Transverse baby at 32 weeks ... some questions!

[BorgLady]

I was told on Monday that my baby is lying transverse at 32 weeks, which I wasn't unduly concerned about until I read that only 10% of transverse babies are still that way after 28weeks.

Apparently its even more unusual in first timers

I have some questions that I'd like to ask anyone who has been in this situation:

1. Could this be caused by my posture/the way I'm sitting etc? If so, where am I going wrong?

1. Is there any way of telling yourself what position the baby is in? I definitely have a bulge over one side of my bump, which I am now assuming is baby's head. I have an anterior placenta so I find it hard to tell what is what ...

1. Did anyone else have this at 32 weeks and if so, did the baby change position for you?

1. What will happen if he doesn't change position? I'm really not keen on that thing they do where they try to reposition the baby, I've heard it's a bit risky and a bit painful!

Thanks for the help in advance everyone!

Is this your first child? If so, you have about three weeks for the baby to shift into position. If it's a subsequent pregnancy slightly longer.

There is a difference between a transverse lie and transverse arrest. The latter happens when the baby gets wedged into a sideways position and cannot shift.

Some babies do shift around right up to and including during labour. The danger is that they get an unstable lie so they never correctly present against the cervix and this can compromise dilation (if the head isn't pushing on the cervix you may not dilate properly).

You can try optimal fetal positioning but if you have a stubbornly transverse baby there may not be much that can be done.

ECV (turning the baby) isn't usually tried AFAIK for a truly transverse baby.

What does your midwife suggest as a cause of action - have you had an ultrasound to confirm positioning?

Oh sorry I should have said - if it's a lasting transverse, I'm afraid your baby is coming out the catflap (caesarian). But don't worry, they really aren't as bad as some people think!

google and have a read about optimal foetal positioning

FWIW every time the midwife has examined me she has found the baby to be ROA but I know perfectly well it has been transverse at times, especially in the mornings when I wake up

am 34 weeks now and position is changing less, but...

the big bump could be the bottom. Try feeling where strongest kicks are coming from - probably the legs, with the head up the other end

both of my dd's were lying transverse at 32 weeks and they both moved into the correct position before birth.

DS was transverse at 32 weeks (first child) and he kept moving round for the next few weeks, before settling head down.

Hiya My LO was transverse at 36 weeks !!! and has now changed round at 38 weeks!!! so they can still move round, especially as your 31 weeks there is still time i would think (its also my first so no expert)
There are loads of things you can do to move them. I just did the exercise moves ie all 4rs etc. and she moved herself

DD1 was transverse at 34 weeks. i had an emergency scan as the midwife thought she had stopped growing as she was measuring her up-down...

the scan showed she was transverse

had a normal labour though, straightforward no problems.
no idea when she did move.

Thanks for all your replies. I haven't had a scan, I guess its a bit early to worry really.

Thankfully the idea of a cs doesn't bother me, got relatives who have had them both emergency and elective and recovered really quickly. Though knowing my luck with this pregnancy so far ...

Been taking a lot more notice of baby's movements this week, and they do seem to be all across the middle of my bump so I don't think he has shifted so far. I still have the bulge the mw thought was his head too.

Thanks again everyone, others' experiences do make the scary stuff a lot easier!

Thanks to everyone on this thread - it's been pretty helpful.

I've just found out today from my midwife that at 36+4, DS1 is transverse. She didn't seem duly worried, except to say that if my waters break I need to go into hospital immediately. Not sure if this is solely due to baby's position or because I also have high blood pressure & increased protein too.

Good luck to BorgLady & FrannyandZooey - hopefully your babies (and mine) will shift so that the catflap isn't required

I think mine has shifted! At least the mw thought he had on Friday and acouple of people have commented that my bump is now a different shape.

Whether he'll stay that way I don't know, but at least I know he's not stuck!

Good luck to everyone else in this situation!

thanks missing, mine seems ROA or LOA most or all of the time now

I hope all goes well for you - have you tried any positioning techniques at all?