Transverse baby at 36 weeks

[WhatIsPink]

Trying to get a bit advice and your experience with transverse baby at 36 weeks.

i had a scan (for other reason) yesterday and they found baby was transverse. Today I saw a consultant (was for other reason too) but on the point of transverse baby, he had one quick feel, and said the baby head is down but not deeply engaged. Then he said just see a midwife next week. I asked a few times what happens if the baby move back to transverse and how do I know, he just said maybe you can see midwife more often. I asked if I could have another scan later on to confirm the position of the position, and basically got shut down and there is no other plan.

I read a lot about transverse baby at 36 weeks and is this considered to be unstable lie and could be dangerous if I go into labour with the baby get into the transverse position.

would love to hear some experience as whatever the consultant said didn’t feel very reassuring…

The consultant isn't worried about the baby's position because after feeling your abdomen they believe the baby is head down and therefore not transverse lie. I would be reassured by this. The next time you see your midwife she will palpate your abdomen. If she thinks the baby is transverse they will make a plan and probably scan you to confirm. Try not to worry. The fact the consultant isn't worried is reassuring.

I’ve had one baby with an unstable lie, and one who was firmly stuck transverse.

With the unstable lie one it was really obvious when she flipped position, as it was such a massive movement.

I would speak to a midwife tomorrow and discuss your concerns - do you have a MAU you can drop in to?

It is really dangerous to go into labour with a transverse baby. That’s the scary bit. The unscary bit is that (in my experience) once they clock you as at risk of that they take really good care of you - I was hospitalised from 37 weeks with DD2 and monitored really closely so they could do a section at the first hint of labour. That didn’t happen so I had a planned section at 38 weeks (which was great!).

That should have happened for DD1 too, but an NHS admin cock up meant I was forgotten about, and I had a much more rushed section later on (it was still before Labour started, but they left me unmonitored until 39 weeks which is against all guidance).

So my advice is to really push to make sure you are getting the care you need. For something like this where time is critical, don’t rely on assuming the system is working.

I had a c section but had placenta preavia as well as her being transverse

thanks for the advice!

can I ask how did they decide whether it’s an unstable lie and was it a consultant who decides to admit you or midwife? And was it over multiple sessions of checking?

I was hoping for a bit more care or explanation from my consultant today but I felt pretty much dismissed. I had a very nice lady for my pregnancy until she just retired and was given this new male consultant. I’m an not sure he’d ever admit me if it’s up to him…

I think they just asked whether I knew she was flipping to decide if it was an unstable lie. Both times it felt quite obvious to me - I could feel DD2’s head poking out of my dais’s from quite early on, and DD1 did massive flips which felt like a whale doing somersaults.

But people carry differently so that might not be the case for you!

It was a consultant who admitted me with DD2, but that was the plan from early on for if she was transverse.

With DD1, a midwife and a consultant each thought that the other would admit me, hence the delay. Which is why I say you should make sure you’ve not fallen through any cracks.

My son was transverse lie picked up at 36weeks and a scan showed polyhydramnious…he was swimming so I had ESCS at 37weeks …he has just come home from the pub so all good!
Edit to say that he had been changing position regularly,the movement was insane !

I have been feeling very big movement, I thought it was baby stretching but could be flipping!

Dd2 was unstable she’d kinda be diagonal. She went head down properly around 37 weeks you need to start sitting on a birth ball with your hips really wide to give them space to drop down. No slouching on the sofa as leaning back when sitting gives them too much room to be sideways

Oh and dd2 went head down after a night of serious movement she must have been turning as my bump was going mental and then she was down do keep your eyes peeled

did your dad stay down? I feel serious movements every night. I thought it was baby stretching but now I think it’s likely they are turning! But then I don’t know which way they are going…

@WhatIsPink
@WhatIsPinkat around 37 weeks after an evening of massive movement yes she stayed down and I had her normally and the midwife just kept an eye on her position I could kinda tell she was down as when she was transverse I’d feel her head more on my hip rather than down below

I had unstable lie with DS2.
I was admitted to hospital at 36 weeks. Got told he was head down a few days later so I could go home. Packed my stuff & was waiting for my lift. Midwife asked to do a final check…he’d bloody moved again! Basically if they’re unstable lie they will keep moving and you’ll need to be monitored in hospital and a section.
Please make sure you’re fully aware of what to do if you go into labour though - go down onto all fours and stick your bottom up in the air. It’s a 999 situation as the cord can drop down with the waters and be compressed by the baby.
Hope it all sorts itself out for you OP.

I had the huge movement when my dc was breech, and trying unsuccessfully to turn. I ended with a footling breech. So it’s not always because of transverse lie. The foot on the cervix was difficult. I spent two weeks convinced I had gone into labour.