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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

How common is it for 1st baby to be BREECH at 32 weeks??

23 replies

Leilababyno1 · 02/03/2011 16:12

Hi there,

Have also posted this elsewhere in the hope of getting some advice.

Had a scan the other day, as I'm apparently carrying a 'large' baby...

She was complete breech at the time, just wondered how common is this presentation at this stage of gestation and what percentage of babies manage to turn around in time without aid??
Consultant has arranged an appointment at 36 weeks to check her position then.

Bearing in mind she is large and my mid-drift is very petite- only 5'3'..

Ta!

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Cheria · 02/03/2011 16:26

Hi
Mine was breech at 32 and 34 weeks. I was booked in for a cesarian, went back to see the doc last week at 37 weeks, and she had turned.
The further they go and remain in breech position the less likely it is that they turn - my doc was quite surprised.
My C section has been cancelled and am now just playing the waiting game. Doc does, however, want to see me again next Monday, at 38+5, to check she has not turned again and has started to engage - I'm being followed particularly closely due to various complications earlier on).

Cheria · 02/03/2011 16:29

Sorry, forgot to add, mine is large too, and I am petite - but Doc has reassured me on that count.

I was advised against doing that thing where they try and turn the baby - can't remember what it is called. It is apparently painful, stressful for both, and largely ineffective.

QTPie · 02/03/2011 16:53

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster

Leilababyno1 · 02/03/2011 17:06

That's interesting QTPie (cool name)

I am also petite with 'strong' stomach muscles, as I'm a trained dancer- I wonder if that may have anything to do with it??

It is VERY uncomfortable at the moment, as her head is wedged under my right rib.. Breathing has also become a massive effort. So I am sure I will notice when (if) she turns head down again.

We will see- fingers crossed!

OP posts:

ethelina · 02/03/2011 17:07

I think a huge percentage of babies are breech at 32 weeks, most turn by 35 or 36 weeks and by 40 weeks its something like only 3-4% who are still breech.

My son was breech all the way, I had him turned by ECV at 37 weeks and had a reasonably straightforward vaginal birth at 40+9.

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 02/03/2011 17:19

I replied on your other thread. Personally I was advised against ECV as I have a very strong core but baby turned anyway so turning isn't totally incompatible with strong abs.

There are lots of things you can do to help them turn. Google spinning babies!

hallamoo · 02/03/2011 17:31

I'm currently 36+3 and my baby is breech. This is my 4th baby, my 2nd baby was discovered to be breech at 38 weeks and successfully turned by ECV (born at 39 weeks).

To me, ECV is a no brainer, why wouldn't someone want to try? It's a very low risk procedure and I want to avoid a c-section as much as possible, even to the point of considering a breech vaginal birth.

Most babies do turn and 32 weeks it's not uncommon for a baby to be breech (so I understand).

I'm booked in for an ECV next week, it was successful last time, so I'm keeping everything crossed it will be this time.

Good luck.

ohmeohmy · 02/03/2011 18:17

www.spinningbabies.com

craftynclothy · 02/03/2011 18:29

With dd1 she was head down at 32 weeks, breech at 34 weeks (I'd felt her turn) and back to head down at 36 weeks (didn't feel her turn back). I think it's quite common.

hallamoo - When I had independent midwives with dd2 I got the impression they weren't that keen on it. They are generally of the belief that if the baby hasn't turned of it's own accord then it could be for a reason that means it shouldn't be turned iyswim (probably not explained it really well there cos it didn't apply to me so never went into it fully with them)

Original poster

Leilababyno1 · 02/03/2011 18:45

Thanks all...I won't worry just yet and wait until further down the line- hopefully she will have turned by herself by then!

Ta!

OP posts:

lilly13 · 02/03/2011 18:51

Leila, try doing these hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Turn-a-Breech-Baby

you can also try yogic inversions aka shoulder stand (you can use wall as support) to turn the baby. good luck!

diyqueen · 02/03/2011 19:20

Mine is breech at 37 weeks - has been like that since Christmas, on my right side with head under the ribs like other posters above. It moves its head and legs about a little but has never changed position properly. I'm another skinny person with tight stomach muscles (all genetic - nothing to do with exercise I'm afraid!) and interested to hear that others who are similar build have had breech babies too. I think mine's just stuck like that now - though

If I could go back a few weeks I would have started the exercises for turning the baby a bit earlier, as when the midwife started getting worried about the position at 34 weeks the baby was already pretty stuck I think. I tried moxibustion to no avail as well (though lots of people say they've had success with this), and had an ECV yesterday that failed as they couldn't get its bum out of my pelvis. I'm glad I tried it though - was painful but would definitely have been worth it if the baby turned as I'm now facing the prospect of a c-section in a couple of weeks.

exoticfruits · 02/03/2011 19:38

Mine was breech until the very last minute when thankfully he turned,not sure how he found room!

QTPie · 02/03/2011 20:38

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

muminthesun · 02/03/2011 21:33

My ds1 was found to be breach on his due date at my routine midwife appointment.

Was swiftly sent to hospital where scan confirmed one wedged in breech baby,so that "Bum" that was stuck under my ribs for weeks was really his head.

After much dicussion we agreed to give Ecv a go,they said they were almost sure it would'nt work due to size of baby etc,and booked me a date for elective section in 2 days but he turned on first attempt!

I still went 10 days overdue after this,and after an unsucessfull 23hrs induced labour he was born by emergency section due to failing to dilate past 4cm,he also had a head circ of 38cm,which is big! and didnt desend into pelvis .

For me personally looking back I should probably have refused ecv and went straight to section.But all in all experience was'nt too bad.

blondieminx · 03/03/2011 23:41

My dd was footling breech (and stamping on my bladder) but she turned at 35+6, the night before a scan to confirm presentation and to line me up for a c sec. Spend as much time as poss on all fours to give her space to turn, Your dd still has time to turn :) good luck!

Linnet · 03/03/2011 23:47

My dd1 was still breech at 34 weeks before moving into position, the midwife didn't seem overly concerned about it. Dd2 was the same, they both moved into position in plenty of time though.

kiwijesta · 04/03/2011 02:16

My DD was transverse at 20 weeks and breech at 34 and never moved. We were given a 30% chance of baby turning via ECV and took it. I wish we hadn't cause it was very painful (and I was using the gas and air). They said I had strong muscles which I would not have agreed with, but hey I took it as a compliment. If you did do the ECV you get 3 goes so you can say stop after one if you wish (what I did)
hellamoo ECV's are much more likely to work from 2nd child on as a women's muscles have already been stretched by pregnancy.

Now I remember people (friends and MW) told us not to try ECV and we still did, 30% meant there still was a chance, although I kind of always felt she'd stay breech. HTH

Oh and ELCS was great!

bigredtractor · 04/03/2011 20:10

Hi,

It can help if you spend a lot of time on your hands & knees, or leaning over a big fit ball. I did it for a few weeks - watching TV etc. in the evenings and then I felt the baby turn round at work one day - v freaky sensation!!

gallicgirl · 04/03/2011 22:28

My DD was breech late into the pregnancy and was turned at 39 weeks by ECV. Although quite uncomfortable, it wasn't too painful but I wouldn't say I had any strong abdominal muscles. I wanted a home birth so the option of ECV was a no-brainer.

Good luck with whatever you decide and hopefully baby will turn alone.

theborrower · 05/03/2011 09:08

I had an undiagnosed breech - midwife thought she was 2/5 engaged at 36 weeks but at 38 week appointment Dr thought the head was totally free. So either she turned very late, or the midwife was wrong (someone later told me that sometimes they can mistake the bum and knees for head and shoulders). Had an EMCS because it was only diagnosed when I had a VE when I went to hospital in labour. Thank goodness the midwife there though asked for a scan to be sure, as she wasn't positive either!

I always had lots of kicks really low down though - when I mentioned this to my MW she said it was probably her hands, so I always pictured her hands around her head punching me, but of course must have been her feet (never felt kicks under my ribs or up high). After speaking to someone else who had a breech baby, she also experienced this so I'm guessing she was breech all along, but I don't really know.

Oh, and I'm petite too (5'1"). Physio at hospital (DD had clicky hips - another indication she was probably breech all along) had a theory that it's harder for babies to turn in petite ladies. Don't know if there's any truth in that though! My DD wasn't big though - was really tiny. Apparently the shape of your womb can be a factor too.

Sorry for the ramble. Hope your baby turns or if not, all goes well with an ELCS and you don't go into labour before then!

QTPie · 05/03/2011 21:19

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Elsjas · 06/03/2011 21:35

I am petite (7and a half stone) and had a relatively big baby (8lb 4oz). She was breech and was turned by ECV and then I had a straightforward natural delivery. Agree with other posters that ECV is uncomfortable but not painful. I would definitely do it again if I had another breech baby.

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