The list is now officially exhausted.

[Shenandoah]

I have now done every single thing someone has either personally suggested or that I've found on a list on how to turn a breech baby. This morning was the final one. Flip turns in the swimming pool. I flipped til I thought I'd puke. Nada. DH says the only thing left to try is going into labor. :

If the baby isn't pushing on my cervix, which he isn't because he's not engaged, then do you supposed I'll still start labor naturally? I'm worried that I'll go way over and still run into problems. I guess the up side to this is that if he isn't engaged he could still turn at any time. Not that he's showing any inclination to do so.

[blastomom]

I'm due a week after you and baby just decided to do a little rolling the other day. We had been nicely head down, but showing true Anderson stubborness the kiddo thought it might be fun to give momma a scare. I spent about 48 hours stressing over all the hiccups I was feeling in exactly the opposite place where I should have been feeling, then TaDa! Baby headed down south again. If my (large and very crowded) baby can flip-flop at 37 1/2 weeks then have faith that your little guy can do the same at 38 1/2 weeks.

Sending you lots and lots of floppy vibes. Turn Baby, Turn!

[miguelsmom]

my midwife told me that with second babies they can hang out up high and not drop until labor begins. So I think that won't effect your ability to go into labor on your own. I pretty sure that would apply to any child after the second too IMO. You are doing such a great job of taking care of you baby with all this turning business. Try not to stress out, meditate, breath and invision you baby turning and maybe that will help?!

Sending you flipping vibes-

[ibusymomto5]

My 4th baby flipped to footling breech during the last week and was high. I had had no signs of impending labor and was not dilated or effaced at all when my mw checked me late that afternoon. She scheduled an ultrasound for me with the possibility of attempting an external version the next morning, but late that night I went into labor on my own. It was a quick 3hr labor with 15min pushing. Although ds was footling breech and sunny side up with both arms extended overhead both of us came out just fine, no tearing, etc. It was my 2nd VBAC, and my previous labor had been 20hrs with 1 1/2hrs pushing with a baby who had been head down, anterior and very engaged for weeks. Both babies were simliar in size(over 8lbs), but the breech labor/birth was MUCH easier and shorter. Afterwards we joked that ds wanted to come out feet first, since he'd be surrounded by so many girls(he was our first boy after 3 girls).

I kind of think that babies sometimes get into certain positions for a good reason. Who knows why, though, and boy can it give us moms grief worrying about it! I remember being terrified and extremely dissappointed to learn my 4th was breech. All I could see was having to have another c/sec after hoping and praying all those months for another beautiful homebirth. I'm petite, and with my previous labor and only vaginal birth being so long and drawn out I didn't have a lot of faith in my body's ability to birth a breech baby vaginally. But, I did it, and it's totally possible you can too! There is still time for your baby to flip, but if he doesn't try to relax in knowing that he's probably in that position for a reason. And, it's totally possible to go into labor on your own even if baby isn't pushing on your cervix. My babies usually don't engage until my first push, then they come flying out.

[bleumoose]

I'm sorry nothing is working to turn him That must be so frustrating, maddening, and heartbreaking.

Good news is it isn't just the baby pressing down on the cervix that initiates labor. It's got a lot to do with hormones that the baby releases/causes to be released when he's done baking. So labor can start even though your baby isn't engaged, which is great since you say that means he can still flip.

Sending baby turning vibes and sending you patience and peace to make it through the waiting time!

[skueppers]

I'm sorry to hear the kiddo is still not flipping over!

Regarding the head being engaged, my daughter's head wasn't engaged until I'd been in labor for quite a few hours. I think it's actually quite common that the head wouldn't be engaged until after labor had begun.

[Shenandoah]

Thanks everyone. I'm still hopeful that my babe will turn just before labor begins or during early labor. Either way, I hope it isn't too far off.