(X-posted in UC) From breech to transverse - when do I start to worry?

[tracymom1]

So my Lo flipped from breech to transverse a few days ago. Part of me says he is just making his journey to vertex and I should just relax. The worrier in me says "OMG! He's transverse! I have to DO SOMETHING!!! This can't happen!"

I am just about 27 weeks. I have never really looked into transverse presentation - I mean, I know vaginal delivery is impossible with a transverse fetus - but I am wondering - do the methods used for turning a breech baby work for a transverse baby? Should I start looking into moxa and spinning babies? How much longer do I wait and see before taking action?

is about all I have done so far...

[Tumble Bumbles]

27 weeks is still way early (imo) to even worry about it, especially with your third child -- there's more room in your uterus than with each previous babe so I wouldn't even give it a concern, personally. Now, if I went into my 37th week transverse I would probably be doing spinning babies and so forth...

As far as how long to wait before 'taking action', I would be proactive after about 32, 33 weeks myself but even then babe can turn. I've heard of babies turning transverse to vertex in labor even.

Try not to stress, I know it's not easy but you've still got loads of time for babe to turn.

[Momsteader]

I wouldn't borrow worry yet :)  My first was transverse all the way through pre-labor. He turned in early labor and put so much sudden pressure on my cervix I feel like I just about instantly dialated and out he came.

Like PP, if I wouldn't even give it much thought until after 32/34 weeks . My babe is breech at the moment and hasn't been doing much flipping. Unusual for me as alll my babes, including both twins were always head down by 20w US. So, I'm trying to not stress about it until it's truly a concern. Me, I'll start freaking out when it's 36/37 weeks and he hasn't turned, but hoping he gets the head down memo soon.

[heathenmom]

DD#2 was persistent breech from the 1st u/s I had at about 24 weeks.  I tried all manner of things to turn her starting at about 32 weeks or so, but nothing turned her (and kept her turned).  I went in for an ECV at 40w/4d, where they turned her to transverse and said they couldn't move her any farther.  They left her that way and convinced me to schedule a c/s for 41w/3d.  She turned vertex at 41 weeks, I went into labor, and had a fabulous uc.  FYI, she was 11 lbs.

I wish, looking back, that I'd just done the chiro & acupuncture/moxibustion and chilled.

I know my experience isn't "typical," but I'm convinced at this point that the reason it isn't typical is that the vast majority of women are all-but-forced into c/s-for-breech before they go into labor.  I'm desperately curious to know how many of those sectioned babies would have turned if their moms had been allowed to just .... wait. 

[nononose]

27 weeks is definitely too early to start worrying, but worrying doesn't solve anything anyway!  Check out spinning babies, keep your posture good etc...  Chiro wouldn't hurt, if you're ok with that.  According to the stats, 25% are still breech/transverse (not vertex) at 32 weeks, with only 4% at "birth", which in the last 10 years includes mostly sectioned at 38-week births.  I was told by a very respected OB that the speculation is that only 1% would remain breech/transverse at birth if labour was allowed to start spontaneously.  Babies do often flip/turn in labour too.  Lots of time.  My first was transverse until 34 weeks, at which point she turned to breech and stayed there (spontaneous onset of labour, allowed to fully dilate).  She did not change position for those 5 weeks, she was wedged in my pelvis in a pike formation, and I did everything you can possibly imagine to try to turn her (including 3 ECV attempts).  A second and third child has far more room to move about and for longer.  It wouldn't hurt to at least figure out who you would call and when for acupuncture, moxa, EVCs etc, and chiro, pelvic tilts, inversions (exercise caution), crawling around hands and knees etc can be started at any time for "optimal fetal positioning" (not just to turn a breech/transverse).  Massage and yoga wouldn't hurt either!  Good luck!

[Mommy2Austin]

I wonder if it's something with 3rd pregnancies because I dealt with this during my third pregnancy! My midwife and I suspected she was breech at 34/35 weeks which really had me worried! I went the chiro route and felt her change positions within an hour of being adjusted. I definitely wouldn't worry too much at 27 weeks. 

[swell_mel]

This is baby #3 for me and she stays transverse most of the time. She does seem to flip around frequently. I'm almost positive she was breech all last night from the movement I felt. I talked to my midwife about this at my last appt- I brought up being breech actually even though it was never an issue with my previous 2 births- but I like to cover all my bases! She assured me that this early along it is nothing to worry about- it's completely normal for the baby to not be head down or stay head down. And right now the baby is small enough that it still has a bit of room to roll around. Like a pp said- it would only be around the 32-34 week mark that they would suggest exercises if the baby wasn't head down. And then there are plenty of options that have already been listed- accupuncture, chiro, with an external version being my midwife's last resort should none of the other things work. With both of my previous pregnancies my babies were transverse the majority of the time (they would flip up and down but seemed to prefer transverse) before finally turning. So... relax! There's a lot of time left for turning! :)

[tracymom1]

Big sigh....

Thanks mamas! I am really trying to relax about this. I KNOW that it is early and there is plenty of time for moving around, but there is just this little part of me that keeps saying "what if..."

If a month goes by without any change, I will start taking action!

[sharita]

IM right there with you.  This is #6 for me and I have never had a breech babe after 28 weeks.  At 20 this little girl was breech.  At about 24 weeeks or later, she started flipping back and forth.  One morning breech, that night, vertex.  However, for the last month or longer, she has been transverse.  Not completely but where her head is over my hip and also posterior.  I just figured she would eventually turn.  Last night however, when laying on my side, I noticed she was completely sideways transverse.  I kept thinking it was no biggie, she woudl turn but the more I read I scare myself.  My midwife will do breech deliveries and I am not worried about that.  However, I keep reading that transverse babies are undeliverable vaginally no matter how long the mom labors.  That scared me but the more I think about it, why would tons of contractions not move baby into a more favorable position especially if I was doing pelvic tilts during and all kinds of other stuff.

I also read an article that was suggesting that if baby was previously breech then transverse, it may be making its way to vertex but that shouldnt take more than a few days and if transverse position persists beyond that (weeks) it may stay that way. 

With my lax uterus, I can see baby staying stubborn and unfortunately, having the room too.  I am still trying not to worry and just have a feeling it isn't going to be a prob.  So far, I havent started doing anything yet and am 30 weeks.

I will start in two if she is still that way.

The other thing that bothers me is I read that those with anterior placentas are not candidates for external versions so even though that would be a last resort, I dont have it.

I am keeping positive though and keep checking out spinning babies website and am purchasing a maternity belt to lift my pendulous uterus and encourage her into a more favorable position.

[Mamatoabunch]

It isn't much on my radar at 28 weeks. Baby is sometimes transverse, I can feel it in the night when I wake, maybe vertex or breech at other times. Basically all over. I figure baby knows what to do.

Edited by Mamatoabunch - 3/26/11 at 11:38am

[tracymom1]

Originally Posted by sharita 

I am keeping positive though and keep checking out spinning babies website and am purchasing a maternity belt to lift my pendulous uterus and encourage her into a more favorable position.

See, this is exactly what I was thinking - my abdomen is hanging way, way lower than in my previous pregnancies. I a wondering if lack of support combined with the extra room is making transverse seem like a nice cozy place for the LO, kind of like being in a hammock! I am going to just relax and see what happens around 32 weeks. If needed, I set aside some money for moxibustion and chiro (maybe accupuncture) so I can always try that, too, if all else fails.

[littleteapot]

I wouldn't be worrying unless I was in active labour, 7-8cm dilated, and baby was transverse without any mobility AND my water had broken. ;) Breech? Pfft. But a dry, stuck transverse in late labour could be a problem.

[Cutie Patootie]

Originally Posted by littleteapot 

I wouldn't be worrying unless I was in active labour, 7-8cm dilated, and baby was transverse without any mobility AND my water had broken. ;) Breech? Pfft. But a dry, stuck transverse in late labour could be a problem.

  I definitely don't worry about positioning until I am way deep in labor.  Babies turn at the very last minute.

[weliveintheforest]

I wouldn't pay attention until around 34 weeks.  :)

[imogenlily]

I'm 30 weeks and mine just flipped from vertex to transverse! Argh! Solidarity, lady! I know there's still time, but it's stressful!

The cat jumped on my belly, and I felt the baby shift positions by a full 90 degrees, and since then the kicks are all one side, and no more feet in my lungs. I was kind of pissed at the cat, honestly, though maybe the baby did it spontaneously, of his own accord?

[lithigin]

This is #2 for me and she is often breech, and flipping around quite a bit. I am also very tall and full of torso, so she's taking advantage of the space. I'm not worried for now, and we have u/s #2 at 31w to see if my low placenta has scooched up to where it should be, so we'll take a peek then. I took a look at spinning babies per my doula's suggestion and will look there further if I need to. But what is ECV? And if she continues to face the wrong way in 2 months, do you have to ask a chiro for something specific? We're newish to the area and don't have a chiro. I went to one in this area a few years ago and didn't particularly like him. He's very hands off and uses the inversion table thing and rubber mallets to make adjustments. I prefer Gonsted (sp?) techniques and manual manipulation. Anyway, is there a term to ask for, or a technique to ask about when making an appt?

Off to google moxibustion. Crazy-sounding term!

[heathenmom]

ECV is external cephalic version; it's where a doctor attempts to manually turn a breech baby to vertex.  I had 2 scheduled with dd#2.  The first one, they were about to get started and did an u/s to check her position; she was vertex!  Unfortunately, she didn't stay that way.  The 2nd attempt, they got her from breech to transverse and left her there. :/

Ask your chiro about the Webster technique.  Mine's not certified, but is quite adept at it. :)  I did NOT like the only chiro in my area who is certified.  The midwives at the local fsbc recommended a different chiro to me and she was/is fabulous!  I still go to her, 4 years later.

And moxibustion was ... different!  Our pediatrician is actually an acupuncturist; I had 2 moxi sessions with him to try to turn dd#2.

[tracymom1]

Well, he has made his way to vertex, but I am not sure it will last... he is really active and although he does not flip around a lot, he does dance all day long! I am just going to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best!