suddenly breech

[molly]

I"m looking for folks who have had this experience ( and hopefully a good outcome, ie not a c-section). At 35 weeks I'm suddenly breech. I'm planning a homebirth because it was good last time and because I have a nursing toddler that I do not want to be away from. I have read about positions, visualization and external versioning. Any other good ideas or success stories?

Thanks so much.
Molly

[dharmama]

I'd find a chiropractor who can do the Webster technique asap!

If you do a search here (or in I'm pregnant) for Webster technique I think you will find lots of information.

Good luck!!

~Erin

[stayinghome]

There is a position where you lay head down, feet up, on a board leaned up against a sofa. If you are interested, I'll try and find a link. Also i second the chiropractor- it worked for a client of mine to turn a baby. God luck!

[daria]

My baby was transverse from around 30 weeks until 36w4d. He turned down some time in the night before the day we had an ultrasound scheduled to check his position. Then he was born 3 days later at 37 weeks exactly! I worried so much about his position but it all worked out. FWIW, I tried some of the positioning techniques, but I don't think they had an effect. I wasn't aware of when he turned. I just got up on the day of the ultrasound and it was obvious he'd moved during the night.

If I had known about the chiropractic technique I might have tried it.

[georgia]

Are you doing the incline thing? Music down low? Praying ? Will your mw do breeches?

Moxibustion (moxa sticks) can be very useful for some mamas and babies. It's a Chinese accupuncture (but no needles) technique from what I remember). A doula friend of mine recommends it a lot (and used it w/her own daughter successfully). I also have a friend who had a chiro make a housecall to help her at the last minute.....and it worked!!

Turn, turn, turn

[saintmom]

I had to do the incline thing 3 times during labor with Joy! I'd stick 3 bed pillows under my butt and lay back.I think spiritual midwifery reccomends 2 times a day for 20 min.In something like 80% of cases the babies will turn!

[pamamidwife]

I had a client whose baby kept flipping in the last month. After some slant board and a trip to the chiropactor, baby went head down!

He was born a week later at 11lbs 9oz in the water.

[Al Dente]

Another vote for the Webster technique-I went 4 times at 36 wks, a week later he had turned and is now LOA. (He was transverse, so no way that baby was coming out on his own...plus my pelvic muscles were abnormally strained according to the chiro). You can check out chiros in your area at www.chiropractic.org.

Hope that helps
Rachel
41 wks, 3 days...patiently (sorta) waiting

[molly]

thank you all

Wow, that was great and fast. Thank you all so much. Honestly, I'm a little fearful of chiropractic but I sure want this baby to turn. I'm going to check it out. I wonder where to get Moxa sticks but I"m sure my midwife will know. Really, thank you so much.

Molly

[SamuraiEarthMama]

um, maybe this isn't PC anymore, but what about talking to your midwife about doing a breech delivery? you've already had a successful vaginal delivery ("proven pelvis" in OBspeak), and a breech baby doesn't have to be an emergency with someone who knows how to deliver one.

here's a website with info that says a breech delivery has similar outcomes whether delivered vaginally or via c-section. (this site has some other interesting stuff, too)

if your baby is staying breech, there could be a reason for it. i guess i don't understand the "turn at all costs" mentality, when we have given birth to breeches for millennia.

good luck...

katje

[Raven]

Both my babies were breech and both were successfully turned via ECV (External Cephalic Version). This is a non invasive (ie not surgical) procedure that is performed by midwives and ob gyn's. This procedure is usually done after 36 weeks and is safe.

Speak to yur caregiver about ECV's and see if they can help you!

I know the anxiety you are going thru - hang in there!!!!!!!!!!

Raven

[OnTheFence]

ECVs are not as safe as people think. There are risks. They can cause a fetus to go into distress and poop meconium. They can be bruised, and they can also die. There is risk of prolapse cord. There is risk of rupture, though small. ECV can land you in an OR even done by skilled doctors.
I had ECV done and ended up with an emergency csection, a bruised baby that was distressed and full of meconium. Each doctor has their own success rate (and midwife) and you should ask what their success rate is, how many after being turned had complications, etc.
If you are considering an ECV do a lot of research, have it done in a hospital with US machine with a skilled professional.

I did everything that was mentioned on this thread minus the Webster Technique and still had a transverse baby for a reason. When she was delivered they found my uterus to be deformed. Sometimes babies are breech for a reason. It is up to you to trust your body and yourself to decide what to do.

Had I known what I do now about ECV I would not have let anyone try it on me, and I would never recommend anyone to get one, EVER.

I know several people who have had Webster done on them, and from seeing it done, I think it is FAR FAR FAR safer than an ECV with less trauma to you, your baby and your uterus and IMO has a better success rate of working and keeping baby head down.

[Raven]

I had my ECV done at a Hospital. I think anyone considering an ECV should speak to their caregivers first. I was explained the risks involved and I guess I was lucky to have a really experienced doctor.

In my cases they were successful and I am grateful that they saved me from having a c-section.

At the end of the day you must follow your gut.

[greymama]

My understanding of the ECV was they give it three tries and if it doesn't work, you are taken in for a c-section because of the risks OnThe Fence mentioned. I was in early labor when we discovered I was breech and tried an ECV but was unsuccessful, and had to have a c-section. Now, I'm not opposed to c-sections so I wasn't too upset. Not what I expected, but I was fine with my son's birth.

[Raven]

The lady dr who performed (both) my ECV's was very thourough when explaing the risks and she did scans to see exactly how the baby was lying. I was hooked up to a heart monitor the whole time and with #2 she didnt use any medicaion to relax the uterus.

If the version was unsucessful then I would've probably had to have a c-section. It is risky which is why you should find the right person to do it.

I tried a number of other things to get baby to turn - accupuncture lying with butt elevated, washing floors on hands and knees and homepathic tablets - pulcitilla (sp?)

[root*children]

We tried version with DS#2, but it didn't work. They'll only do a emergency c-sect if baby is in distress (they've got you hooked up to monitors the wholr time) or I suppose if they're trying version while already in labor. We were told this was an extremely low risk that he would have to born emergency c-sect. Also, it is really uncomfortable, but they'll only try a couple times.

My acupuncturist got upset at me for not coming in sooner to her. She says if you come in right when you find out baby is breech, there's a super good chance of turning it. Just look in the yellow pages under acupuncture and find which have experience turning breeches. I was worriedabout $$ and that's why I didn't see her sonner, but in hindsighht, wish I had just set up payment plan.

Also most midwives will deliver butt-down breeches. Mine was feet down so she wouldn't do it. I WISH I would have called the Farm and seen what they thought.

Anyhow, whatever you decide to do, do it NOW!
good luck!

[Raven]

I did a google search and found...

http://www.pregnancy.com.au/breech_babies.htm

[molly]

This is really helping!

Just wanted you all to know how much I appreciate all the opinions. Have been lying upside down on the ironing board propped against the bed, talking to baby and checking out chiros in my neighbourhood. Tonight I'm getting some contacts for acupuncture. ECV has been offered to me after 37 weeks with the OB at the hosp and possible breech delivery if I go out of town ( with an OB) as the midwives in Ontario just can't ( legally). Thanks again all and if there's more just keep it coming!

Molly

[OnTheFence]

Originally posted by greymama
My understanding of the ECV was they give it three tries and if it doesn't work, you are taken in for a c-section because of the risks OnThe Fence mentioned. I was in early labor when we discovered I was breech and tried an ECV but was unsuccessful, and had to have a c-section. Now, I'm not opposed to c-sections so I wasn't too upset. Not what I expected, but I was fine with my son's birth.

I let them attempt it on me three times as well. I was desperate for a vaginal delivery and I didn't care how painful it was. And it was painful. My husband almost passed out watching them try to manipulate my uterus. My baby was monitored afterwards, and so was I. I actually was showing complications before my baby was.

I've actually heard of CNMs and OBs doing these in an office setting. Scarey.

[OnTheFence]

Re: This is really helping!

Originally posted by molly
Just wanted you all to know how much I appreciate all the opinions. Have been lying upside down on the ironing board propped against the bed, talking to baby and checking out chiros in my neighbourhood. Tonight I'm getting some contacts for acupuncture. ECV has been offered to me after 37 weeks with the OB at the hosp and possible breech delivery if I go out of town ( with an OB) as the midwives in Ontario just can't ( legally). Thanks again all and if there's more just keep it coming!

Molly

I actually had a midwife in training try to turn my baby with massage and doing some reflexology. We could actually see the baby trying to turn! It didn't work for me but it might for you and its actually pleasurable and not painful!