At what point do you worry about breech baby?

[expatmommy]

I'm currently 35 w 5d & babe has moved from being head down to head fully up, bum down with feet at belly. My doc (who is doing prenatals but not delivering) says there is still time & wasn't overly concerned. I don't get to see my doc who is delivering until next week (family doc who does routine births, probably won't be comfortable with a breech delivery).

My other kid were all very overdue, 12/10/16 days. I feel like I still have time for babe to change positions, but am simultaneously anxious. Babe also has the cord wrapped around the neck 1x according to u/s.

How long would you wait before trying anything? If babe doesn't shift positions, would you still wait to spontaneously go into labour? I'm trying to sort out what my own boundaries on this is & would appreciate some other peoples insights.

[Funny Face]

If you can get your hands on a copy of Henci Goer's book The Thinking Woman's Guide to A Better Birth it has a wealth of information and research in it on breech babies. It would be worth it to find at the library or online!

[MaerynPearl]

Ive heard of babies turning all the way up to 40 weeks (though at that point it is PAINFUL!)

I personally wouldn't worry until 37 weeks when they wouldn't try stopping my labor if I went into labor anyway.

[lisko15]

I'll be 35w tomorrow, and while my babe is consistently transverse (since u/s at 18 weeks) and not breech, everyone keeps "saying" there is plenty of time for him to turn. I've been getting lots of stories of babies that turn right at the "end". I do believe that to some extent, but then there is a part of me that wonders if he just can't turn for some reason.

My doc says he has time still, but she is sending me for an u/s next Friday to get a full view of his position and where the cord & placenta are.

I may go in for an external version after 37 weeks to see if they can "turn" him. If the version is unsuccessful, and baby still doesn't turn, I will need to schedule a C-section for around 39 weeks. My OB practice won't wait for labor to begin... there is a huge chance of the cord coming out first with transverse babies, and obviously they aren't willing to risk that.

We've been trying some inversion exercises (from Spinning Babies website) and a lot of hanging out on my hands and knees (my doc said she feels this is a valid thing to try). No luck yet, baby just loves his sideways "ball" position.

I'd love to have a vaginal delivery again with this lil' guy, but the only thing that truly matters is that DS comes out happy and healthy - and if that ends up meaning I need a section, so be it.

Flipping baby vibes for YOU!

[lyno]

I am also 35 weeks. I am going for u/s next week to get full details of breech position. I have been trying MOXIBUSTION, Chiropractor, Lying on a board semi upsidedown (check out spinningbabies website). Do all you can now, as it is more likely to turn while smaller than when you get closer to your due date (even though it could still turn even when your in labour. blessings.

[mamakaikai]

Around here, they don't try to manually flip the baby until 36-37 weeks. I would personally want to do a manual version and if that was unsuccessful I would not schedule a section. Vaginal breech birth are starting to happen in our community, including with OB's. So I would hope baby turned, and then if not, I would hope for a vaginal breech birth. If all else failed and I had no choice left in the matter, then I would wait and see if the baby turned at the last minute before ever consenting to a last resort section.

Meanwhile I would try e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g to turn baby starting now! Spinning babies website has great suggestions.

Best of luck!

[tngirl11]

I would definitely try to find a chiropractor certified in the Webster technique and start going. From what I've read, a lot of times the baby is unable to move head-down because of some kind of imbalance in mom's pelvis/hips--often because of tightness on one side in the ligaments. The chiro can help loosen up the tightness and get you straightened out. My baby was transverse with his head more towards the top than the bottom until I started seeing my chiro again this pg (around 33 weeks). I can't say for sure that it was the adjustments that did it, but he is fully head down now. In any case, it definitely can't hurt to get your pelvis in alignment before birth no matter what position the baby is in! Good luck to you, and I hope your baby turns for you or you are able to have a great breech delivery.

[expatmommy]

Thanks for all the thoughts & ideas.

Mamakaikai, you said your community is starting to be more vag breech friendly. Are you in Vancouver by any chance? That is where I will eventually be to deliver.

I've always had chiro or PT in late pregnancy, but unfortunately that hasn't been available to me here. I'm traveling soon to where I'll eventually deliver, so my plan is to more aggressively try to work on this once I'm there.

I know the placenta & cord insertion are right at the top of my uterus, which I think is a good thing. The u/s tech couldn't get an accurate idea of cord length.

I'm worried about trying a version too early because I tend to go really late & I'd hate to flip the baby and then have the baby right itself again.

There is also the niggling doubt that the baby is in the position he/she is in for some good reason. Argh! I so did not need this and my heart is in knots. My last baby was stillborn so I just needed this to be straightforward. I guess I can't really make any plans until I see the doc who is supposed to deliver this baby, which won't be until early next week. Then I might find myself desperately trying to find someone who will take me on at 36+ weeks to manage a breech baby.

[mamakaikai]

Originally Posted by expatmommy

Mamakaikai, you said your community is starting to be more vag breech friendly. Are you in Vancouver by any chance? That is where I will eventually be to deliver.

No, I'm not near Vancouver at all. But it might be worth asking your hcp if anyone in your hospital, or surrounding hospitals ever do vag breech births. The SOGC guidelines have fairly recently changed in favor for vag breech birth so with any hope, we will see a rise in vag breech births.

Sounds like your babe still has lots of time to flip around. I hope everything works out for you.

[Kidzaplenty]

I had one turn less than 24 hours before birth. She was born at 40 wks.

[chambom]

They can absolutely turn, but it is worth trying things to help.

Another spinning babies reccommendation here.
Also the chiropracter if you can find one.

My first was breech and she turned between 34-35 weeks using the inversions and chiro.

Also, when she was born, she did have a very short cord. She could just barely lay on my tummy with the reach it had, but she still turned, so I wouldn't think of that as always a stopper to them being able to turn.


good luck!

[Carolinamom4]

Originally Posted by chambom

They can absolutely turn, but it is worth trying things to help.

Another spinning babies reccommendation here.
Also the chiropracter if you can find one.

I agree My second was breech at delivery so I had a section. My third was breech at 33 weeks so I ran to a chiro and did Webster a handful of times and she flipped. This babe is head down so I am thankful, but I would easily do chiro again. None of the other stuff worked with DD#2 clearly, but she's a tad stubborn.

[at_the_hip]

You've had lots of great suggestions, but I just wanted to say that if baby JUST turned, then obviously s/he will be able to turn back at this point. Fingers crossed that it'll be soon and baby will stay put so that your concerns will be put to rest!