23 answers

30 Weeks and Baby's Moved Sideways

At my 28 week apt my baby was head down. Yesterday at my apt at 30 weeks she was sideways. I have no idea when she turned but I don't think it was before the last few days as I know I was feeling feet kicking me before high in my abdomen. This is my third child. My first 2 were born vaginally and without complications. I honestly don't remember when either of them settled head down and didn't move though. I have an apt in 2 weeks (which is the schedule I'm on anyway at this point in my pregnancy) and they're going to do a sonogram to check her position at that time to see if she settles back into head down.
Anyone have this happen? What I gather from what the midwife said is that it's not something to panic about quite yet but something to watch as it could lead to problems. If she's still sideways at 32 weeks then she wants to give me exercies and maybe do acupressure/acupuncture or other natural things to get her to move. I'm wondering if there is anything I can do now to help encourage her before my next apt. I do not want to end up at a hospital, my first birth was such a tramatic and terrible experience (we both came out physically fine in the end, I had a couple very good support people who stood up for me something fierce! but mentally it left a scar that will never heal) my second birth was at a birth center and was great. We're getting our prenatal care and planning my daughters birth at the same birth center, but obviously they can't deliver me there is there is any complications.
I have already been having panic attacks about this which I know isn't good for me or my baby.
If you've had this did it correct itself and how far along? I am just so lost.

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

21/8/2009 In case anyone ever comes to read this I thought I would post my happy ending. She continued to move between head down, sideways and at 35 wks breach. In the end she went head down and stayed that way (at 36 or 37wks). She was born at the birth center with a completely natural birth during wk39. Thanks again to everyone who replied! It helped calm my nerves when I was totally stressing.

24/4/2009 Had my midwife apt and ultrasound yesterday. She is head down and looks good. The tech said she looks a lot like me :) The ultrasound tech did say that she does still have room that she could decide to move around a little bit longer and not get into a stuck type situation but she looks like she's beginning to lock in so she might be done with her exploring. I go back in 2 weeks and they'll check again, not with the ultrasound, just manually. I checked out the couple websites recommended and did a few things suggested to help coax her down in the beginning and encourage her to stay there. I have found the getting on all 4s and stretching works (the cat stretching I think it is) and also lying at a slight incline on the couch caused her to squirm back where she belonged. The cat stretching also helps my back feel a bit better when it starts getting achy which is a nice thing too ;)
I was able to calm down after reading many of your responses and "been theres" and I'm sure that helped as well. It's just so hard to not get worried, especially when any problems can mean I have to deliver at a hospital and not the birth center. I'm glad hospitals are there if there are problems but it is far from being my favorite choice and I will do my best to avoid it as much as humanly possible.
Thank you so much!

Featured Answers

My baby was breech at 35 weeks and by 37 weeks she had corrected herself. My OB wasn't concerned even at 35 weeks so I wouldn't panic.

Good luck!

More Answers

Try getting on all fours and doing pelvic rocks. Arch your back up like a cat then roll your head back as you arch your back the other way> Not only does it feel great and stretch your back out, gravity will pull the baby into the proper position with her back against your stomach wall and her head down. My doctor gave me this to do. She also said to do squats afterwards which help pull the baby down into position. I know a lot of doctors disagree on this, but she was very old world and had a lot of mid-wife tips that she passed on. The squats were great exercise and all three of my babies were in proper position. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

K.,

First off, you need to relax, I know not so easy, but the emotions you feel, the baby feels but heightened. If the baby feels that the "outside" is a stressful and unsafe place, they may indeed turn or stay breech. So what else to do. Examine your life recently, and see if there has been any stressful events, any fights that hhave been unresolved, or any worries you have about anything. Face them head on, and resolve them. That's good for everyone to do. Then, look at the website www.spinningbabies.com to find several technniques to encourage your little one to turn head down.
Good luck, and send some warm loving thoughts your little one's way! :-)

1 mom found this helpful

Hi K.
I understand you have reasons behind your decision, but I would keep the option for the hospital open.
Sometimes we do have bad experies, but staff and director change and each visit differs. Hospitals just have the equipment to assist much quicker should it be necessary.

Did you try google to read other posts on other sites?

I hope all goes well.
C.

1 mom found this helpful

I have attended multiple births and the best thing you can do right now is to CALM DOWN. I have seen babies flip at the last second, I have also had to have a c-section myself because my twins would not move into a possible birth position. It will be what it will be and your anxiety is only going to make things worse. Relax, try to get some laying on your back time and find someone to help you with the kids etc. Now is the time for you to relax and let your baby do some of the work. Do not listen to horror stories, keep your mind on the birth that you want and sing some songs to your baby.

1 mom found this helpful

K.,
First, don't worry! This is not good for you or baby. Stress is terrible and can affect baby's health later on in life. I had a very, very difficult labor, too. I did au naturel (no epidural) w/ a Doula and my daughter was turned around, putting extreme pressure on my back for almost 40 hours. Finally, a fantastic nurse came on her shift and she and my husband greased up my belly and while I was lying sideways, put pressure in various areas, and darn it if that baby didn't flip to the right position!! That nurse was my lifesaver, I tell you. Also, my friend's baby was breach and her doc greased up her belly and was also able to flip the baby, too. So there are things that can be done. You can do this!! I am sure someone at the birthing center has experience with this. Best of luck to you and no more worrying. After all, what is the very worst that could happen? You may have to have a C-section? I adamantly didn't want one, either, but when it comes down to it, the option is there for people who need it. You and baby will ultimately be fine. All my best!

1 mom found this helpful

First of all you are right stop stressing!! :) You know that childbirth is a totally natural thing, and your last one at a birth center, that is totally awesome. I had help from my mother (I am the oldest of 5 all home births) and I saw a midwife through the later half of my pregnancy, but my insurance wouldn't help with the birth, and 4,000 dollars is a lot to pay out of pocket. So I had to choose, go to the hospital for free almost, or have the baby at home with my mom and my partner. In the end there was no way I was going to the hospital (unless it was an emergency of course.) Anyway, at 34 weeks Evelyn was breech. The crazy thing was that two weeks before she was head down. I was worried about it, but I really try to trust my body. So... that was the last time that I saw the midwives. But like I said my mom had 5 at home, she said get down on your hands and knees (all of us came out head down), so throughout my labor I got on my hands and knees periodically and visualized her head down, and she came out that way. We had an amazing natural birth and she was perfectly healthy. I am sure that your baby will be too. Honestly, I have heard that babies can go head down in the last minutes, especially this is more common in 2nd and 3rd deliveries. It is a natural thing, I mean if she is ready to come she will know what to do. Just use gravity. Good luck and don't worry!

1 mom found this helpful

No need to worry. My son did the same thing a few times and I was panicked as well, but by the next time I went back for an ultrasound, he had moved again. She could move in a day or a week or move several more times between now and your next appt.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Since it's not your first baby, it shouldn't be a problem! I've had quite a few 2nd or 3rd time moms with a baby that's transverse (sideways) and they always turn head down in labor. If you're in the greater Los Angeles area and want to relieve your worried mind and help your baby turn head down (before labor), almost all of my clients go to Dr. Berlin's Wellness Center -- the focus of their practice is Prenatal & Postpartum Wellness care and they do massage, acupuncture, reflexology and chiropractic work.

Dr. Elliot Berlin
Berlin Wellness
6221 Wilshire Blvd., #518
Los Angeles, CA 90048
http://www.doctorberlin.com/
###-###-####

Happy Birthing :)

1 mom found this helpful

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