Anyone sucessfully got their baby to turn?

[amyboo]

I had my 32 week scan this morning, and the sonographer confirmed that baby amyboo is still very much the wrong way up! He's currently got his head up by my ribs, bum down low, with one foot curled underneath him, the other up towards his face, and a hand in front of his face as well. I think this is almost "incomplete breech" position?

Anyway, I was looking at some of the suggestions on the "spinning babies" website and was going to try the all fours, inversion and handstands in the swimming pool options this evening. I just wondered if anyone has any positive stories to tell about their baby turning after 32 weeks (with or without help from trying these positions)? This is my first baby, and I'm terrified I'm going to end up with a c-section - I'd much prefer a natural birth if possible.

Handstands in the swimming pool sounds dicey! I think I'd end up spluttering rather than actually staying upside down for any time.

Our DS was upside down for a while, can't remember at what point but it was latish on, and he turned around again by my next mw appointment. So don't be too concerned just yet, there's still time for a shift in position. Also depending on your circumstance, ECV is a final resort (the one where a consultant will manipulate the baby into right position).

I tried the 'bum in air, arms/elbows beneath me' undignified position (on the bed because more comfy for elbows/arms) each evening for a good while, with breaks in between. I also posted on Mumsnet about this, and one of the suggestions which made me laugh was to have a bag of frozen peas against where baby's head is, and a torch shining against your tummy lower down. Presumably to make baby think 'blimey, I've got a headache - hang on a sec, what's that interesting light?'. Got me laughing about the situation if nothing else .

Oh, and one other thing - watch your sitting position in daily life. Relaxing on the couch slumped backwards is a no-no as not great for baby's position; perch on the edge of the couch or chair with tummy overhanging your legs instead. Is actually more comfy for your back too.

Good luck!

Thanks for the tip about the sofa. Maybe it's time to invest in a ball to sit on instead, as I do have a tendency to slump around on the sofa... I'm not too concerned about trying the handstands thing - I'm a regular swimmer so am quite happy in the water. My gynae did say they would try an ECV if he still doesn't turn by the end, but he didn't seem too optimistic about the success rates - said only 25% of them work?

In my pregnancy yoga class the teacher reccommends sleeping on your left side (if you can, I have had to train myself to do this!) and there are various positions / breathing excersices you can do to get the baby in to the "optimal fetal position".

It might be worth asking your MW to see if there's a class in your area. I'm 31 weeks and although I think its a foot that keeps sticking in my ribs I'm taking no chances and doing all I can!!

Quite a famous consultant at the hospital here, who is an expert in ECV, recommends acupuncture - they burn a smudgey incensey thing. He says he doesn't know why it works but it clearly seems to! So can't hurt.

Incidentally you still have tons of time for the baby to turn! They only start getting worried at about 35-6 weeks.

My dd was still breech at 35 weeks and I had the same worries. I tried moxibustion, and it worked! Here's a website about it. I was booked for an ECV, but the dr scanned first to check her position and voila! he said even he was a believer (after calling it voodoo). I've never tried acupuncture before and was honestly highly sceptical about this, but I figured it couldn't hurt to try. And it worked.

A qualified acupuncturist attached to my GP's surgery showed me and my husband how to hold the sticks, then we used them at home for about 1 week, then all was well. It has a 70% success rate. I had a textbook delivery 3 weeks later.

Best of luck to you!

My 1st dd was breech and I tried everything to get her to turn - a lot of crawling round the house on all fours, swimming and bouncing on my birthing ball but nothing worked. I eventually had an ECV at 37 weeks and, although it was painful, it worked and she stayed head down for the next 3 weeks.

My 2nd dd was also breech until late on and I managed to avoid the ECV this time by doing lots of somersaults in the pool. It took a few days of doing this and I had to ignore the strange looks from fellow swimmers! One day after doing my turns I went to get out of the pool and the pain in my tummy made me get straight back in the water for a few minutes - I reckon that was her turning.

HTH and good luck!

A friend had accupuncture and her daughter turned at 38wks...

To add a different perspective, I had moxibustion and ECV and neither worked! 70% of babies will turn anyway from breech at 32wks to right way up at term- moxabustion probably isn't making any difference whatsoever. If you really want to try it I'd just do it yourself, there really isn't anything more to it than lighting a 'moxa' stick and waving it by your little toe until it gets too hot. You can get moxa sticks for a few pounds at a chinese herbal store or ebay. Definitely don't pay £40+ for the treatment, you'll feel conned!

You don't need to worry for at least another month

DS1 was breech at 33 weeks and I tried everything to no avail (sorry that's probably not what you wanted to hear). I had an ECV at 37 weeks and a) it didn't work and b)it was total bloody agony. I wouldn't recommend it.

On a brighter note though, DS2 went head down very early so having one breech baby doesn't necessarily mean any subsequent babies will be.

Also wanted to add that there are much worse things to be terrified of than an elective c-section due to breech positioning - seriously, it's not a bad experience at all! I understand your preference for natural birth, I'm 34 wks and hoping this one is head down so I can give natural birth a try, but it's not the end of the world if this one is breech as well and I end up having a c-section again.

Acupuncture worked for someone I know. No need to be terrified of an elective section though. Mine was marvellous.

Hi amyboo

Spooky! My ds was in exactly the same position from 32 weeks. He had his left foot up by his ear and the other foot underneath.

I tried everything going - frozen peas, torch, on all fours, swimming, moxabustion, the works.

I went for ECV, but the consultant took one prod and said he was stuck fast and ECV wouldn't work.

So, I had a section and it turns out that I have a heart shaped uterus and ds was completely stuck and there was nothing I or anyone else could have done to turn him.

I really, really didn't want a section either, but with hindsight, it was the safest option in my case, and it wasn't as bad as I had feared.

I am now 37 weeks with my second who is behaving nicely and has just turned head down.

There is still plenty time to turn, but I know I got well pissed off with people who dared to say it to me.

good luck

If you are going to have a go yourself at trying moxibustion. There is a bit more to it than just waving the stick at your little toe!! The specific point is at the outside corner of your little toe and should ideally be done by someone else so that you can be on all fours as then it is easier for the baby to turn. The stick should be held around 1/2cm from the point until it feels too hot, it should then be removed and reapplied alternating between each little toe. It might be worth consulting an acupuncturist though to get it done properly as they will also take any risk factors into consideration.

Just an observation, breech presentation doesn't mean you have to have a CS - and the latest research I know of found that a vaginal birth is at least as safe for mother and baby as long as the MW/Dr is suitable experienced.

DD1 was my first, stubbornly breech from 28 weeks and arrived at 41+3 foot first and weighing 9lb 12. It isn't a decision we took lightly and its not for everyone, but its certainly not impossible.

If you're interested in a vaginal breech birth I'd recommend reading "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites (which also has a chapter on things you can do to encourage your baby to turn) and/or "Breech Birth: What are my options" by Jane Evans, and googling anything you can find by Mary Cronk (this article is a good start).

Good luck, and fingers crossed your LO gets head down before it becomes and issue.

'a vaginal birth is at least as safe for mother and baby as long as the MW/Dr is suitable experienced.'

I agree, to an extent, but the problem is that there are very very few MW/Drs who are suitably experienced. Most hospitals won't even consider a vaginal breech delivery as they don't have the experience to be able to deliver the babies safely.

I too was very disappointed to have to have an elective c/s but I would never have risked mine or the baby's safety by insisting on a vaginal birth against medical advice. Sadly I have heard of cases (and I'm not talking someone who knows someone who knows someone, I mean a lot closer to home than that) where breech babies have not survived a vaginal delivery. Obviously in your case Tangle things worked out OK which is excellent but IME I just don't think it's a risk worth taking. Having an elective c/s isn't the end of the world and ultimately as a mum your job is to deliver your baby into the world in the safest way possible.

I completely agree that there is a lack of MWs and Drs with good breech experience - but that doesn't mean they don't exist any you never know if you don't ask, and sometimes push through alternative channels (contacting the head of miwifery directly, using resources such as AIMS - no all consultants are as informed about the midwifery skills in their hospital as would be ideal). A big factor in our decision was that we did have access to a MW with very strong breech skills. In order to get that we had to go independent.

I'm so sorry to hear you have had a baby near to you not survive birth. I've also heard recently of an undiagnosed breech that ran into problems. Whenever a baby dies its a tragedy. That said, no birth comes with guarantees - breech or cephalic, vaginal or CS. All you can do is assess all the information you can lay your hands on and make the best decision you can in light of the resources available and your own personal circumstances.

Thanks for all the comments and advice. I think I'll keep trying some of the upside down methods and hope that he turns. I've got another gynae appointment at 35 weeks, so we should be able to see then what position he's in. My gynae said he'd try the ECV if he's still breech later on. I don't think there's any chance of attempting delivery if he stays in this position though, as I live in Belgium where pregnancy is very well handled, but tends towards the more medicalised approach. Obviously I know it won't be the end of the world if I have to have a c-section and will of course do so if it's the best thing for baby. But if there's things I can try to try and avoid it, then I'd like to give them a good go, as I'd rather have a natural birth.