how to get breach baby to flip?

spu · 05-16-2006, 03:28 PM

Hi again,

So I'm only 19w, and peri wants to schedule a c for when the time comes (see my post from earlier today)... the baby is currently breached, but I know a lot of flipping and flopping can happen between now and then. Is there anything I can do now to help the baby turn around? any special exercies or any wiggling, twisting, etc? or would this dangerous?

thanks!!

juliema · 05-16-2006, 06:37 PM

First of all, at 19 weeks I wouldn't be worrying yet.

Remember, that the baby's not even a pound yet so it has plenty of room to move around at this point. If you hit about 30 weeks and he's still breech, then I would get a bit more vigilant in trying to turn him although babies can turn pretty much right up and through labor. Now that being said, there are a few things that you can do throughout pregnancy to help encourage good positioning. I am huge on chiropractors. I had my first c/s due to malposition and with the second pregnancy I saw a chiro and my labor was shorter, easier and the baby was positioned much better. Just make sure you see a webster certified one. You can find one here: http://www.icpa4kids.com/find_pediat...iropractor.htm. I would also practice OFP (optimal fetal positioning) although even this doesn't become as important until you hit the third trimester. I started it about 23 weeks though because I wanted to get in the habit of doing it. If you get farther along and you're still breech, check out www.spinningbabies.com as well. Hopefully that's enough to get you started.

misseks · 05-18-2006, 12:55 AM

19 weeks is pretty early to be concerned. Baby flip flops a lot until the last trimester, and thenI think that most women can feel the big uh-oh type movements.

My one suggestion is sit on the floor instead of a big comfy couch where your hips are lowered. In terms of evolution, our bodies are used to squatting in the fields or over a cooking pit, not squished and slouched on a cushion!

Hope that helps.

dlm194 · 05-18-2006, 01:10 PM

19 weeks is wayyyyy too early to be making c-s plans for a breech baby. My dd was was breech until around 32 weeks or so.

I second this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliema

Just make sure you see a webster certified one. You can find one here: http://www.icpa4kids.com/find_pediat...iropractor.htm.

The most awesome chiros I met were associated with the ICPA. The chiro I had been seeing up until now was a director. Sadly, he just passed away but other chiros are covering for him. They are also associated with ICPA and definitely subscribe to the NFL philosophy. Again, these are the ones that I met but I would definitely check out the website!

Leilalu · 05-18-2006, 01:14 PM

My all natural , experienced MW suggested sugar!

And you know, I enjoyed eating chocolate in mass quantity for the sake of my baby and it worked!Ds was turned at about 34 weeks by a stupid intern who made me lie on my back with breech history, for an ultrasound. Then she jammed it all over my belly to find the heartbeat. He flipped head up

Then at mw's request, I ate chocolate, and 2 days later after much determination and trying, ds went head down. I mean, for 2 days you could tell he was trying to get back the way he was.
But 19 weeks- too soon in my opinion.For all you know, baby could be flipping all day long.

hypnobirthmum · 11-24-2007, 05:28 AM

hi there...

i found this site when searching for ways to get my 4th bub to turn from its transverse position at 37 weeks.

In the end i decided to take a long warm bath and try to relax my uterus, and visualise the baby turning head-down into correct birthing position. And it worked! As soon as i got into the bath bub was moving around incredibly! Thankfully it settled into the right position and has stayed there for almost a week now, so hopefully it will stay that way. If not, i will be having another bath!

Just thought i'd share this incase anyone else was in the same position as me. I would do anything to avoid a ceasarian, having had 3 natural births already. If nothing else, the bath will help to relax you and maybe thats all thats needed. If the uterus is relaxed there is more room for the baby to turn.

Hope this helps someone!

JanetF · 11-24-2007, 08:09 AM

We need to remember that even surgeons have realised that the study on which automatic c/s for breech has been based, is totally flawed, discredited and a disgrace. Breech is just another position, babies can obviously birth from it. So while there are many ways to encourage a breech to go head down, maybe we need to think about why surgery is being recommended since it's not in anyone's best interests but the surgeon.

rmzbm · 11-24-2007, 09:44 AM

I dunno, I *think* mine is breech too. Of course, at only 21 weeks, I'm not too terribly concerned. But delivering breech is, I think, beyond my comfort level with the condition of my uterus, the number of prior sections, etc. That & I want to UC. I think that would be too risky, all things considered & I am not in any way comfortable with a version. Unfortunately a breech term babe will lead to another section for me, but I have no control over that. At this time I'm not really giving it much though, lots of time left for position changes.

Lolafanana · 11-24-2007, 10:13 AM

My dd was born via C-section due to breech position. I am sooooooo paranoid about this one doing the same. I actually worry that all my concerns over the baby being breech will cause him/her to be breech! I need to chill out. Right now, baby is either transverse or breech but at 26 weeks, i'm not too worried yet (well, maybe a little

Like pp's said, don't worry about it too much until 32 weeks and then there are techniques that can help.

(now, I'll go practice what i preach

)

**courtenay_e** · 11-24-2007, 11:57 AM

Please, though your pregnancy is only 19 weeks in...consider going to a chiropractor now, and continue to see the chiro until after the birth. THe liklihood of breech is much lower when you're getting consistent chiropractic care, and if it's the difference between vaginal birth and VBAC, it's a pretty painless way to HELP to ensure a non-surgical birth!

JanetF · 11-24-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmzbm

I dunno, I *think* mine is breech too. Of course, at only 21 weeks, I'm not too terribly concerned. But delivering breech is, I think, beyond my comfort level with the condition of my uterus, the number of prior sections, etc. That & I want to UC. I think that would be too risky, all things considered & I am not in any way comfortable with a version. Unfortunately a breech term babe will lead to another section for me, but I have no control over that. At this time I'm not really giving it much though, lots of time left for position changes.

Why does it bother you?

It's just a birth, yk

Baby up, baby down, whatever, they all just want to be born and breech has absolutely no effect on scars that a cephalic birth wouldn't. I think you really need to challenge yourself over that one. Personally from what I've seen of homebirth mws and hospitals, I'm beginning to think that UC is the only way to get an unhindered and thus safe, breech birth.

The "rules" of breech birth mean you don't actually need an attendant anyway

1. labour upright
2. warm room (I also know a number of women who've waterbirthed breech babies)
3. DON'T TOUCH until the baby is out - how hard is that?

rmzbm · 11-24-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanetF

Why does it bother you?

It's just a birth, yk

Baby up, baby down, whatever, they all just want to be born and breech has absolutely no effect on scars that a cephalic birth wouldn't. I think you really need to challenge yourself over that one. Personally from what I've seen of homebirth mws and hospitals, I'm beginning to think that UC is the only way to get an unhindered and thus safe, breech birth.

The "rules" of breech birth mean you don't actually need an attendant anyway

1. labour upright
2. warm room (I also know a number of women who've waterbirthed breech babies)
3. DON'T TOUCH until the baby is out - how hard is that?

Why does it bother me? Good question. I don't know.

Maybe because I am entertaining other people's fears too much lately & letting the self doubt sneak in? *sigh* I think I am due for a nice long MDC & "other pregnancy boards" break. My head is hurting.

mom2tillie · 11-24-2007, 10:14 PM

I would be looking for another doc if a cesarean was suggested at 19w... my dd was not breech at my 19w u/s and turned breech much later on... maybe we should just schedule cesareans for every pregnant woman because you never know when a baby will turn one way or the other.

:

-Iris

kltroy · 11-26-2007, 01:08 PM

My first baby was a c/s because he was breech. He had been breech from 30 weeks onward, and he NEVER budged. We tried everything. This pregnancy, we are paying more close attention to things, but honestly, at 19 weeks, even given my bad experience, I would NOT worry about your baby's position. My baby was head-down at our 20 week ultrasound. At this point he's less than a pound and there is a LOT of room to move around.

I would have your doc check again around 28 weeks and if the baby is breech at that point you can start being a little more agressive. At that point I would check the spinningbabies website - great suggestions. Go swimming regularly. Take a warm bath. Relax. I would also find a chiropractor who does the Webster Technique. Seriously, though, I would NOT do any of this for at least another 9-10 weeks. However, if you do find that you're achy through your hips and pelvis, I would see a chiro earlier, because that can indicate that something is out of whack, and that can cause your uterus to shift in a way that can increase your chances of your baby being breech (the Webster Technique helps to correct this).

Remember, only about 3% of babies are actually breech at term. Chances are really excellent that it will turn on its own without you worrying about it

PookieMom · 12-06-2007, 11:17 PM

This thread really jumped out at me. I just have to post!

My ds turned breech around 32 weeks and I scheduled a c/s 3 days before his due date. The night before the c/s we got a checked into a hotel with an indoor pool and I swam and did flips under the water, and floated around, and did a few more flips, and didn't get out till i resembled a nice wrinkly prune.

The next morning while they were prepping me for surgery I demanded an ultrasound and refused to sign anything until the nurses, rolling their eyes and in a huff, complied and BOOM he was head down! My doctor asked and I agreed to induce with pit (NOT recommended! I know better now) and I had a successful vbac (with alot of interventions and horrible nurses...I will never go to a hospital again) sorry, off topic

:

Anyway, scheduling at 19 weeks is ridiculous. Don't walk, RUN from that doctor! Pushing c/s so early sounds really fishy imho.

Good luck to you and best wishes!

noelle55363 · 02-25-2008, 04:16 PM

You and everyone else who has not should read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth It is the best book ever and should give you a lot of confidence!

paradoxia13 · 02-27-2008, 10:33 AM

My son turned breach at 34 weeks. We tried *everything* to get him to turn. I'd been having chiropractic the whole time, we tried acupuncture, moxibustion, all sorts of positioning, cold on his head with warm down below. I'd feel him trying to turn and just not making it. My midwife was 100% fine with me birthing breach naturally, just knew it would be an easier birth if we could get him to flip.

It wasn't until 42 weeks that she even *mentioned* needing to go to my insurance provider for a NST and gave me the perhaps we need to consider a c-section talk.

At 19 weeks I wouldn't be the least bit worried. Baby still has plenty of time and space to move! Definitely start some chiropractic care if you haven't, it can only help.

I'm at 19 weeks right now, and my daughter is laying stretched out side to side. She'll move, I'm not worried. But, I'll keep up my chiro, and as soon as it warms up a bit more, lots and lots of swimming and walking.

~heather