31 weeks & breach, will it turn??

[whitie]

I've just had a m/w appt and baby is breach at 31wks, she said it's not important until 36wks, if still breach then I go for a scan to confirm and then discuss c-section. I know the baby has got time to turn but this baby doesn't seem to move a lot and I just can't imagine it doing a complete somersault. My first baby never went breach throughout my pregnancy, should I start thinking about c-section??

you have plenty of time yet. My baby just gone head down at 32+3. I am sure you won't feel it even when it does turn. I didn't with any of mine and they all turned about this time.
Wouldn't worry about the c section yet

afaik 37 wks is when most breech babies turn so your midwife's jumping the gun a bit, especially if she's talking about discussing a c-section at only 36 weeks - sounds a bit scalpel-happy! there are lots of things that can be done before thinking about a c-section, and even if baby doesn't turn it's perfectly possible to give birth to a breech baby naturally (although it's a shame that most midwives see so few breech births due to this rush to section that many just don't have the confidence to deal with it anymore).
don't worry about it for now but if it's still breech at around 37 weeks you can try optimal foetal positioning (look at spinningbabies for hints), failing that you could try an ECV.
breech is not abnormal, it's classed as a variant of normal, and the risks involved in a breech birth should be considered alongside the risks of c-section. really doubt it'll come to that though, and i'm sure your baby will turn in time!

DD was breech from about 30 weeks through till 40+10 when she was born at home with the help of two independent midwives (both experienced, one extremely experienced in breech).

Based on my experience I would say that there is still plenty of time for your baby to turn, but that you might want to start considering your options so that you've got a clear idea of what you want to do should "it" decide it's comfy. One of my IM's lent me a couple of books that discuss breech babies: "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites and "Breech Birth - What are my options?" by Jane Evans (both reviewed here). I found them very informative in discussing why babies are breech, what can be done to try and turn them (either by the mother, by obstetricians or by complementary practitioners), when they're likely to turn (the further on you get, the less likely the baby is to turn spontaneously) and what the options are for delivering them. I certainly felt that I got a far more detailed and balanced view of the situation from reading these than I did from the NHS.

As my story shows, it is perfectly possibly to birth a breech baby vaginaly and for mother and baby to come through with very few problems (I did tear and so loose a bit more blood than was ideal, but DD was 9lb 12 so that would probably of happened regardless of presentation!). However, fundamental to the decision DH and I made was access to midwives that were experienced in and confident with breech birth (as distinct from a medicalised and managed breech delivery). Had we not had that support we'd have been straight in for a section

If I had my time again I'd have given moxibustion a go - there was a small study done that showed when mothers used moxa from about 30 weeks they increased the likelihood of the baby turning significantly (I've got it mind it was 50% turned in the control group and 75% turned with moxa, but I'd need to check if you want the details). Otherwise I wouldn't change very much at all.

Fingers crossed your DC turns - there is plenty of time .

Thanks everyone. Tangle, I'm very much the kind of person who likes to read everything and be prepared for anything! I've got the two books on order from the library, thank you for taking the time to give me such detailed advice.

Ohh - me too, me too!! -I am 30+5 and breech - I suspected as much before mw appt as he is stamping down on my groin -grrr!
MW gave me same advice as yours - I am seeing her at 34 weeks and she said we will discuss options then but it is the Health Authority policy to do CS for all breech babies That was the one option not in my birth plan!!
Anyway my DH has done some googling and it seems that around 20% of babies are breech at our stage but only 4% remain breech for birth - so odds are on our side hopefully.
But IKWYM - I cannot imagine him turning without it being really painful for both of us!

I have just orderd myself a big birthing ball and I already go to yoga and have monthly acupuncture - so will be asking for extra advice (crawling on all fours seems the most common advice. Spinning babies is really good - there was one other article which I read - I will go off and find it again and post a link later.

Anyway - just wanted to let you know I can identify

It's too early to worry yet. My first two were head down all the way. My third was breech right up until 36wks, transverse at 37wks and head-down by 38wks.

Good luck.

Whitie - you're welcome . I know it really bugged me that they kept saying the baby was breech, but didn't suggest anything to do about it till we got to 36/37 weeks and they wanted to book a section .

Seaside - it may be your HA's policy to do a CS, but that doesn't mean you have to consent to it. As Mary Cronk says - "'allow' isn't a word you should use to a mentally competent adult!" If your DC does stay breech you DO have options, assuming you can find a midwife with breech birth experience (one reason why we went independent).

That said, there's still plenty of time for your babies to turn and they most likely will

Don't worry yet! My baby turned from breech last week at 36 weeks - am first timer too so apparently there's less room in there. I had a warm bath and LO went crazy and got her head down thought she was going to bust through my belly button Good luck