Any tips on getting a breech baby to turn?

[CrapBag]

Having ECV on Thursday but thought if I can get her to turn before then, then that would be better.

I've looked online and there was something about laying on an ironing board, I won't be doing that and laying with the top half of your body flat and bottom in the air but thighs not touching your bump for 15 minutes, every 2 waking hours. This position seems to be impossible and the amount you have to do it doesn't seem feasible. I also have SPD so have to be careful.

Anyone have any more 'normal' positions they have tried and tested? On all fours rocking or something fairly simple? I also have M.E. so I can't prop myself up for very long or things like that

Lie with your head on the floor, bum on a sofa and legs up in the air.

Worked for me, but really uncomfortable. Supposed to be like that for 30 minutes, but I only managed about 20, but within an hour had huge movement and he had turned.

On all fours as if you are scrubbing the front step.

OR- what really worked for me- sit 'backwards' on a dining chair (not so great if you have SPD- I did and could only do it for 15 minutes at a time) This is quite an easy position to sty in if you're watching TV or reading. DH could give you a back rub at the same time.

Apparently, if you go to a swimming pool and do a duck dive in the deepest part, you will feel the baby turn.

Bag of frozen peas at the baby's head.

Torch at the bottom. Apparently the baby's curiosity will be piqued and will move down to investigate.

For more tips and a calming, rational evaluation of breech, read Benna Waites' book. It's brilliant

Dd2 was breech and I was due to go in for turning on the Mon. I basically spent a lot of the weekend lying upside down on the stairs with dh hanging onto my ankles. The other thing I did was sat on my knees with my head on the floor and my bum in the air and just kinda wriggled - bit like the bum wiggling when in labour iykwim. Anyway long story short bubs had turned when I went for the scan on the Mon so something must have helped. Good luck

Ok thanks. Off to lay in some funny and uncomfortable positions.

I was mortified when mw sent me for a scan at 38 weeks and I realised that for all this time I'd been resting my laptop on the baby's head - that's not enough to get it to turn btw!

I tried the frozen peas, the diving, the scrubbing/all fours, drew the line at the torch up the fanjo though! Tbh though I was glad of a way out because I'd been terrified of another hideously long labour/emergency section, so steered clear of the ECV and plumped for a planned section.

Good luck.

You don't have to have a section, you know. Read the book and decide for yourself and what you feel most comfortable with.

go to www.spinningbabies.com/

They'll tell you every possible way of getting your baby in a better position.

Or consider an independent midwife who'll be an expert at helping mothers to give birth to breech babies!

A torch up the fanjo? really?

Reminds me of an old joke about a man with worms, an apple and a mars bar.

There is a good success rate for turning breech babies using moxabustion ( a type of acupuncture treatment). It is really non-invasive and definately worth a try. Just contact a local registered acupuncturist, you can find them on the British Acupuncture website. Good Luck

Thanks.

There is no way I am giving birth vaginally to a breech baby. I had a bad forceps and 3rd degree tear with DS. I am hoping to go for natural birth again as I have healed well and there is no greater risk than any other woman who hasn't torn but I won't take my chances with a breech birth.

Laid upside down off the sofa last night, did manage half an hour and although I didn't feel her turn, this morning I really thought I couldn't feel her head at the top anymore. Maybe wishful thinking though as unless her bum is now in the exact position her head was in, she hasn't moved.

How much is acupuncture roughly? I have no idea.

I had moxibustion. Cost about £40 through someone I went to regularly. Didn't feel the baby turn, but she had by the next day.