Breech at 28 weeks

[esgill]

I was a bit worried after my 28-week appointment when my midwife said baby is currently breech. She said 25% of babies are breech at this point but then it goes down to 3% nearer term so she wouldn't be too worried. Ofc I have been worrying, and googling how to turn a breech baby!

I know spinning babies, and that walking/exercise help. I have exercised a lot all pregnancy (aerial, though drastically cut back what I'm doing, swimming, yoga, walking).

I'm now 30 + 4 and hoping for better news at 32 weeks. I really don't want a c-section – I really want to get back to my aerial practice sooner rather than later and have a quicker recovery.

Posted too soon. I wanted to ask, any way (other than a scan) to tell when a baby is breech vs head turned down? Like where should I be feeling kicks? I do get a big bulge above my belly button sometimes but can't tell where it's her head or bum. Doesn't make much sense to me that it's her head as it seems to be where I get the strongest kicks...

Midwife here. Please do not panic. If I palpate a baby at 28-32 weeks and they're NOT breech I think that's unusual 😂 the liklihood is that baby will be nicely head down by 36 weeks.

@USaYwHatNow thank you for sharing! That's reassuring. Is it normal to let patients know it's breech and explain what happens if it's still breech at different points along? My midwife was nice about it but I got quite worried as she painted different scenarios, one being a potential c-section.

How will I know if my baby has turned?

I’m surprised she would mention c-sections at 28 weeks. Babies can move around within minutes at that stage, your baby could have turned to head down and back by the time you got home.

My baby was right way up until 10 mins before my ELCS when she turned fully breech so I just think what will be will be tbh. I guess the key is to get them the right way and then ENGAGED?? I would imagine engagement is key.

So when they're still this small there's loads of room for her to do somersaults so her position will likely change multiple times per day!

You'll feel kicks all over the place at the moment. As her position will likely change lots I wouldn't pay too much attention to where the kicks are, but obviously let your maternity unit know if you're worried about the amount of movement at any time so you can be monitored appropriately.

Generally, a bigger baby has less room to move (again, this may make the movements softer and less punchy, but I must stress that the amount and pattern should be usual for your baby and any deviation should be reported to your maternity unit so they can see you) so she's less likely to do a huge spin from head down to breech. Believe me, if she does, you'll feel it. It's often described as quite uncomfortable, especially if it's your first baby. However it is possible. If baby is breech, they you're likely to feel kicks low down, rather than up by your ribs.

You should be palpated at every appointment, and the midwife will note baby's position and let you know too.

If by 36 weeks they think baby is breech, they will offer a scan to check position, and if baby is breech they may offer an ECV (turning the baby manually from the outside) and I would suggest looking into moxibustion. If baby remains breech then you will be offered a c section.

Mine was breech and I didn't even feel her turning but there she was completely other way around in the next scan. I honestly wouldn't worry about it.

You're only 30 weeks, baby will probably turn several times before the birth. Mine was always in a different position at every checkup in third trimester and I used to be able to feel his head in different places throughout the day. He got himself into the correct position towards the very end as most babies do. Honestly, it's way way too early to be worrying about the babies position.

Mine was breech til 32 weeks, she did a huge flip whilst I was at my desk one Friday afternoon a few days before the obstetrician was going to try and manually turn her.

A very off experience watching baby do a 180 tumble turn but the relief under my ribs afterwards now her head wasn't there was bliss!

You're worrying waaaay prematurely. At 28 weeks it's normal. The midwife will palpate at 32 weeks and let you know babes position.

@USaYwHatNow thanks for all the info and reassurance! This is pretty much what my midwife said – she described the possible things I might experience if baby is still breech at different stages.

@Olika @shivawn @Bovrilla Thank you -- I will try to stop worrying! Just wondering in the meanwhile if there's anything I can do differently to what I am doing. I will get an ECV if they stays in breech come 36 weeks.

my baby was breach at 26 weeks and I was exactly the same as you, panic panic panic! Wish I didn’t though because baby was head down by 32 weeks and has stayed that way since. I did the spinning babies circuits every few days and used the exercise ball a lot. I think baby would have turned either way though! I think it’s very hard to tell where baby is, I felt kicks mostly low down at 26 weeks but now I feel almost like punches into my right hip but I can see the bigger movements through my tummy nearer the top of my bump. I can also feel a hard mass (head) very low down in the centre of my pelvis and the left side of my bump feels full and smooth (baby’s back). Try not to worry too much, your baby will turn if they haven’t already!

Hmmm. I feel like us midwives maybe need to address the way we discuss breech presentation at appointments, it's making me sad to see so many women feel unnecessarily panicked!

Just a little check in to say thank you everyone for the reassurance. Had my 32 -week midwife appointment today and thankfully baby is out of breech :) I've been walking and swimming and hanging upside down in aerial a fair bit so that might have done it...

@esgill thats great, don’t feel panicked if they turn back to breech again by the next appointment, they still have room to turn back. Midwives should really make it clear when telling women the presentation that babies often turn around a lot until the last few weeks

@PickledScrump yeah it would reassure. Another friend who is pregnant (38 weeks) had her baby turn to breech briefly and now she's baby head first.