, as they put the bowels in a funnel-type contraption and allow it to slowly descend back into the abdominal cavity), but of the shows I've seen, all babies have recovered.
My best suggestion would be to do as much research as possible.
Hope that helps! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your son and daughter-in-law.
D.
My baby was breech and I had a external cephalic version (ECV) at 36 weeks. It did not work for me (and when I ended up having a c-sec they saw that it was due to my abnormally shaped uterus which had my baby pinned strangely) but I think the process is a good one. Your daughter-in-law should ask to have the doctor in her practice with the best success rate perform it, which may or may not be her own doctor. I would not say it was a very painful procedure but it definitely was uncomfortable with lots of unfamiliar pressure. I closed my eyes and pictured her turning. I was amazed at the skill of a woman to lay her hands on me and identify the parts and position of my baby through my skin and "gently" try to encourage her to budge. It did not, in my case, cause me to go into labor but it can do that so the procedure is done in the hospital. I was working with a certified nurse midwife until my c-sec delivery ( although an MD did the ECV) and she had some natural, hands-off methods of turning babies in utero. I propped one end of an ironing board on a couch (can use a chair or other low-ish piece of furniture)and laid on it with my head at the low end for as long as I was comfortable. You can research the science behind this - sounds silly but it made sense to me. There were also several yoga poses that have been successful in turning babies - again, I suggest you search for that on your own. I also laid my hands on my belly and talked to my baby whenever I thought of it and asked her to turn. In the end, things were as they needed to be and baby knew best! After opening me up during c-sec it was apparent I have a condition that, had I labored on my uterus, it would have most certainly ruptured ( there was a "window") and caused serious health situations for both me and my daughter. If baby had turned, I would have continued care with my midwife and attempted the NATURAL birth I was so intent on. Had I done that, things may not have turned out very well. So I like to think that, as I said before, baby knows best and everything is the way it needs to be. My advice really is - try to turn that baby every day until 36 weeks but also listen to her and accept whatever kind of birth situation plays out! Best wishes to mom and baby during birth and in his treatment for gastroscesis!
Dear loving grandma and mom,
I too am a grandma, and I know a little bit how you might feel, for your daughter-in-law and the wee one who will be born soon. First, it sounds as if she has good medical care, with an experienced and proactive doctor. They will have pediatric specialists lined up to take care of the baby's condition, and though it's rare, it is a common enough one that they will know exactly what to do, you can rest assured on that. She will have lots of support from nurses and others within the hospital system and from other mothers whose babies are born needing medical attention (there will certainly be online support groups). She should also join Mamasource now! I presume your son and her own family can also help and support her. I think the best thing you could do for her is to radiate confidence and calm and tenderness, just as you did for your sons when they were little and hurting. I wish you all luck.
M.
My secong dd was breech - I had an external version at 38 weeks- She flipped easily and I walked for an hour afterwards - I had a vaginal delivery 2 weeks later - she was 9lbs! It was scarey but I'm soo glad I asked about turning the baby- they were ready to schedule a c-section -. She came out with her knees pulled up to her chest - so she was breech a long time! This was 18 years ago!
my friend's son had it too and was just fine!
what's the point of turning him if they are going to do a c-section? and what's the safest option for the baby- natural or c-section?
From what I understand babies with gastroschesis should always be delivered via c-section to reduce damage to the intestines so that they can hopefully be placed back into the abdominal cavity. Many children do great, but there will be surgery and the recovery and being able to process foods through the intestines will take time. I have known many children with this disorder.
No I have not. There are alot of mothers these days that have babies that are breach,of course like you said the dr. will have to turn it, or C-section. The intestine will be easily be put back where it belongs. Of course there will be a scar. Tell her to pray about it. And thank God for ultrasounds!
It's probably true that with a condition like that surgically removing baby would be better. I don't know; I haven't researched it. But I do know that removing a breech via section is risky than a removing a vertex baby. And I know that an external version by the doctor should be the last resort to turn a breech. There are several other things she could be trying before it gets to that point. Then, at least, it would be one less thing to worry over. You can probably google (or use goodsearch.com) to find a list of alternative or natural ways to turn a breech. Start with http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/turni...
If she does end up a section, you can go to ican-online.com for help with planning it and recovery and how to have a vaginal birth next time. Start with http://ican-online.net/resources/white_papers/wp_familyce...
Hope everything goes well!
Hello S.. My name is C. and I live in MS. I have been an RN since May 2000. I have worked Labor/Delivery and Well Baby Nursery for 5 1/2 years and am currently working in a Children's Hospital in Tn.
DO NOT allow the MD to "try to externally rotate" the unborn baby while in the womb! This is very painful for the mommy to be and can be very dangerous for the unborn child as well. Not to mention that the "success" of such a procedure is slim to none!!
Also, DO NOT allow them to let the mother to be deliver "vaginally"...this is dangerous for the baby as well due to the baby's medical condition. A C-Section is the preferred/recommended route of delivery with an infant with this type of medical condition.
I would also advise (this is what I would do if I were in this situation) to make sure that the hospital she will deliver in has a GREAT NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) in VERY CLOSE proximity! The infant will have to be admitted to a NICU for intensive nursing/medical treatment and will not be able to stay in a "Well Baby Nursery" safely!
The prognosis for this baby is usually pretty good! Medical technology has come a long way. Although I have never personally experienced this type of delivery (I worked WELL BABY ONLY), I know that once the infant is delivered VIA C-SECTION..the infant will be handed off to Neonatologist/NICU personnel to resume care of the infant.
The process to enclose the exposed intestines takes a prolonged period of time, but most babies end up doing well.
I will keep your daughter-in-law/baby and family in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us updated on the delivery and status of the baby!
C.
My son was born with one of the most severe cases of this. My first suggestion is to ONLY deliver via c-section! My second suggestion is to ask as many questions as you want (none will be stupid if it makes you sleep better at night). She needs to be comfortable!
The NICU can be a scary place but keep in mind this is where miracles happen every day!
73 days in the hospital, eight surgeries later...my son will be 10 next week and he is PERFECT! Know you and your family are in my prayers.
