Breech at 31 weeks - how likely is baby to turn by his/her self?

[LearningFast]

I'm 31 weeks pregnant and the baby has been in breech position for some time now, with his / her head under my ribs. There still seems to be room for them to move about - for instance the baby has their legs tucked up at the moment so kicks are coming on my right hand side, although most of the time they are coming very low down and into my bladder.

Really I am interested to know whether anyone else has been in this situation and had the baby spontaneously turn the other way up, and if so when did it happen?

I've read stuff on spinning babies website about how to encourage the baby to turn, and am booked in for accupuncture at 34 weeks in case the baby still hasn't moved by then. Not sure if am worrying unneccessarily... am really hoping for a natural home birth and my midwife isn't keen to do this if baby is still breech...

Yes, mine did. No intervention by me or anyone else. It was my second dc.

Thanks Pirateparty, that's encouraging. How many weeks were you when they turned?

My first was breech, the doctor tried to turn her, I used to sleep with the end of the bed higher etc etc....she wouldn't turn and I had an ELCS. My doctor said that some babies can turn head downwards but then go back to breech as that is where they are comfortable.

I'm 31 weeks too and my baby has been breech for some time. I was wondering about the same thing and so I asked my midwife about it when I saw her on Tuesday.
She basically said they dont tend to take too much notice of the babys position at this point. I asked if she could tell where baby was lying and she showed me - but then said 'But it could be over here by tea time so I really wouldnt worry yourself about it. Most babys get themselves into the right position when they are ready to be born.'

The thing that worries me is......if the baby is in the wrong position and they know, will they just offer me a c-section? That would be fine with me. It's just if the baby is in the wrong position and they dont know, and then I go through a long hard labour... I'm praying for a nice homebirth!

I think something like only 3-4% of babies are breech come term so most do turn.

If they don't, they can offer you an ecv and depending on the type of breech and confidence of the midwives/docs, you can still delivery vaginally.

But at 31 weeks, there's still plenty of time.

My second ds was breech up until about 37 weeks & he turned all by himself!

theres plenty of time for your baby to turn, normally a few weeks before labour (if it's your first) he will engage himself.

My first two were both breech up untill about 36 weeks. I was really worried both times to be honest. But I just sat on my birthing ball and wiggled about a lot, and did back stretching exercises with my bum in the air!!
Not sure if that did the trick or not, but both were born in normal position ( and quick straight forward births).
I am also 30 weeks, and guess what - breech again!! Not too worried this time though,as midwife told me it probably moves position daily?
On the plus side - breech meant for me, that I couldn't eat too much. Also, I didn't have too much pressure between my legs early on !!

why are you worrying now? Seems a bit early! Babies move when they are ready. If yr that bothered go swimming as being on yr front encourages them to turn

DD1 was breech till about 32/33 weeks I think. 2nd pregnancy I had twins and DT1 was breech right through the pregnancy. I had my last scan at 37wks, he was breech so had elective section at 38wks, by which time he'd got himself in the right position. Amazingly I hadn't felt a thing. Swimming/spending time on all fours is meant to help, you have loads of time. good luck

theonlyhb2 - not worrying is easier said then done. DD1 was stubbornly breech from 26 weeks. The CMW would have had me "not worry" till 37 weeks when, if Dd was still breech, they'd have:

• confirmed with scan
• offered ECV, and if that failed
• strongly recommended a CS.

I was quite glad that I'd had a heads up (ha!) that DD didn't want to turn as it meant I had a few weeks to do some digging around, track down the study that is behind the CS recommendation, read it (and critiques of it) and then make my own mind up as to whether I agreed with that recommendation or not.

I was lent a copy of "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites, and found it a pretty balanced source of information regarding the different options to bring a breech baby into the world - it also has a chapter on complementary methods that have been suggested to try and encourage babies to turn. For general breech info, googling Mary Cronk is a very good starting point.

For what its worth, DD1 didn't turn and eventually deigned to put in an appearance at 41+3. At home, weighing in at 9lb 12 and breech till the end. We'd got fed up with the level of support our CMW was able to supply by then, and knowing DD had been breech for a while we focused our search for an IM to those individuals with strong breech skills. Deciding to plan a home breech birth wasn't a decision we found easy and nor was it one we took lightly - but we felt it was the best decision for us at that point in time. If you feel it would be the right decision for you then talk to the head of midwifery of supervisor of midwives and ask direct whether they have any MWs with strong breech skills, or try and track down an IM with those skills.

All that said - chances are still pretty good your LO will turn of their own accord so I wouldn't worry as such, but I would carry on thinking, reading and planning. Good luck :)

My DD was breech until 37 weeks and, after being told by the consultant that at this stage, 96% of babies stay breech, she turned by herself. Just as well really as she put in an early appearance and was an unplanned homebirth!

I can recommend some yoga moves (lie on the floor on your side and put one leg up on a pile of cushions - creates a hammock effect for the baby to move - stay there as long as you can) and also taking pulsatilla, but get some advice on dosage before you take it. Good luck.

my DD was breech until 34 weeks i think.it was last year.i do however remember the night she turned,boy did i know about it! I hadnt slept all night as she was incredibly active working her way round. The next day it felt very different,lots of pressure&pain in my lower back,on my cervix.but she was still back to back.unfortunately i made the crazt decision to go to B&Q that day&realised i couldnt stand for more than 10 minutes cos of the sudden change of pain&fatigue&spent most of it sat on a bathroom display toilet to rest while my DP did the shopping!

Hi,

Our baby was breech until 34 wks and moved by the next midwife appointment. He's been head down ever since which is good. I'm now 38+5 and the head is engaged. Don't worry about it let nature do it's thing.

x

Thank you all for your responses - they are much appreciated and also reassuring. It is hard not to worry but I'm doing my best!

In the meantime (as you guessed Tangle) I am really just trying to cover all the bases and prepare myself in case the baby doesn't turn, in case there is anything else we can do at that point.

It's helpful to know what other people have done in a similar situation, and whether it has made a difference - whether that's yoga positions, swimming or the 'do nothing and let it happen' approach!

DD was footling breech (stamping constandly on my bladder :( ) till 36+3 and eventually turned the night before the scan to confirm presentation with a view to lining me up for a CS. I sat on a birthing ball in the evenings not the sofa, I tried kneeling on the sofa with my hands on the floor on the recommendation of my yoga teacher but got total headrush and nearly fainted so can't recommend that one also tried the torch on the bottom of the bump thing. She turned during an episode of Spooks... Still plenty of time to turn but as others have said, good to read up on things and get prepared :)