Anyone got any 'out there' ways to get breech baby to move?

[Kennebunkport]

So I'm 36 weeks and a scan has shown baby is breech. I'm really gutted, as was hoping for a home birth and now C Section is being mentioned. With two pre-schoolers to look after as well, I'm concerned about how I'll cope after a section.

I haven't decided if I'd have a doctor try to manually turn baby, so in the meantime I'm trying to get her to move head down. I've scoured the internet and am doing various exercises (spinning babies website), birth ball, walking, moxa sticks, hot and cold packs etc. Just wondered if anyone had any tricks or anything a bit out of the norm that has worked for you? I'm up for anything!

I found out last Monday that my baby was footling breech, 37+1. Went for an ECV to find they had turned. The two previous nights when swimming I did a lot of underwater turns and dives to the bottom of the deep end and handstands. Looked a bit weird, might of been a coincidence but who knows 😁

Mine turned during swimming too. Not quite as far along (maybe 32weeks, can't quite remember) so there was probably a bit more room, but still worth a shot!

DD moved at 37 weeks when I did a driving test. The movement shocked me so much I hesitated and failed my test. Don't know if sitting a driving test is an option for you OP?

DS1 was breech at about 34 weeks. Anyway, I spent a morning on my hands & knees, vigorously scrubbing the kitchen floor. Later I felt DS do a huge flip inside me, such a big movement it actually made me feel queasy. But he'd turned, and stayed that way. It might have been coincidental, but we'll never know.

My family have a tendency towards breech babies. My gran always swore by scrubbing the kitchen floor on your hands and knees (like Cinderella)...and if it doesn't work, at least you have a clean kitchen floor.

DD was identified as breech at 36 week growth scan. Scrubbed the floor and she turned that night.

See if any tips here.

Ds2 was identified as breach in a scan at 37 weeks. My dad had died recently and I was (obvs) very distressed. I had read somewhere that breech can be common in times of maternal distress because the baby rises in the womb to comfort the mother. I know it sounds like nonsense, but I was desperate as I really wanted a VBAC and I couldn’t have a ECV because of the previous c/s. So I talked to him, thanked him, asked him to turn head down ready to be born. I wasn’t aware of him turning, but he was confirmed as head down at 38 weeks and born two day later. Good luck.

DD was a bit of an awkward breech, and I tired absolutely everything, other than the manual turning thing. Did acupuncture, moxa sticks, various ball things, hanging off the couch in weird and wonderful ways. Other than providing DH with much entertainment, nothing worked. She stayed stubbornly in place! Went for the planned c section, and was really pleased with that decision. I think generally planned sections are far calmer and quicker to recover from than emergency sections. I was up and about pretty quick.

If your little one is stubborn and you do end up going for a section, there are some great threads on here with loads of hints and tips. Makes a huge difference. I can't recommend the c belt enough!

Good luck

I was the same with DS at 36 weeks. Spent a day on all fours painting my bathroom floorboards.... he turned that night.... the weirdest sensation but he stayed put and I avoided a CS.

I had moxibustion done and it worked...Could’ve been coincidence but she turned...worth a try I suppose

Second was breech most of the way through. I moved around the house on all fours towards the end and he moved.

One advantage of breech was the lack of kicking under the ribs. My first chose one position to kick from midway to the end, v painfull and annoying!

I had moxibustion too and baby turned at 37 weeks. Had a treatment everyday for 7 weeks. But I felt him moved on the first day. Good luck!

7days! Lol

Midwife told me that baby number 3 may not get into position much before birth, as er, things are not quite as tight and elastic as the previous births.

Nct lessons suggested not sitting leaning back in chairs, but if you e got small kids I doubt you sit down much anyway. Sitting forward on a birth ball, on all fours etc might help? Can’t do any harm! Good luck.

I spent alot of time watching tv sat on a birthing ball rolling back & forth trying to encourage baby to flip. Scrubbed the floor on my hands and knees & felt him turn that night when I was in bed.

I tried the ironing board technique where you prop an ironing board against something ie your couch and lay on it so your pelvis is in the air and head at the bottom.

It’s not the most comfortable but anythingike that where you can get the baby out of your pelvis is meant to help (basically where your upside down / bum in the air!)

Thank you so much for everyone's replies! Scrubbing the floor seems to be a winner, so I'll def try that. @Fucket I've heard the same about 3rd babies, but unfortunately the hospital seem to rush along and don't like to just give things time. @autumnboys I'll try any 'nonsense'. I have spoken to her a bit, but need to do more. Did moxa sticks last night, but they were so smokey I'm not going to rush to do it again!

Just wanted to update for anyone in a similar position. I spent the whole week trying everything and was convinced it hadn't done a thing. However, todays scan showed she is head down! So happy and crossing fingers she stays put. Thank you for all the tips.

I really hope your baby stays put! DS was head down from 30 weeks, then went transverse at 36 and breech at 37. I had an ECV, which failed. I had a planned caesarean and found the recovery fine! I did try other things, but AFAIK there is no evidence that these work. I don't understand the aversion towards ECV on here, they are completely safe, and also more likely to be successful if it's not your first baby. Anyway, hopefully this will now be completely irrelevant for you