Breech position at 31 weeks

[queasy]

I've just seen the mw and had suspicions confirmed that my baby is breech. The mw says it's very common for the baby to move - but I can feel it's been in that position for weeks and seems like it's quite comfortable. Any experiences/ advice?

Hi

I had breech baby for my 2nd my local MW was useless and it was a different one who spotted it 2 days before DS was due.

They will try to turn the baby about 4 weeks of so before the birth if the baby hasn't turned by then (this is what I was told). Sometimes the baby won't turn and most hospitals are fine for normal birth even with baby breech, if there is any chance of anything worrying they might want to book you a date for a CS if you don't go into labour naturally. I would phone up the local MW team to ask what they do in your area.

Don't worry about it though, I went into Labour naturally before CS and the MW said she was fine to do normal birth even though breech as she had done lots of them.

my second and third were breech until 38 weeks. they both turned by themselves. i think its quite common.

my second and third also breech and both turned themselves...although ds3 took his time and I was told to expect CS but he turned in the end.
Keep in good upright positions, no slouching (!) and then if your baby turns, it will minimise chance of turning back to back.
Not sure there's much you can do but it's common for them to turn last minute so good luck!

Thanks. I had a pretty grim time with first childbirth experience so am dreading another one! Have heard awful stories about trying to give birth naturally to a breech baby. Fingers crossed that baby turns around, though I have to say s/he seems happy as anything in the current position.

DS2 was breach until about 33 weeks I think, we found out about 30 weeks, and did lots of stuff to encourage him to turn. He did turn, but obviously I don't know if he would have anyway.

Here's what we did. Be prepared to feel silly!

While I was on my elbows and knees(bum higher than shoulders), my DH would position himself between my legs and shine a torch at the bottom of my bump, whilst talking to the bump.

I played music through earphones and kept the earphones in my pants!

I spent as much time as I could on my hands and knees rocking gently.

Raised my bottom on cushion while lying on my back, and put a pack of frozen peas on the top of my bump.

Stood on my head a few times a day.

I can't hear Beverley Craven to this day without thinking about the pants music

DD was born as a breech baby after she decided at about 28 weeks that she was quite happy where she was, thankyou, and refused to turn. We declined an ECV and used IMs to ensure they had good breech birth skills. I had the most straightforward and calmest birth of anyone I know, even though it was my 1st and DD was 9lb 12.

Breech birth (hands off, MW led) is usually pretty straightforward - mainly because if the labour isn't progressing well by itself you go for a CS and don't muck around. But a medicalised breech delivery (theatre, stirrups, episiotomy, forceps and a large crowd watching for "education") frightened me silly and I would've had an ECV or a CS in preference to that. This article by Mary Cronk (one of the UK experts on breech birth) sumarises the difference very neatly.

If you want to gather more information, google Mary Cronk and try and get hold of "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites and/or "Breech Birth: What are my options" by Jane Evans. I read them both when trying to decide what to do and found them to be approachable, balanced and informative. There's a chapter in the Benna Waites book on ways to encourage your baby to turn - from memory they include accupuncture / moxibustion, hypnotherapy, the Webster technique (chiropractic) plus a number of variations on the suggestions Poppity's already made.

If your LO does stay breech then it isn't an easy decision trying to decide the best course of action - none of the options are risk free and it really is a case of picking the one you feel happiest with. That said, your MW is right and it IS very common for the baby to move between 31 weeks and birth so try not to worry too much - IIRC something like 20% of babies are breech at 32 weeks but only 3-5% still present that way at birth, and of those more than 50% will be 1st babies and many of the others will have an older breech sibling.

Fingers crossed for you

My DS2 was breech from at least 20 weeks, until 35 weeks. He did turn. I know its hard not to worry as I know I did. But there is a good chance that your baby will turn

Ds was breech at 31 weeks too, but turned at least 3 times after that.