breech baby at 34 weeks

[martini82]

i have been told my baby is breech and if he doesn't turn in 2 weeks they will try and turn him, has any one had this done was it sucessful?

[MrsJamin]

That sounds rather early to turn the baby, at my hospital this was normally done at 37-38wks. I had a turning (ECV) at 39+5 as it was spotted very late on, and it was bloody painful and didn't work. But I'm glad I gave it a try and I wouldn't want to put you off having one.

The baby is most likely to turn of his own accord (only 2-3% of babies are born breech), and there's things you can do to encourage him to go the right way up, i.e. lots of time spent on all fours, with your head down and your bum up in the air. Also some people say moxibustion works but I just thought it was a waste of money!

[pregnancy1]

Oh, a girl in my NCT class was breech at 35 weeks and tried moxibustion (if that it the smoke/incense thing by your feet) and acupuncture and the baby turned by itself. Might be worth a try?

[greenlawn]

One of mine turned at 38+ weeks - after I spent 2 weeks in the "setting the video" position (head down bum up) described by MrsJamin!

[MrsJamin]

Well done greenlawn, that's great your baby turned. Most do. My DS was one of the stubborn ones! To be honest as I was a first timer and I'm rather short I have the theory that DS just didn't have room to turn. If this isn't your first baby a turning is more likely to work.

If my second baby was breech I would buy moxa sticks and do the moxibustion myself - it's just burning the end of one of these near your little toe, so that you can feel the heat, for 5-10 mins each side, twice a day. It's totally not worth paying £40-60 for if you could pay £2.95 instead! Your local Chinese health food shop should sell them.

[MrsJamin]

Oh I forgot to say, I did have the moxibustion treatment, I didn't just hear about it. But I'm not convinced of the stats that say that it works, it doesn't seem more likely to work than by chance.

[Tangle]

DD was breech from about 28 weeks. She was a stubborn so and so as well, and declined to turn. We declined an ECV. She was born by vaginal breech birth at 41+3.

Try and get hold of "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites and/or "Breech Birth: What are my options" by Jane Evans - I found them both to be a lot more informative than most HCPs I talked to within the NHS.

[RCT]

Had mine turned just before induction at about 38 weeks. Didn't hurt at all and was successful although then had to spend the next few hours on my side until the head engaged (third baby) to prevent turning breech again.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Wouldn't bother with ECV if I were you, my DS has turned every sodding week for the last four and I'm 37 weeks pregnant! He's now head down and the little bugger is staying put if he knows what's good for him!

Some babies just like doing circuits!

[PussinJimmyChoos]

WMMC!!! Did parcel arrive??

[whomovedmychocolate]

Darling girl - yes thank you - just FB chatted you but then my browser crashed. Buggeration!

[martini82]

thanks all i'll keep my fingers crossed and hope that he'll turn!