transverse baby - any tips?

[lisac]

I'm nearly 33 weeks pg with my second baby. It is lying in a transverse position and is very active - at my last ante-natal appointment the midwife commented that there was plenty of room in there! I know that second babies often don't get into position until the last minute, and that there is still plenty of time for the baby to move, but I would like to encourage this one at least to go head down (I do not want a cs if at all possible).
Do the principles of optimal foetal positioning help to turn babies round altogether, or just encourage them into the right position once they are head down? If OFP won't help, I'd be very grateful for any tips!
Thanks

Swimming! I had a horrible transverse birth with dd1 and swam twice weekly while pg with dd2 and am convinced it helped (she was head down, normal delivery).

OFP may well help - certainly worth giving it a go!

Jean Sutton who ?co-wrote the OFP book recommends cycling shorts to correct transverse lie. Proper sort that are really tight across the abdomen and leave the baby no choice but to head down.

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated. I am intrigued about the cycling shorts - I don't know whether I'd be able to get a pair on!!

If worst comes to worst you may be able to get a doctor to manouevre the baby round - not very pleasant for you, but better than a c-section!

aren't you meant to get down on your hands and knees as if scrubbing the floor. Not sure about transverse positions but I'm pretty sure its meant to help encourage them to move head down. Sounds like there is still plenty of time for the baby to shift though so I wouldn't panic just yet

Dd2 was transverse (v uncomfortable) and then breech. I found this wacky web site which told you various methods to turn a breech baby and maybe they would also work for transverse?? Among the more amusing suggestions was shining a light up your bum (for baby to turn to the light!!?) but the one which seemed to work for me was lying on your back with your bottom raised up in the air on several cushions. Pretty uncomfortable but it really worked - I was lying there one day when I felt all this squirming around! Sure enough she had turned round.

I was told that ds2 was transverse when I was about 37/38 weeks (can't quite remember) - so I spent a lot of time on my hands & knees (watch tv - it takes away some of the boredom!). I don't know if it was this that worked, but he did turn over.

Thanks all. Spent yesterday evening sitting on my birthing ball (might be all it gets used for!) and on all fours. I love the idea of shining a light up my bottom - I'll have a look for that site.

lisac, this was the website (from www.babycenter.com). I'd forgotten the handstand method !

• Handstands. One popular technique is doing handstands in a swimming pool. Spend about 15 minutes paddling around before attempting any handstands, then go to where you can stand with your head just above water and do 5 handstands in a row.

• Pelvic tilt. Try this exercise twice a day, 10 minutes at a time, for 2 to 3 weeks starting with your 32nd week. (Do this maneuver on an empty stomach) Lay down flat on your back and then raise your pelvis so that it is 9 to 12 inches above your head. Stay in this position for at least 5 minutes, but for no more than 15 minutes. The idea is to allow gravity to push and tuck the baby's head into the fundus which might cause the baby to somersault into a vertex position.

• Use the power of suggestion. In other words, talk to your baby about turning. Your partner can put his face close to your belly and encourage the baby to move toward the sound. You can also place headphones near your pubic bone and play music to encourage your baby to move toward the sound.

• Visualize the baby turning, while practicing deep relaxation. For example, imagine a helium balloon attached to the baby's foot, helping the baby flip.

• Use light. Place a flashlight close to the vagina (baby's head should turn toward the light).

Check out the active birth centre web site www.activebirthcentre.com - they have lots of tips on easy yoga postures that are good for getting the baby into the right position. Mostly it involves spending as much time as possible in forward leaning positions (ie all fours). Your supposed to try to be forward leaning even when doing things like using the computer or watching tv. Try sitting backward in your chair or kneeling on the floor leaning forward onto your birth ball for example. Can't promise it will help but I definitely found these positions were a lot more comfortable as i got bigger!