Breech at 32 weeks with DC3 - anything I can do to aid the turning process?

[evertonmint]

Just been for 32 week midwife appt and she confirmed what I suspected - that the baby is very definitely breech (lots of hard bits at the top of my bump and all kicks are on my bladder rather than my lungs!). Obviously neither she nor I is particularly worried yet but if he's still breech at 36 weeks then we'll obviously need a plan.

Thinking ahead, I don't want a CS - no way I can manage school runs with 2 older DCs for however long it takes for me to drive again, plus I'd rather deal with labour pain than post-operative pain! However I am unlikely to be a suitable candidate for a vaginal breech birth given they seem wary of them anyway and both DCs have been over 4kg which seems a further contraindication, and this one is measuring big for dates too so I fully expect to be delivering 4kg+ again.

So I need to do what I can to encourage him to turn before things get close to the wire. Anything I can do over the next month or so to encourage this? Happy to hang around on hands and knees for the next 8 weeks if this leads to a head-down baby :)

In a similar position (as it were) myself.
Check out www.spinningbabies.com for some tips and poses.
Handstands in a pool are apparently brilliant? going to roadtest tonite..

i found a really good video on youtube also that showed 5 poses- no 2 being the dolpin pose. Cant find the link now as it's blocked in work- but there are loads on there.

If all else fails i'll be trying reflexology in a few weeks.. i thought he was turning last nite but no, more kicks in the vajayjay this morning!

i was told that at my gestation (30 weeks) 15% are breech- and only 3% by 36 weeks- so i guess the odds are in our favour..

have you got an exercise ball at home? if you do, sit on this a lot! i've been lying on the couch with my feet up which i suspect is why he is breech!

Yes, I'm hoping the stats work in my favour. It's just a bit disconcerting as both previous babies were head down for a good while by this stage. His movements have definitely felt very different so it wasn't a surprise when she said. I am blaming my older 2 DCs as they've clearly given him a nice big comfy uterus with room to hang out in whichever way he fancies!

A couple of friends have had success with moxibustion so I have that in mind for later (not overly keen on an ECV as they sound really quite uncomfortable but will do it if I have to!) Thanks for the website - I'll take a look and get positioning myself later!

Time to dig out the gym ball and get off the sofa! I've had my feet up a lot as I badly sprained my ankle about 5 weeks ago so he's definitely had room to play.

Good luck with turning yours!

Scrubbing floors worked with mine.

That's not the answer I was looking for

A friend does hypnobirthing and has a good track record of turning babies. No idea how, and I don't normally hold with such stuff, but the babies keep turning!

Recently at an ante natal yoga class and one of the ladies was 38 weeks and breech. The teacher got us all to try out a pose which basically involved bum on the edge of a chair, legs up, and shoulders supported on the floor with a bolster/high cushion.
I would suggest looking up the exact details rather than follow my description if you fancy trying it.

I tried moxibustion. It's meant to be really effectively. Sadly it didn't work for me (I thought it had...as did my midwife, but my scan last week showed baby to be breech and a frank breech at that). I think it's worth a try, just because it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you and the actual process is really relaxing and enjoyable...well it was for me at least.

I was told last week at my 36 week appointment, that in week 36, 5% of babies are breech and by birth it's about 2%, so there's a 40% chance that the baby will turn of its own accord in the last few weeks, the odds are lower for a frank breech (legs outstretched) and higher for the other types of breech presentation. Equally, ECV (which I wasn't keen on anyway) doesn't really work so well on frank breech babies, so I'm off for a C-Section at 39 weeks...

I hope your baby does get spinning! :-)

I would not recommend ECV if you can avoid it. DD was frank breech and it not only failed, because she was firmly wedged in my pelvis (turned at 28 weeks, MW 'discovered' at 35), but I went into labour next morning at 36+4. I was at 7cm before they believed my contractions were as they said they were and rushed me off to theatre. I would recommend discussing carefully with your MW and consultant before committing to ECV.
Not being able to drive is a pain, but I was merrily up & about and walking several miles a day before DH went back to work, so a CS doesn't automatically mean weeks of incapacitation. An actual planned CS (rather than being rushed off to theatre like I was) should be even better. By all means try yoga, acupuncture, moxibustion, but honestly, if none of it works there is a high chance you will be fine. I am strongly considering ELCS this time round if all goes well (11 weeks now).

I'm really nervous of an ECV as not read brilliant things about it - comfort or success! Will try better positioning first (coincidentally have been doing a bit of skirting board cleaning today which will hopefully help!) and keep my fingers crossed. Seeing midwife at 34 and 36 weeks so hoping to get all clear. If no change at 34 weeks will look into the alternative therapies and try them just before 36 week appt. For now, I'm reminding myself that the stats are still in my favour!

I wont be going for the ECV either, same thing happened to my SIL CorproreSarnie- went into labour after a failed ECV and all hell broke loose- baby delivered at least 2 weeks too early (she was early 36's) and all v traumatic. I'm sure it is rare though!!

if nature doesnt take its course i wont have an issue having an ELCS to be honest- i will see it as fate.

I was booked in for mcv but had acupuncture. It worked and I could ask for another scan whilst in hospital for the mcv and they confirmed baby had turned. Such a relief, I then went on to have a wonderful natural water birth.