transverse - how to change position

[maisym]

My lo is transverse - I'm only 19 weeks so hoping for a head down but what could I do to help this to happen?

Hi Maisym- my LO was transverse until my 25 weekish check and now they've gone heads down. I wouldn't worry at this stage as there is still loads of room for them to move around and change position. There are things you can do nearer the time such as sitting on a gym ball (helps with your posture and gravity pulling your baby the right way). Ask your MW next time you see her and she should be able to give you some tips.
XX

your baby will change position lots of times you only half way there as of yet so lots of time to get into place my baby got ready two days before i gave birth at 41+2 so you got loads of time good luck opt water birth if poss great pain relief in itself, if you get too 38weeks an baby not correct poss get on all fours this generally does trick!

thanks for the tips. Just want to knwo all the options so I can be ready just in case.

I've had a transverse baby change to breech but would never do ecv again.

Well, the uterine occupant has been lying sideways a hell of a lot for me recently (32+4) and I found that a cup of really strong coffee by accident at the weekend annoyed it enough to make for an afternoon of shoving and shifting. Baby now appears to be in a straight line, but have no idea if head or bum is pointing down

So, I would advocate forgetting that Caffe Nero put a double shot of espresso in their coffee as standard >_<

Agnes

Apparently doing things like
scrubbing your floors on your hands and knees,
cleaning skirting boards,
watching tv leaning forwards on to a bean bag or on all fours,
sitting on a chair the 'wrong way round' ie leaning forwards on the back of the chair all help to get the baby into the right position.

I've had 3 babies all of which have been trnsverse lie at some point and all of which have shifted on their own (one at 39 weeks) prior to appointments for moving them. Dont know if all the going down on all fours helps but I wouldnt worry about doing things to change it until much later on.

thanks for the info - will hope baby turns. Don't know about scrubbing floors!! - perhaps being on all fours & reading will do the trick

Would just second what other people have said: it's quite common for babies to be transverse at some point, and they nearly always turn in the end. It's more comfortable for them NOT to be transverse, for obvious reasons! I think less than 1% of babies are transverse at term.

My last baby was transverse until about 25 weeks, when it went breech, then somersaulted to head down.

oh maisy, you;ve a long way to go until you need to panic about the baby's position !

www.gentlebirth.org/archives/breechcl.html these are tips to help turn a breech, but give it a try !

also get hold of Janet Balskas 'Active Birth' as it has good tips and excercises for babies in the wrong position....

and have a look at

www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm about Optimal foetal positioning

the worst way to sit when you are pregnant, is slumped back in a chair as it encourages the baby to slump back against your back, sitting on a birth ball is great !

maisym, why wouldn't you have an ECV again? I'm booked in for one on Monday but still not sure about it. Already cancelled one appointment which would have been 2 wks before this next one.

thanks tutti, lulu & mrsHarry. I'll check out those refs.

For my last ecv - & it I've read that it's fine for lots of mothers - it wasn't ok for me. It felt awful & I asked my doc to stop. She had a last go and the discomfort was one I just wanted to stop. It wasn't painful but I couldn't stand it. I've read that an epidural helps with muscle relaxation but this sounds too much for me.

Best wishes with what you decide Mrs H - hope evevything goes well xxx

Thought this might be relevant to me as I just found out my baby is breech at just over 22 weeks, but there's still plenty of time for it to turn. What is ECV though, just so I know?

mumpbump www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5284,00.html could be useful

Thanks for that - sounds horrendous! It was bad enough having the scanographer pressing on my tummy, let alone someone trying to manipulate a baby through my skin!!

I heard about doing things on all fours when my 3rd was transverse, she ended up being head down, so maybe it worked or maybe she moved of her own accord. At nineteen weeks I shouldn't worry too much though.

My ds was transverse, was told by mw to do lots of on all fours rocking etc to get him to move to head down. He never did and kinda came out sideways. He was wearing his cord like a sash!!!! so no doubt couldn't move!

I too wouldn't worry at this stage, but wouldn't worry too much about doing what the mw says at a later date should the baby still be transverse. IME it won't make much difference. They will move if and when tehy can by themselves, and sometimes only when in labour.

Just to emphasise- try not to sit slumped back in a chair. This is how I usually sit and my MW now thinks baby is back to back so I need to try and turn it really. My DH will be please as it looks like I'm gonna be scrubbing floors for the next 7 or so weeks!
Still plenty of time though!
PPS (33 weeks today!) x

Hi Maisy,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I've heard it can be really uncomfortable. Did you have any sort of injection to relax the muscles? I'm pretty sure that's what they do at my hospital, but it's definitely not an epidural....I wouldn't go through that just to avoid a caesarian!

thanks to all for your tips - I've found myself sitting forward with wide legs. Not scubbing floors yet!

Mrs H -I must have had something to relax the muscles but don't remember! I remember ythe bed sloping down more at the head and having monitoring & u/s checks as the doc tried the moving. Also having to ready for a emergency c/s was quite scary. It seems to work well for some mums though. Think my dd was just in the best position for her!