Baby position - something doesn't sit right....

[Teddybear33]

I'm coming up to 36 weeks and have been advised by two midwives that the baby is head down which is clearly great as I thought the baby was transverse. However I'm not getting kicked in the ribs at all and whilst many a mum has told me be grateful...and I am...I'm not sure this is consistent with where baby is meant to be and am wondering if they've got it wrong and I'm in fact breach (which happened to a friend of mine recently). I mostly get kicks/movement around the lower stomach and others maybe 2-3 inches above the belly button line...

Maybe I just have enough of my own cushioning I don't feel the pain? Or could there maybe be something wrong with the babies legs?? I'm inclined to think not as some kicks or movements sometimes take my breath away or are very big movements and uncomfortable.

I was thinking about getting a positioning scan but in the meantime has anyone got any other advice?

Thanks

[Iggly]

It could be that your baby is bent over with legs that way. Do you get tickly sensations much lower down? I did which felt like their fingers so I knew they were head down. Also I didn't get big kicks much as we got towards the end - not enough room for baby!

To be honest if you think it is wrong you may well be right. Work on making sure you're not sitting back to much etc etc.

[bakingtins]

It got fewer big movements at that stage, they are too squashed to get a good kick in. I had similar movements to what you describe and it was hands poking down below and feet on my right side about halfway up. Baby had flexed hips and legs frogged, couldn't feel the foot on the left side due to anterior placenta.
If your unsure a scan is a good idea, better to know in advance if baby is breech!

[BikeRunSki]

I was convinced ds was breech. I used to get kicks in that soft bit between hip bone and belly button. Everyone said it must be a punch. I said too hard for a punch. Everyone dismissed me as I was a first time mum. MW told be his head was engaged 3 days before he was born. Ds was diagnosed as footling breech when I was 10
Cm dilated, and needed an emcs.

[BikeRunSki]

I guess what I am trying to say, is, if you are concerned, then get your mw to check position again and maybe push for a position scan.

[BadRoly]

With dc1, we found out she was footling breech after a scan to check reduced movement - the day after my midwife told me the head was engaged . All kicks were downwards and I used to joke that a foot was going to appear any moment.

With the 3 subsequent dc, I requested positional scans at 37ish weeks and no one batted an eyelid as clearly I was too chubby to tell the position easily - with dc2 I had a scan during labour as the midwife was convinced he was breech (he wasn't)!

My advice based on my experience is to explain your concern to your midwife and ask for a scan to clarify the position of your baby. But make sure you are firm about the request not as if you are asking for a favour iyswim!

[DearDinah]

I only found out my baby was breech after a scan, two midwifes said she was head down, when what they felt as a head was actually her bum. I got a scan after going to triage about reduced movement, I'm 36+4 and have another scan booked on Friday to see if she's turned.
I feel kicks very low down in right side (she's frank breech)
I feel (& see) her pushing her head out high up under my ribs on the right side & can feel a big lump (her bottom!) further down on the left side just under my belly button.
Ask for a scan.

[eurochick]

My baby was head down and I got punches very low down and kicks to the side of my belly button. She was quite curled up and her feet never got near my ribs. Her position was confirmed during many growth scans.

[frankiebuns]

My baby is breech, and I get punches on the left and kicks low low down the studwnt mw was better at guessing where baby is, where are they getting the heart beat mines high under ribs which is a big indicator of breech unless shesa medical abnormality and sge has her heart in her bum!

[lizhow14]

Hi,

The feelings down low could be baby's arms and the feelings around belly button baby's legs if they are curved around your womb. I can never remember kicks in the ribs but 1st baby engaged quite early on.
Express your concerns to your midwife who can reassure and show you how she knows baby is head down.
If you are still really worried then I would book a quick private scan so that you don't go into labour worrying.

[Heatherbell1978]

Hi I'm exactly the same as you. 39 wks and never had any kicking in the ribs and baby feels like he could be transverse based on where my kicking is ie lower down and on both sides of belly button. But....I've mentioned to my mw last 2 times and I went into triage a few weeks ago and mentioned to mw then. As a result I've had 3 different midwives all telling me the same thing about where he is positioned - he's head down, but just quite curled up. They've pointed out his back, bum and how he's curled round with his feet near my right hip which makes sense based on where I feel him. I have to assume they are all right so I would recommend mentioning to your mw and getting her to do a proper feel. You're early enough that the baby can move too.

[Teddybear33]

Thanks ladies much appreciated and good luck to all the pregnant ones. I hope you have lovely smooth births and the breech babies turn xx