Breach baby ... any ideas on how to turn it?

[jwiggles]

Just found out at 33 weeks (had extra scan today) that my baby is breach and as the head is right up the top it may not turn...

I have 2 options - I can go into the day unit and have a manual turn which isnt guaranteed and can be v uncomfortable, or c-section right away.

I dont really want a c-section and so just wondered if any of you knew how to turn it, or any ideas that may work...

Thanks!

plenty of time for it to turn on its own - that is by far the most likely outcome.
if not, spinningbabies website.

My friend who had her baby last month, had her baby turned by the consultant aruond 36/7 wks she stayed head down, she had a dream birth in a community midwife birth centre on her edd.

My mum took a homeopathic remedy to turn my brother this was 24 years ago, my mum wasn't into this kind of thing, but a health visitor in her village was a homeopath so for her it added some credibility and she had nothing to lose. My brother turned the night my mum took the pills, late too, on his due date. Mum had a natural birth that weekend. It was a good thing really he had a massive head (right off the scale) and was nearly 9lbs.

scrub your skirting boards

As Donald Draper says, I think there's plenty of time for her to turn.

Hands and knees action is meant to be good though....as in scrubbing the floor, not the other!!

My SIL had a manual turn and said it was v uncomfortable, it did work though.

Good luck x

A friend swore acupuncture did the trick

Thanks all ...I have heard reflexology, ECV and moxybustion (sp?) can all help too....

Lets hope it turns!

there is no way a homeopathic remedy could possibly turn a baby. its totally medically/scientifically impossible.

Isnt it funny how times have changed. When my mum had me (24 years ago ) I came out bum first with legs up around my head and 30 medical students in the audience there was no talk of turning me it was just a given that she would push me out somehow.

She has been told that with her current pregnancy (shes 12 weeks) if the baby is breech they would definately do a c-section.

Isnt it funny how times have changed. When my mum had me (24 years ago ) I came out bum first with legs up around my head and 30 medical students in the audience there was no talk of turning me it was just a given that she would push me out somehow.

She has been told that with her current pregnancy (shes 12 weeks) if the baby is breech they would definately do a c-section.

ILoveDonaldDraper you say that but my mum is convinced having had his head stuck under her ribs for months then he did not stop moving all night she took the remedy, the next day her consultant confirmed he was head down. As I said mum isn't into homeopathy not before or since but she believes it did the trick on that occaision. Who am I (you) to say that it did not?

The 'medical/scientific' means of turning come with their very defined risks, at least there is no harm trying these unconfirmed methods.

I've also heard ice pack at the top of uterus and heated pad to the bottom to encourage baby down, seems a bit mean! Also inversion, lying on a board againt a sofa, upside down...check spinning babies/utube for creative ideas. All the best

A c section at 33 weeks? Surely they can wait a bit longer? I've heard ECV is painful, though. Midwife told me she'd had good reports about acupuncture/moxibustion (sp?).

DS was breech and I opted not to try an ECV as I heard it can be uncomfortable and I'm a wimp! In the end he didn't turn and I ended up having a C-section at 39 weeks. I just wanted to reassure you that it was a very positive experience and in no way did I feel I'd 'missed out' by not having a natural birth. Hope everything goes well for you.

Moxybustion worked for me - one day baby was breech on scan so was booked in for ECV; managed to get some 'emergency' acupuncture and next day as they placed the scanner on my stomach to see where she was, she was head down hurrah!

DD's head was bobbing up and down like crazy while the lady was burning the moxa(?) sticks.

Current baby is breech at 33 weeks too... am hoping she'll turn...

My sister turned her dd at 37 weeks by walking up and down the stairs sideways (was her MW idea!)
good luck!
jx

I was watching Portland Babies the other week (hangs head in shame!) and one of the midwives recommended either acupuncture or reflexology (can't remember which) but said that the turning was something to do with your big toe! It sounded very random but you kind of think if a midwife is saying it it must be a bit true!

Another is to find an chiropractor experienced in the Webster Technique.

Incidentally, you can't be forced to have an ECV or a CS if you don't want one - as a mentally competent adult you have the right to make your own choices over healthcare. All MW's cover breech birth in their training (and, IIRC, in their yearly updates). That said, having the training is very different to having the experience.

DD1 was persistently breech from 28 weeks (in 2007). We declined an ECV and a CS, and found 2 wonderful IMs with extremely strong breech skills - she was born as a breech baby at home. If you can find a MW with good breech skills then the latest research shows that (depending on exact position) vaginal breech birth carries slightly fewer risks than a CS. The crux is finding a MW with strong breech skills...

If you want to do some more reading, "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites and "Breech Birth: What are my options" by Jane Evans are both very informative.

Deciding to go for a HB with a baby we knew was breech was a very hard decision and not one we took lightly. Fingers crossed your LO turns by themselves (which they are still more than likely to do) and you have a straightforward birth :)

sedgiebaby - you are certainly right that homeopathy won't do you any harm - because it won't do anything at all!!!

The vast majority of babies who are breach even in the later stages of pregnancy turn on their own - that is what happened to your mum, the fact it came after homeopathy is a coincidence.

if you are interested, you can read this
www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/pdf/SenseAboutHomeopathy.pdf

from the highly respected sense about science organisation.

I probably wouldn't let a chiropractor near me either, particularly if they are one of the lunatics who also claim to be able to cure asthma or diabetes by manipulating the spine.

I might not be be the best person to talk to as I'm 38 weeks and my baby is still breech but I've been told that crawling really makes a difference before getting into the bum in the air position. Not sure if this is true but I didn't really do it (it's quite tiring and dull) and wish I'd tried harder now. I also tried moxibustion last week (despite being sensible scientist who doesn't believe in such things) but it's meant to be more effective at 35 weeks (probably because babies turn by themselves more easily at this stage - wouldn't really recommend it as felt a bit gullible during appointment but depends how desperate you get....wish I'd spent the money on a pregnany massage instead!).

As previous people have said at 33 weeks you probably shouldn't worry too much as the baby is very likely to turn by itself at this stage, but at the same time I wish I'd started earlier as I was pretty sure it was breech at 32 weeks despite midwife saying otherwise so I didn't start trying excersises etc. until 35 weeks. Hope your baby turns for you!

Thank you all, lots of things to try there. Off to get down on all fours now and clean some skirting boards or something! :)

Good luck with your turning, I am doing the same at the moment (though I am at 37 weeks).

I enjoyed a nice warm bath - with essential oils Lavender, sweet majaroun and Ylang Ylang - two drops of each in some milk in the bath. Then I used some ice packs and placed them on my tummy to encourage baby to move, baby wasn't fussed though :(

I am going at it with everything - so have followed the homeopathic remedies as recommended on here www.birthways.com/girlnet_docs/Natural_Measures.pdf

• Pulsatilla and Ignatia

I've been told that sometimes babies are breech as they are holding their mum's heart due to her having emotional issues.
I believe that might be the case with me so am also taking Bach Remedy - Rock Rose and trying to talk to baby and persude him or her to move down :)

(bach remedies and homeopathic remedies are on 3 for 2 in boots at the moments if you are interested)

I have also been recommended inversions, trying to do them as often (6+ times a day if poss no longer than 15mins though) as I can lying off the sofa with cushions supporting my back, head and neck whilst watching tv upside!

I'm trying acupunture and moxi as even the NHS Supervisor of Midwives in my area recommended it to me, though have to wait till monday for an appointment.
You can also use the acupressure point on the little toes by the nail - bladder point 67 (which is also where you burn the moxi to help encourage baby to move).

I'm not sure if they are working for me yet but since I started using the various techniques my baby has at least moved its back from one side to another - just not sure how and if it may be ready to move into the head down postition yet - I hope so!

I've looked at the webster technique but would only advise you to use a chriopracter who someone personally recommends as I heard from bad stories about some and as I haven't had anyone I know recommend one I am avoiding it at the moment.

Can you let us know how you get on incase I've missed anything that might work :)