Breech baby at 34 weeks- suggestions?!

[fancytiles]

34 weeks pregnant and baby is breech... I was planning on a natural birth but have been told that if he doesn't turn I will have to have a c section. It's not the end of the world obviously but I would rather not have one so baby turning tipa required!!

So far I have...

• been doing various strange positions from the spinning babies website. It causes my little guy to move A LOT but he is still head up.

• booked in for moxibustion starting next week (apparently 34 weeks is the best time to do it)

• agreed that an ECV would be a last resort if all else fails (I have been told it's painful but not as painful as recovering from a c section)

Ultimate last resort is a c section.

Does anyone have any other tips or experiences of the ECV process itself?

You need to walk more. Got mine to turn from 35 weeks by amping up our usual walks so they were a little longer. Another thing that helped was rocking on my hands and knees for half an hour and then periodically rising up to my knees.

If you are able to do it, then a half hand / head stand from the sofa / stairs and then lifting yourself back up does work.

Excellent ok on it with the walking! I've not been very active at all during my pregnancy, but I'm not normally. I guess even light walking helps.

Yes I've been trying those headstand things, they get him moving!

Good to hear you managed to get your baby to move... feels like an impossible task at the mo!

Thanks for the advice x

Down on ur hands and knees and clean all the skirting boards round the house over the next few days. House clean for baby and hopefully will turn baby worked for mine at 36weeks

I heard someone turned theirs by placing something icy (such as frozen peas) at the bottom of the bump and a hot water bottle at the top. Apparently babies don't like the cold so will turn away from it towards the warmth, but it's not very pleasant for the mother.

You don't need to worry about the presentation until 36 weeks, OP.

Many babies are breech until then - it isn't unusual.

Sorry, that wasn't very helpful. I meant that the vast majority of babies turn spontaneously by 36 weeks.

Can also vouch for the sofa handstands - turned mine at 36 weeks!

Do you know, I'm 36 weeks on Thursday and nobody has mentioned to me once what position my baby is in...! In fact, I feel like I've hardly been told anything really!!!

Also hoping for a natural/water birth.

Not that there's anything unnatural about c-section. Poor choice of words. I just meant I was trying to go as drug free, interference free as possible and use the water pool. But we'll see how that goes 😂

OP I've heard lots of people mention the "Spinning Babies" website. Never looked myself but thought I'd throw it in there in case it's useful 😊

Do you know, I'm 36 weeks on Thursday and nobody has mentioned to me once what position my baby is in

That's because it doesn't matter until you're 36 weeks.

It is completely normal for babies not to be head down prior to this gestation.

@ thatwasMauijustmessingaround - a lot midwives don’t bother checking until 36 weeks as some trusts don’t recommend manually moving the baby. Others like mine will proactively check from 34 weeks as they do offer (reluctantly!) ECVs for breach positions.

Look for a chiropractor that does webster technique

Sofa handstands (worked for me!) and other good tips are on the spinning babies website.

Also scrubbing on your hands and knees like cleaning the kitchen floor or skirting boards, the movement and your position gets them moving.

Also I got told (but not sure if this works) make sure you sit upright rather than slouching as gravity helps.

Just had a breechie myself, by ELCS - was only option for me as I also had PPROM...

Anyway, was also going to suggest spinning babies. And check out your other options - breech doesn't necessarily mean C-section, it may still be possible to go for physiological birth - just because one consultant doesn't like the idea doesn't mean there aren't others who would support you. Caveat being there may be other complications that don't support that.

Having been through this myself, I am concerned about undiagnosed breech - I had thought mine was for ages & community midwife wasn't sure at my last appointment. No fewer than 3 hospital midwives were 100% convinced the head was a bottom. Fortunately I already had a placenta scan booked for 36 weeks so I got my confirmation a few days later, but the thought of potentially going into labour with undiagnosed breech presentation is not something I would wish in anyone!

Good luck OP!

Keep doing all of the above as it's good to feel like you're doing something to help. But honestly, there's no way of knowing it all works. Baby might turn but it might have turned away! Mine turned at 36 weeks and at the very last second when my waters broke! There's always time to turn

Have to be careful with a hot water bottle on your bump, I've heard it can detatch the placenta

Thank you so much for all the suggestions! I really appreciate it xxx