Breech Query - do they turn? or do you get a C-section?

[sleepfinder]

My current pregnancy is breech. I've been told not to worry, they move around, that the docs can "turn" them and now, from a family friend (and experienced GP) I've been told that they stay breech and I'll face a c-section.

I do not want to deliver breech but I'm wondering if anyone has had their baby turn or turned by the doc successfully? And at what stage?

Any advice on TURNING very much appreciated...!!!

Sleepfinder - how far are you?

Here are the links I post on another forum regarding Brrech and malposition. Have a look and see if there's anything you find inspirational. Using Optimnal Foetal Positioning should give you the best chance of turning baby, using an ironing board propped up against sofa and lying on it with your bum up the board and head down to the floor is one of the ways recommended. That way baby's head, being heavist, will come out of pelvis area and then when you stand up and keep OFP in mind baby's head, being heaviest, should turn down to the pelvis.

I've not had to do this myself so can't talk from experience, just from my learning.

If baby is Breech:
www.radmid.demon.co.uk/Skills.htm
www.breechbabies.com/contents.htm
www.birthinternational.com/articles/andrea13.html
www.mother-care.ca/breech.htm
www.moondragon.org/obgyn/pregnancy/breech.html

So baby's not in the best position:
www.spinningbabies.com/
www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm
www.gentlebirth.org/archives/position.html

Sleepfinder, on the pregnancy topic, there is a thread entitled breech watch where lots of us due in sept are discussing the fact that our bubs are breech - and what options we have/ things we can do. come join us on there - quite a bit of info on there.

Hello - 24 / 25 wks.
thanks I shall look at these links and the Sept thread - sorry I missed that one yesterday!
thanks again everyone

sleepfinder, you are way too early to worry about a breech bub! From what my obs and other mw's have said - you dont really need to start thinking about this til about 34 weeks where if still breech, you can start to encourage it to turn! good luck!

HI Sleepfinder. I agree that you've still got plenty of time, but my baby was breech and I tried (unsuccessfully) everything to turn her. Doesn't hurt to try things sooner rather than later, I reckon. I tried reflexology, moxibustion (google for your nearest acupuncturist), frozen peas on the bump, the homeopathic treatment pulsatilla (try Neal's Yard), positioning (try the links recommended by Klaw), swimming, yoga and positive thinking! They did seem to stimulate fetal movement, so def worth trying.

I had two failed attempts at ECV. I wrote up my first experience here www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=49&threadid=362716#7396983. At my second I had gas and air which made it much more pleasant!

I think stress prob doesn't help, so try to chill out about it at the moment.. There's a currently a long thread in pregnancy about breech - take at look at that.

my dd was breech and as I has a section with ds so they wouldn't try to turn her turn but she didn't turn to breech until 36 weeks and she was big too (10lb 5oz at birth!)
If I had known about mumsnet then I probably would have tried soething to turn her myself!

Sleepfinder - DD was breach from wk 35 to wk 38! She eventually turned, with much encouragement from me and was born at home at 39 + 4. Think positive thoughts and follow the advise the positioning. Last but not least if baby really does not move, a C-section is not the end of the world. A successful birth and healthy you and baby are the most important!!! Good luck

There's a very helpful thread called " breech watch " going on the pregnancy section of this site.... Do have a look, you may find something that helps !!

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There are acupuncture practioners in this country who will use moxibustion to turn breech babies and yes the success rate is comparable to an ECV. Defintely worth considering for anyone who is still breech at 35 weeks plus.

But at 24 weeks the chances are that baby will flip round.

Thanks for all the helpful information.

I am interested to know though, what is the basis for saying that at 24 wks things will most likely change though?

This is my second baby. DS1 was not breech at any point. This one has been so since the 12 wk scan. Its caused a lot more discomfort and as I mentioned a family friend who is a very experienced GP (over 60) and a qualified surgeon to boot, has said that this baby will stay this way.

I am very happy to try ironing boards, acupumcture, ECV etc to get her round though!

At 28 weeks 25% of babies are breech.

At full term somewhere between 3% and 7% of babies are breech (exact figure depends on who you ask).

Therefore, even if you discount all those babies who aren't breech at 28 weeks but turn breech before full term, around 80% of babies who are breech at 28 weeks will turn before they get to full term. For 24 weeks the percentage will be higher still.

That helps a lot actually - huge drop in statistics. Thank you lemonaid

My LO turned at 39 weeks. Was actually on the op table ready to have a CS when they did a can to check her position and discovered she had turned head down overnight as she was definitely breech the day before.

Now waiting for her to put in appearance after 36 hrs of contractions and still not at 3cm!

Beginning to wish they'd just done the CS now!

All the best Hersetta !! Hope your LO arrives soon .That's great news re- the baby turning, we are on the " breechwatch" thread on the pregnancy topic site and appreciate stories such as yours !!