Low fluid levels can my breech baby turn??

[bee31]

Hi Ladies

I found out last week that my AFI is low, and my baby is frank breech. I am 35w w/ a history of chronic hypertension (controlled). My AFI last week was as low as 4.8. Yesterday it was 7.9. I'm drinking enough fluids to keep my urine clear. Now I'm having AFI/BPP 2x/week and I'm on modified bedrest. They are being cautions because my last baby was IUGR and low fluid as well. He was delivered at 37w2d by csection b/c he was breech. I was really hoping for a VBAC this time w/ hypnobabies and a doula.
I was wondering if it's realistic for me to think that there's still a chance that he'll turn? My doctors and the u/s tech are telling me that there's no way he'll turn w/ the low fluid levels.

thanks for any advice.

Beatriz

[pamamidwife]

well your fluid levels sound normal - just stay well hydrated and your fluid numbers will be up. remember that the AFI is totally inaccurate and subjective - at risk for a tech's interpretation and it's MUCH HARDER to measure those pockets at term

Are you doing things to help encourage your baby to turn? have you seen breechbabies.com?

[Defenestrator]

Swimming every day can help the baby turn (try doing some handstands in the pool and also shallow dives down to the bottom of the pool while swimming lengths). It is also really good for raising fluid levels. It helps push fluid from your other tissues into your circulation where it can be used to make amniotic fluid.

[bee31]

thanks for your replies.
I am trying to swim in a salt water therapy pool 3x/week and doing pelvic tilts. I looked at spinning babies, but it seems like I'm too far along for some of their techniques. I'm trying to find a chiro in my area to do Webster's technique and possible an accupuncturist as well. Oh, I'm also going to get the hypnobabies breech CD.
I know that the measurements can be inaccurate and thankfully my OB's aren't using just those measurements to deliver me early (or hospitalize me).

[pamamidwife]

you're not too far along to try those things! look at the breechbabies.com site and things like Pulsatilla, Moxibustion (can be done at any acupuncturist), etc.

[krystyn33]

Originally Posted by pamamidwife

remember that the AFI is totally inaccurate and subjective - at risk for a tech's interpretation and it's MUCH HARDER to measure those pockets at term

This is good to know--I had thought about posting myself to ask about it. We found out DS was breech on his EDD & my AFI was at 4--the tech had a very difficult time getting the measurement. I was in such shock--throughout my pregnancy I had seen a webster certified chiropractor and followed spinning babies guidelines, hoping for good positioning. So my homebirth plans turned into a c-sec. At the time I felt like there was nothing I could do--they had him out of me in less than 24 hours after the U/S, but months later I wondered if I should have called my chiro and at least tried to turn him.

Good luck to you, bee31--I'll be sending you baby turning vibes!