33 weeks - still breech

[dara00]

yup, he hasn't turned. hmph. should I try chiropractors and acupuncture before I go for the baby turning procedure? (forget what it's called!)

I saw a doctor that I hadn't seen before in the practice and he explained to me why I'm getting so many u/s. He says that depression is a risk factor for stillbirth. I can't believe that! well at least he explained why they want the u/s. The baby weighs 4 lbs now. They said all the weights and measurements are on target. And this doctor didn't question if I'm sure I want a vbac like the one I saw last time did!

[sebarnes]

I don't know all of the particulars, but I know that water can be a useful tool in turning breech babies (and helps with high b/p!). I think it involves standing on your head under water. Okay, typing it out sounds silly, but I swear I know people it's worked with!!

[Iamhappy2BAmom]

*what the heck* I've never heard that about depression. What a thing to say to someone in the home stretch!

[ericswifey27]

Has your doctor given any info to help you cope instead of depressing you further with that gem: ?

Check out spinningbabies.com for info on positioning. There's a lot of info here in the Birth and beyond section too, just type in breech and stuff should come up

[wisconsingirl]

HI! I'm from the May DDC. First I've never heard of depression causing still birth...maybe he meant from some meds? But depression in itsself? That's odd. Second, my baby was breech, then vertex and is now (after week 35) cephalic and on my left. I just did pelvic rocks to get her to move but really I think she did it on her own. If your baby is 4 lbs then he/she has room to flip around. Oh, and my last baby was breech until the day before our scheduled c-section at 38 weeks and then she flipped and saved her mommy from a section!

Good luck, Pam

[willoLevin]

FWIW, my acupuncturist told me she generally does the moxibustion (procedure to flip breech babies) at 35 weeks, so, if I were you, I would be calling around to find someone, just in case, but maybe wait a week or two before you go in.

Acupuncture/moxibustion has a very good success rate for flipping babies--higher than the success rate of medical ECV (external cephalic(?) version), is my understanding!--and less risk of side effects like accidentally inducing labor.

If you have not been receiving chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy, I'd recommend trying that NOW. You don't necessarily need the special technique for flipping a breech--you may just have misaligned pelvic joints that are somehow holding your baby in a less than ideal position.

This baby was breech until late last week, interestingly enough, flipping right after a chiro appt and after i started sitting on a birth ball instead of a desk chair. Trying those things certainly won't hurt. They are only good for you and your baby.

--willo

[miso]

I just recently started going to the chiropractor for back pain and they are doing the webster technique on me also since my baby has been sitting breech for awhile. She still has lots of time to move around, but she is finally sitting where she is supposed to be after only a week of going (3x a week, though). I feel tons better, too, since I've gained so much weight my back was really bothering me.

I've heard lots of sucess stories about using moxibustion, as well.

[wombatclay]

If you can, start the chiro now and find out who can do the moxi for you...both of those have really good track records in terms of flipping babies into position (the moxi even has a few "solid" medical studies and often "works" a bit better than an extrenal version. It's also lower risk than a version).

Spinning Babies (www.spinningbabies.com) and Optimal Fetal Positioning (www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm) are great sites for ideas as well...

Your babe has plenty of time and space to move (and visualizing them in a happy head down position can't hurt!) so try not to stress over that!

And in terms of an external version...since the version attempt can be a bit risky (and since they'd like you to start birthing pretty soon after a successful version) they generally do it after the babe is considered "term" (so 37 weeks...maybe a bit later) and it's often done in the hospital with an OR team ready to go in case a c/s is necessary. Although some care providers will do it in their office. So you should ask your provider specifically how comfortable they are with the procedure (especially for a VBAC mama) and "how" they see it happening.

Good luck mama...and happy baby spinning!

[Ks Mama]

YES YES YES YES YES - I can't say this any more strongly - YES see a chiropractor.

As for an ECV, I personally wouldn't recommend one... and if you've had a previous C, at least my doctors, won't even perform one, for fear of rupture.

Absolutely see a chiro who is certified in the Webster Technique.

I am seeing a chiropractor 2x per week. Baby turned shortly after I started going this time. My first turned after the ONE time I went to the chiro, at just about my 39th week! After unsuccessful ECV. I just feel SO MUCH BETTER this pregnancy, at the end this time, since I've been seeing the chiro - everything feels better, and baby will be better able to get into the correct position (i.e. not posterior, forehead presentation, like my first), since everything is aligned now!

[Ks Mama]

Originally Posted by willoLevin

If you have not been receiving chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy, I'd recommend trying that NOW. You don't necessarily need the special technique for flipping a breech--you may just have misaligned pelvic joints that are somehow holding your baby in a less than ideal position.

Absolutely.

[Jilian]

Have you tried the warm bath/cold icepack trick I posted about a while back? If not, I can post the info for you. It worked for me a little after 30 weeks with this babe. I've had clients do it with success really late in pregnancy. There is still plenty of time to turn your baby!

[StephNelson]

Originally Posted by Jilian

Have you tried the warm bath/cold icepack trick I posted about a while back? If not, I can post the info for you. It worked for me a little after 30 weeks with this babe. I've had clients do it with success really late in pregnancy. There is still plenty of time to turn your baby!

Can you please re-post this as my little guy does not want to be in the head down position either and I guess I missed it..

Thanks,
~Steph

[jstar]

33 weeks is still early to worry too much. but i know it is hard not to worry. my babe was consistently posterior and only just in the last week or 2 has his butt out front. (got into a better position at 35w).

for breech try the ice pack on the stomach thing. or rest a hot cup of tea on your belly. i did that yesterday and babe started moving like crazy.

get on elbows and knees with butt up in the air and head down between your arms to try and get gravity to pull your uterus towards your boobs and get his butt up and out of the pelvis. you can read a book like this or watch tv for a bit.

save the acupuncture for 37ish weeks or he may just flip back again.

[chinaKat]

I'm right there with you, mama -- got back from the MW and (as I suspected) baby is still breech at 34 weeks 1 day.

I've got chiro scheduled for Monday and am getting a referral to an acupuncturist from her as well.

Fingers crossed on both of our babies flipping!!!!!

[WhiteWax]

I agree with what has been said about 33 weeks being early for concern. I'm working on week 36 and my midwife doesn't even plan on checking me till next week for position. She said alot of time second babes dont turn till later anyhow.

oh... and the depression causing stillbirth?!?!?!? pardon my french, but WTF?!?!?!??!?!?!?!? That is insane. Simple crazy..... I'm sorry, but come on. Has anyone EVER heard this before? I have read about depression possibly causing premature.... but even so. I'm sorry... that one just really floored me!

[Keeping up]

I think this babe was breech until last week (33 weeks) - the research I did said 16% of babes are breech at 33 weeks but only 4% at term - so if you have 16 babes at 33 weeks, 12 will turn - 75%!!!!

Regardless, one day last week the baby was ridiculously busy all night and all day - I did the butt up and head down maneouver after dinner(not such a great idea) and I am convinced this babe rotated right then and there. So, if you are keen - drink some good old sugar (juice) and see if you can get the kid busy - and then try it. I am still in shock - 5 minutes later, this babe had flipped. I was breech until 34 or 35 weeks with my last and he rotated before the 36 week ultrasound. For what it is worth, my MW strongly encouraged the version - she had it done and it worked beautifully for her.

Good luck

[dara00]

wow wow wow, thank you for all the replies! I was offline all day and now I have lots to respond to!

sebarnes - I will try to find out if I can go swimming at the local Y - they may have closed down the pool! If I can't then maybe once it is June and warmer I can use my friends' outdoor pool, but I hope he's turned by then anyway!

iamhappy2bamom, wisconsingirl, and whitewax - he didn't say that depression can actually cause stillbirth, but that it raises the chances of stillbirth. Now, they never told me that before, but they did always say it was a risk factor that I had, and then they combine that will all my other so called risk factors and insist on monitoring me closely. the doctor yesterday said that if they see any signs of decreased fluid, they would rather risk a premature baby than a stillbirth. so I guess I was ok about the explanation for the u/s, but I don't have the source of why depression is a risk factor!

ericswifey - actually no, he didn't ask me how I'm doing with the depression at all! just offered it as an explanation when we questioned the every week u/s thing. I did just start seeing a counselor yesterday though and hopefully that will help!

wisconsingirl - thanks, I am doing the pelvic rocks but haven't seen any change in position!

to everyone about chiropractors - I have never even considered seeing one for anything! it's kind of strange to me for some reason. but I will definitely look for one!

about the acupuncture, that could be interesting too! I will look some up, hopefully they aren't too expensive.

we did discuss the risk of the ecv and the doc didn't seem too worried. he said he would do it even though I'm vbac. it would have to be done in the hospital though.

Jilian - no I need that technique reposted, I don't think I saw it!

jstar - any particular place to put the ice pack? near where you want the head to go?

thanks to everyone for the encouragement and advice! this is a great place!

[Jilian]

I'm gonna copy and paste it from another thread I posted a while ago:

I'm 31 weeks and I just got my little guy to turn head down last week, here is what I did:

I had DP find where baby's head was
I sat in a tub of really warm water (just enough to cover my low belly and pubic bone)
I held an ice pack right where baby's head was

I sat like this for about 30 mins, when babe started to move I would follow him with the ice pack encouraging him to go down. I kept a second ice pack where his head was before he moved it so he didn't put his head back there.

After I couldn't stand the cold anymore I got out of the tub and into the breech tilt. I put my hips and legs up on a birth ball with my head and back on the floor and lots of pillows underneath to keep my bum angled up. I stayed like this for about 30 mins.

Then I sat on the birth ball for another 15 mins or so.

That night when I went to bed there was a lot of pressure by my pubic bone, I felt it all night and it was pretty uncomfortable. The next morning the baby was head down. My MW confirmed this at my last appt a few days ago.

I got the tub idea from a previous client, she did it successfully twice.

[WhiteWax]

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=654114

for what it's worth...

[jstar]

you want the ice pack on the top of your tummy (ideally on the baby's head). the idea is that baby will want to move away from it so will reposition. of course this is hard if babe's head is against your spine or something and you only have arms and legs out front.