Possible breech, wwyd?

[gabry]

Here's the deal: about a week ago at 31 + weeks, my midwife 'thought the baby might be breech'. She couldn't tell for sure, and neither can I since then (two weeks before it was a definite 'heads down'). If it's breech it's a definite hospital birth, which I'm okay with. She is open to possibly attempting a version etc.
She told me I could schedule an echo to know for sure, or wait until after the next appt. to see what it looks like then. I opted to wait, but now I'm getting nervous and having second thoughts.
If it's breech, I'll have more time to try different things to hopefully turn him...
But, if it's breech, it's also still early and I might be freaking out for no reason..
But, if it's breech it would be good to have time to find an ob/gyn who is willing and capable of trying a vaginal birth (which apparently is not unusual here, thank goodness).
What would you do?? get the echo or wait?
And in the meantime, any tips on how to get that baby to turn?

[Guest*]

I wouldn't worry about the baby being breech at all, but especially not before you're full term. There's still a lot of time to move.

If you're concerned. you could check out www.spinningbabies.com and www.breechbabies.com for tips on turning.

HTH,

[bradleybirth2mom]

You're right----it's still early. Wait until 34-35 wks to get tests done. In the meantime, spend a lot of time doing the pelvic rock exercise to move baby out of the pelvis, crawl on your hands and knees frequently and lie on your side after each for 15 minutes. This will take the force of gravity out of the picture somewhat and encourage baby to move. The spinningbabies.com site is a good one, too. Try drinking ice-cold drinks a lot, too---the baby can feel them moving through your system and it might encourage him/her to move around more. Be encouraged---most babies turn down by 37 weeks. I'll pray for you and your birth!

[Naughty Dingo]

Yeah Mama, you still have time. If baby is still head up several weeks from now, I know several Mamas who have benefited from moxibustion to get their baby to turn head down.

Hope babe settles in head down for you and stays that way

ND

[MamaTaraX]

I was going to recommend Spinning Babies but I see someone already did. 31 weeks is very early to worry but its never to early to encourage a baby into a good birthing position!

Namaste, Tara

[LoveChild421]

Chiropractors have great success rates at turning breech and posterior babies using the Webster Technique. ds turned from persistent posterior to anterior in just 2 visits. I would try to find a chiro who is familiar with it if I were you- it can't hurt to help get the pelvis in proper alignment.

[RootBeerFloat]

Acupuncture. I think the point is bladder 67, on the outside of the left pinkie toe. My acupuncturist says that it is incredibly effective for getting babies to turn.

Also, see a chiropractor (a good one) or an osteopath and make sure your pelvis is properly aligned. It will be good for you and the baby regardless, but it could help turn the baby. If you see a chiropractor, make sure it's a good one with lots of experience treating pregnant women. I was injured by a supposedly great chiro during my pregnancy with dd and went to an osteopath to get put back together.

[MotheringHeart]

I second the pressure point suggestion! DD #2 (third baby) was still breech at 34 weeks. I was a bit stressed so I did the ironing board trick and had DH push on my pinkie toe pressure points with a pen lid (the kind that comes down to a point). I did both those things in the evening before bed and when I woke up in the morning I knew she had turned. It totally worked for me! Good luck!

[Emilie]

i would wait and look into and do some things to help guide baby into the right spot. you will be fine.

[sisica]

My baby was breech and I went to a chiropractor that did the webster technique on me. I went 4 times but she had turned after the third visit.

If you have insurance or can afford it, I'd recommend going to one. It turns out that my pelvis had been injured and was NOT going to correct itself. The position of my pelvis was pulling my ligaments which had made a portion of my uterus uninhabitable. The baby COULD NOT have turned on her own if I hadn't gotten adjusted. Waiting it out would have done me no good whatsoever.

http://www.icpa4kids.com/webster_technique.htm

Use that link to find a webster certified chiropractor in your area and give them a call. It's worth the call, at the very least.

[mamaverdi]

lying on a slight incline, with your feet higher than your head...like on a tilted ironing board...helped a friend of mine.

mv

[~Megan~]

At this stage I'd not worry too much. If my baby was still breech at 34 weeks I'd combine treatments with a chiropractor and accupuncturist that were familar with turning breech babies. I'd also talk to my mw about moxibustion and homeopathic pulsatilla.

[NinaBruja]

my second was breech(and posterior)...
i didnt do anything... not one thing...
she came out the "right" way as far as i could tell(i was on hands and knees nearly the whole labour though)
i know its not for everyone...

but i hear hands and knees is good for good positioning...
find someone with a large tile floor and clean away : no seriously, i hear it works...
i cant remember if it was for just posterior or for breech too though...
maybe if you stick your butt in the air too

sorry im not much help

[gabry]

Thanks for all the reassurance and advice! I feel much better already And I'll definitely try a lot of these suggestions.

[LadyMarmalade]

Another 'don't worry yet' vote. My 2nd child was breech until 36 weeks, and a friend's 4th baby went from breech to vertex at 41 weeks! Her baby was born a couple of days later and was nearly 10lbs!

[SusannahM]

Don't worry yet, I agree. DD was breech at 30 weeks, turned at 32.

[JesiLynne]

My brother was breech until 4 hours before birth, my mom had short labors.
She was in church on a Sunday morning, and ppl started to giigle b/c they saw my brother flip, her whole belly moved like a wave. it was pretty funny.

[mammalmama]

You're only 31-32 weeks Hon. Nothing to worry about. this breech business is an area where a lot of fear mongering occurs, just remember that your body knows how to birth this baby, and this baby knows too. You guys ARE the birthing team.
Also be aware of risks of external version. Some studies show that as many babies die from complications of this procedure as from complications due to being born breech. Also there was a big expose' very recently that the main study cited by physicians and midwives to NOT do breeches is extremely flawed, including babies whose deaths had NOTHING to do with position at birth. If you want more info. on that you could message me, I don't have time right this minute to look up the names of those studies. If you do get an external version I highly recommend you do hypnosis. There is info out there for you to make an educated decision tha's right for you, if you're willing to do the work. (which you seem to be!) Good luck to you. In the meantime, just talk to that baby.

[flapjack]

Skye was breech at 34 weeks: Alex transverse at 37. When our fourth is conceived/in an awkward position late in pregnancy, I'm not planning on doing anything until I'm at least 3cm dilated. Had Skye stayed breech, though, she would still have been born at home.
You might want to check the statistics though: a hospital breech delivery carries a higher mortality rate than either c-section or homebirthed breech. Try www.aims.org.uk for the figures.