Breech baby at 33 weeks - will he move?

[ChloeO88]

Hi everyone, wondering if others have found out prior to 36 week scan that baby is breech and that they've moved into the right position by the final scan? At a routine growth scan (I have low PAPP-A so there has been slight concern over baby's birth weight, so have had a couple of extra scans) the ultrasound tech casually mentioned that he's currently head up position. I was completely shocked and very upset - midwife had been saying he was head down and I had high hopes of a waterbirth and using hypnobirthing for labour, so it came as a surprise to hear he'd moved. The sonographer said babies will usually change position by week 36 but seems unlikely at this stage? I feel like there's no room left! Jw if anyone else has been in this position and found baby has turned in last few weeks.

After initial shock I know it'll be fine if he's breech and a c-section not the end of the world (and the preference for many!). At the end of the day all that matters is he's healthy, which thank god he is and growing well. But I was very disappointed to hear this after not being prepared for the possibility after midwife appointments - naive of me I know!

My latest DD was flipping around all over the place up until around 36 weeks, transverse, breach, head down, she went head down by the time I was induced. There is stuff on the spinning babies website that you can do to encourage them to turn.

I'm 37 weeks now and he's only been head down since last week! Was flipping between breech and transverse until then, you've still got time!

you have time! do check out Spinning Babies like a PP said.

For another perspective, my daughter was breech and remained so - I was quite upset for a while that I would have to have a C section rather than labour with her, so I totally relate to your current feelings, especially the sense of not having been prepared for the possibility. She clearly attempted to turn herself a few times (when a baby at term tries to rotate 180 degrees inside you, you know about it!) and couldn't make it all the way round for some reason; I went for an ECV which was quite unpleasant but I'm glad I tried it. Three different people tried to turn her externally with no luck: they said she was wedged bottom-down deep in my pelvis and they simply couldn't raise her out of it to turn her.

It took a while for me to get my head round a scheduled C-section and to mourn the fact that I wouldn't experience labour (not sure now why I was so set on this but OK), but I have to say that the C-section was a really lovely chill experience, the atmosphere in the room was very warm and celebratory for my baby's birth. It also meant that my partner and I got to spend the day before together - we had a walk (waddle), went for dinner and a film before getting a good night's sleep. All in, it was a really nice birth experience even though for me it was far from my first choice. If your baby doesn't end up turning I just want to reassure you that it can still be really positive!

But do look up Spinning Babies and ask about the option of an ECV if you'd like to try that - you will probably be offered it.

DC2 was breech at 36 weeks! Came as a shock to me too as at every appointment up until that point I had been told he was head down. I wasn't keen on having an elective C-section, but as I had pre-eclampsia, an ECV was contraindicated. Fortunately, I didn't need to go down that route, as he turned all by himself a few days later. Didn't feel it happen, and it was very unlikely to be due to anything I did.

Definitely look up spinning babies. Get onto your hands and knees often. Sit on a dining room chair. Keep forwards and upright.

Allow yourself your disappointment for now. I definitely get it. To go from one expectation of birth to be faced with needing the polar opposite at such a late stage. It's a lot to take in all at once. But do start looking at what this other birth will look like. It can and will be special too. You can still use hypnobirthing in a caesarean for example.

Best of luck with it all. ❤

Mine turned at just over 36 weeks. I had been doing the spinning babies exercises every day but I don know if they made a difference or not!

Really appreciate all these posts, thanks so much everyone! The spinning babies exercises are a great shout, but it's also really good to hear the c-section was a positive experience for those who had it. I read today that breech is often down to pelvic misalignment, which I have as well as hypermobility, so that perhaps explains why he is that way up. Anyone gone through with a successful ECV?

Heya. My baby was breech from 24 weeks. Never turned at all. Decided not to try and manually turn as just felt too much for me (I have complex pregnancies as it is) and the success rate was only 50/50. Had a C-section which was quite a positive and relaxing experience. My daughter was born with her legs up next to her head. Was checked for hip dysplasia as they tend to check that in breech babies and all clear. Her legs slowly came down after a few days but she's still ridic flexible now! I'm slightly hypermobile and they think she is now too. She's nearly two and thriving. Just walked a little later than her friends 🤗

oh gosh yes the legs thing! I think that's frank breech presentation - mine was like that too, she'd fold up like a wee ironing board with her feet up by her head. I don't know how that can have been comfy for her in utero.
She had the hip scan at 4 weeks (think they offer this as standard for breech babies) and was fine, walked at 14 months no issues.