Baby transverse at 36 week scan - any tips/experience of this?

[Transversebabyno2]

Just had my 36 week scan and been informed baby is transverse.

Due to see my consultant today but wondered what people's recent experiences have been if you've had a baby still transverse at this gestation? Have you been admitted to the ward or able to stay at home?

I had spontaneous labour with my first born at 37 weeks - first sign of labour was waters breaking so I'm a little nervous it'll happen again this time and have read there are risks.

Also have high blood pressure and have checked out the spinning babies website but I see the main exercise recommended is not suitable for high BP :(

Is there any hope baby will move now? Already booked in for c-sec at 39+3 but worried with my previous labour being at 37 weeks this will turn into an emergency situation and partner does not drive due to health reasons so not as easy to 'rush' to hospital.

Anyone had a similar experience recently and can tell me what happened I would be so grateful! Thank you :)

No experience but my first baby is currently breech at 35+6, so I’d be very interested to hear if anyone has any tips.

Have you tried the forward leaning inversion? Breech tilt? Lunges, moving on a yoga ball, postural changes etc.? Have you tried moxibustion? Have you been to a chiropractor?

I’ve done all these and nothing has worked for me yet…

Best of luck to you!

Also interested - 34 + 3 and breech with 2nd baby. Hoping it moves back as I don't want to do an EVC - would rather just book a section!

This exact thing happened to me although my baby was classed as 'unstable lie ' as was still turning! I was admitted to hospital at 36+6 and had to wait 10 days for a C-section date. It was brutal! But baby stayed put and I got lots of rest 😂

Annoyingly, when they did a quick scan before my section, he was head down but I was glad I chose my section rather than the awful turning thing they do.

I'm back from my consultant appointment but none the wiser.

They really don't seem concerned at all, they offered to admit me (only because I said I was feeling very anxious about it) but I would rather not be as have a toddler at home.

They absolutely won't do a section earlier than 39 weeks and was told 'lots of women are transverse and have no issues'.

Was just told to call an ambulance if waters break or get to hospital ASAP.

She did then do an examination and said baby was head down was I sure scan was correct (I showed her the report).

I think baby is an unstable lie - I assumed that was worse but she just suggested baby had miracously moved over night!

I'm so confused!!!

@TheRookie I think my baby is unstable lie as when I was examined today they said head down but this morning she was definitely still transverse I could feel!

I just don't feel like I'm being taken seriously at all!

We're you offered any scans after the 36 week scan?

Hypnobirthing course I did once recommended trying a hot water bottle on the bottom of the belly and a bag of frozen peas on the top (both covered of course and not left for too long etc). Apparently they turn towards the warmth and away from the cold. Never tried but worth a shot?

Oh wow! That sounds like its worth a shot! I may have to give it a go :)

Consultant not being concerned sounds really encouraging! Maybe an unstable lie isn’t a big issue as long as baby is head down on the day?

Keep upright and walking as much as you can and hopefully gravity will help you along.

Wishing you loads of luck. My baby hasn’t been head down even once :-(

@VanillaLily I thought unstable lie was worse but maybe it's not such a big deal.

It could just be that's the way my trust deal with it and they don't admit unless absolutely necessary.

Has your hospital said what the next steps would be for you?

I wanted to try a few of the things you suggested - Moxi etc but now after my consultant appointment I'm a bit thrown as to whether this baby is actually transverse on not... 😬

@Transversebabyno2 Must admit, I’d never heard of an unstable lie until today, but I’d be encouraged by your consultant not seeming to think it’s an issue.

My team has said that there’s nothing I can do and I just have to wait and see what baby does. Next scan is on Tuesday (36 + 5) and if baby isn’t head down then, consultant wants to book an elective C section, which I’ll be refusing to do as I’ve heard of babies turning as late as 41 weeks and I want to give mine every possible chance of turning. I’d also be happy to give an ECV a try (did they suggest this to you at all?)

I’ve been doing moxibustion and it makes my baby kick and wiggle like crazy - just only with her legs, not her head, unfortunately. Definitely worth a try, but make sure you get smokeless moxa rolls as the smokey ones are unbearable.

Hi, my first baby was breech at 37 weeks. One morning I woke and my bump just looked different. She had turned during the night!!
My 4th was in an unstable lie at 36 weeks. Breech at 37weeks. They turned him using ECV. The following week he had gone breech again. Tried ECV again and he wouldn't budge. I was booked in for cesarean for 39 weeks. When I got in to surgery they did a scan again turns out he was head down after only being breech the evening before. I chose to have him naturally but was kept in as he wasn't engaged and kept moving.
In the end they induced me after a few days, 2 midwifes held my bump in place so he wouldn't move again while the consultant slowly released my waters 😬
Over all labour went well after all the stress in the weeks leading up to it ..

My last one was transverse and furthest round she got was basically head rammed into the top of my leg.
Went into labour at 39+6 which was my latest labour and she was head down properly into my pelvis. Had turned herself. Good job really as labour was less than an hour long! Literally one twinge and we headed for the hospital!

First baby was breach for ages, then found to be transverse at 39 weeks (and I had. C section that day).

FWIW the section and recovery was great, so I was always going to have another one with No2, whatever position they were in.

Now 35 weeks with No2 and they’re transverse. I have a scan next week when they’ll check and make a plan.

I also have a toddler and really don’t want to be admitted unless it’s important! No one has mentioned it to me so far, but I’ll obviously do it if it’s safest.

Hi @Transversebabyno2 i do have recent experience of this if you want to PM me.

Transverse lie or unstable lie are different to breach. They present a risk of cord prolapse when waters break. Although rare, cord prolapse is extremely serious as it cuts of the baby’s oxygen and requires a c-section within minutes.

I’d suggest asking your consultant or midwife whether the baby being unstable lie means you have an increased risk of cord prolapse and if so what they are going to do to manage that risk. My Trust admits from 37 weeks and then attempts delivery from 39 weeks.

@Littlebluebird123 Mine is currently fully breech at 35 + 6, but I think she goes almost transverse at night. Your story is really encouraging as obviously some babies don’t play by the rules and don’t engage until the big day.

@VanillaLily good luck for your scan next week!

They did say they could book me in to try ECV but as I am happy to have a section I've declined this.

Thank you for the tip re the Moxi, I think I may give it a go. Where did you get yours from can I ask?

@Happymama24 sounds like you had a bit of an adventure with yours! I think my baby keeps changing position as she's been in various different positions the last few weeks and of course today for consultant was head down!

@Littlebluebird123 glad to hear that baby turned herself eventually, sounds like you had a lucky escape with such a short labour! This is what worries me is that I will have a short labour and things could go wrong but doctor today was not having any of it.

@MrsBunnyEars I'm in the same position in that I had already elected for a section but was worried baby would come early like my son did and then there would be a risk of complications but doctor doesn't seem concerned at all! Let me know how next week goes and what your plan is :)

@iwasthewalrus thank you, I will send you a message :) the doctor I saw today didn't confirm or deny unstable lie, in fact she just confused me more as when she examined me she said she's pretty sure baby is head down but the scan yesterday confirmed transverse. It's all very confusing

@Transversebabyno2 I got my first set of moxa sticks from the Chinese herbal shop in my town, but they were horribly smokey and smelt a bit dodgy! Went to an acupuncturist the following week and she sent me home with a different type that have been much better. You can get them on Amazon I think, if you search for ‘smokeless moxa rolls’.

BUT I have heard that you shouldn’t try moxa if baby is head down, so might be worth asking for a scan to confirm baby’s position. Can you tell at all by kicks?

@VanillaLily thank you ill take a look.

Thats the problem, now I'm so confused with my appointment with the doctor as she said head down but I feel like baby is back to transverse she definitely was this morning as could feel the kicks.

@Transversebabyno2 Our daughters sound as stubborn as each other…

Do you have another scan booked any time soon? I wonder whether they’d book you in, if you asked?

My baby was transverse from about (or at the point MW started measuring my bump) 33-38 weeks and suddenly went into the heads down position at the final scan around 38 weeks. I didn’t even feel him change positions, I was so certain he was still transverse. I still ended up going ahead with the section and found recovery fine for the most part

@VanillaLily they certainly do!

No, no scans, I asked and the doctor said they don't have scans readily available to just give out (wasn't too happy with that comment) she said if I was ever in maternity assessment I could ask for a bedside scan.

I think one of the issues is that the ultrasound department yesterday didn't refer me to Breech Clinic (who deal with transverse) like they should have done and so this was just my usual ante-natal clinic appointment.

I am tempted to call ultrasound and ask if they will refer me to the specific breech clinic as I just don't feel I'm being taken seriously :(

@MoseSchrute if the doctor is right and baby has moved to head down at some point today I didn't feel it either!

I'm still convinced she's unstable lie and will move back to transverse..

I agree with a pp about getting more clarity from the doctor. My first was transverse (2020, so fairly recent) and I was admitted at 37 weeks because as above the risk of cord prolapse, although small, can have deadly consequences. I’m 29 weeks now and baby is transverse again and although it’s a different hospital their policy is the same- we admit you at 37 weeks. So I’m surprised that your doctor hasn’t said anything about it, particularly as your first arrived at 37 weeks. Sorry I hope this hasn’t scared you and perhaps baby isn’t transverse but more like an unstable lie and will turn. It’s worth asking a few questions.

My second baby was transverse until 35.6 and had turned by 36.1 (the day of my section). So your baby might have turned overnight.

I had a bunch of other issues (bleed etc) so was more risky than you but I was admitted to hospital and they were really worried about a cord prolapse. My consultant took it very seriously. Ended up in for ages (6 weeks!) and really missed my toddler but couldn’t have entertained making it more risky for my second born.

my toddler has forgiven me now - took a while!

good luck OP but if it helps, remember you will have two children soon. I would take a cautious approach myself.

@Transversebabyno2 Oh dear, sorry to hear that your doctor was a bit abrupt. Mine have all been the same, to be honest: not heaps of bedside manner.

Sending you as much calmness and positivity as I can. I thought I was nervous in my first trimester but it’s nothing compared to these last few weeks 😬