Breech baby......help me turn the little monkey!

[Sewmuchtodo]

MW confirmed today that baby is still breech. I am 34wks and now have 2 wks to see if baby turns or they plan to try and turn manualy.

Has anyone else had a happy ending (ie, no c section)? Im feeling really sorry for myself tonight, could have a good cry :(

Apparently swimming can help give the baby more space to turn; that's what my MW told me when DS was breech at 33wks.

He turned on his own, in time to be born at 36wks, v easy birth so it can happen.

Good luck!

I think many babies do turn right up until the very end, so I wish you luck. I belive there are excercises you can do as well.

Have a look at the spinning babies website.

My pregnancy yoga lady swears by scrubbing the kitchen floor with a toothbrush on your hands and knees :) She says it can swing the baby. Worth a go!

In between typing I have been on my knees, bottom in the air and head on the floor......I look insane!

My son didn't turn despite trying everything, including the manual turning BUT I now see a chiropractor and she said that she could have tried to turn him. She also said it would have been nicer than the manual turning (ECV??) I had. I tried swimming, crawling around the floor, everything the midwives suggested!

My friend crawled along the floor constantly for 1 1/2 hours and that turned hers!

Good luck

Spinning Babies

I didn't know my son was breech until I was near the end of labour! Throughout labour I was told that they could feel the baby's head so I don't know what happened. Anyway, I managed to give birth naturally but had loads of stitches (they wouldn't tell me how many) and a couple of years later delivered my daughter normally. I must add that this was 17 years ago when c sections were much rarer. I'm not sure if it would happen now.

One of my friends had moxibustion, she also tried to tempt the baby "towards the light" by shining a torch towards the baby (she didn't say where!!!)! Neither worked, and she had a cs, but still looked gorgeous in photos the next day (glad I have my priorities straight!!!).

I have a medical phobia, the mention of cs in antenatal classes had me outside actually having a panic attack!!! I wanted a home water birth with DD1, and a VBAC with DD2, but had two EMCS (one due to a failed induction, the second due to "failure to progress" and repeated and lengthy dips in DD2's heartbeat). Honestly it is not that bad (though definitely not my first choice for a day out). I found DD1's birth very stressful, but mainly due to bullying medical staff and the agony of three days of prostin pains. With DD2, I felt my baby was in danger, so was happy to agree to a CS in the end, the staff (different hospital!) were respectful and kind, and I was walking around making tea within 10 hours of the procedure. If I get pg again, I'll have a CS again through choice.

I hope you will get a natural birth, but if you do need a CS, please don't think it is not a happy ending. It still can be a positive experience, even though it wasn't what you initially wanted. Good luck!

Thanks for all the hints and tips. I am about to head for the swimming pool then home to clean the kitchen floor!

I just hate the waiting and unknown. MW simply said we will meet in 2wks to write birth plan but that depends on the bump.

Should the baby have turned I will be given a sweep (and if it fails to work) induced 3 days later. If the baby remains breech I will be scanned, given muscle relaxent injections and they will try to turn the baby, however this will be done under theatre conditions incase the baby becomes distressed and I need an ECS :(

If the baby does not turn and remains happily breech then I will be booked for a PCS the following week.

I hate that I feel down having felt quite upbeat so far regardless of complications.

Just wanted to add that I had an ECV with DS1 and we had all the horrendous warnings about if baby gets distressed we'll need a CS then & there etc. This did freak us out a bit as we wanted a home birth too. But as it turned out, he turned really easily during the ECV and stayed there til the end. It was painful but bearable, and worth it in my experience. Unfortunately we still ended up with an EMCS as DS was waiting for permission to come out, and so was trying to come out ear first . Daddy had banned him from coming until the snow had gone

Good luck - hope baby turns and you manage to get the labour you are planning for!

My acupuncturist mentioned that they use a special technique to turn breach babies called moxibustion - www.londonacupuncture.co.uk/showCondition.asp?ArticleID=4

I obviously have no idea if it works, but they claim a 75% success rate

My first was born by ELCS due to breech presentation. I had a gut feeling he wouldn't turn, and he didn't. Entered the world arse-first and has gone about life that way ever since

My second was breech at 34 weeks but had obviously been moving around much more, so I went to an osteopath in desperation (not that ELCS is that bad, I just wanted to do it myself this time) and the next morning she felt like she'd turned and it was confirmed on a scan two days later. Apparently I had a tight muscle somewhere - iliopsoas? - which the osteopath had to do a lot of poking and fiddling to sort out. It was wonderful though, like a lovely massage so even if it hadn't worked it was nicely relaxing.

Plenty of time yet :)

Moxibustion is suggested by World Health Organisation. Studies in Italy show 75% efficacy turning babies. It worked for me with two applications at 35 weeks, which is an ideal time to try it. I warn you though, it smells and even the 'smokeless' sticks are smoky. If all fails and baby decides not to turn, CS aren't all that bad. I had a breech baby with caesarean section with my first. Though must say really enjoyed the birthing experience/very quick recovery/ amazing bonding with the second.

Have a search for other threads about it.
Good luck!

I managed to turn my breech baby at 37 weeks, for then to have to have an emergency section because of pre-eclampsia

It can be done!! I was on all fours for a good hour, cleaning the floor, and then i felt a HUGE move, and then he was turned!

Good Luck!!