Anyone Have the Webster Technique Done?

That's what Webster is! And yes sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Didn't work for me, because my placenta was in a place that prevented the baby from moving beyond a certain point, and she was too big to turn at that point they said after she was born. I was too scared to try the version, bad stories from other people and it just didn't sit right with me. Moms know best! I also tried acupuncture with moxa, look into that too. It's at least relaxing, and you get to lie down for almost an hour...alone, in a quiet room! That alone can be worth it ;)

Did she recommend you come back a few times a week? That's what mine did. He's in Belltown by Seattle Center if you want a second opinion. And are you lying almost upside down every day? Using a flashlight and having daddy or sister talk to your lower belly area? Stretching and rocking on all fours? There's a lot to try, I tried it all and hope it can all help you!

All in all, just remember that what matters most is that your baby gets here, now how it happens. Try not to be too disappointed if you have to have a repeat c-section, you and baby don't need any extra stress, mama! Good luck!

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My baby was breech right near the end, and I did not want to give birth in the hospital and have to change to some strange doctor - still wanted my midwife to do the home birth I had planned. She suggested (and I know it sounds completely crazy, but it WORKED) is to go to a indoor (since it was cold out) swimming pool, go and do handstands over and over again - of course you will need assistance to keep your balance, etc. Well I did this wondering if it would work, and sure enough at my next appointment, the baby had flipped to a head down position, and I was able to proceed with a normal birth at home.

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I did not try that for my breech baby, but I did try several yoga poses, laying down with my butt in the air for hours, the icepack, the flashlight... but she would not budge.

If you really want to go VBAC, look into an external cephalic version. I had it done and was SOOO glad I did. A few days after the ECV I gave birth naturally, vaginally, no meds to my beautiful baby daughter and had the most amazing birth experience. I am one of those women who would take giving birth over a trip to the dentist any day!

The ECV took about 60 minutes. They had me on the monitor to get a baseline reading of the heartbeat for about 20 minutes prior and to make sure she was alright after. Right before the OB did a quickie ultrasound to confirm she was still breech and make sure there was enough room (fluid) for her to turn.
He placed one hand under my belly at the pubic bone and gently but firmly pushed upwards(this was uncomfortable, because of the pressure on the bladder). The other hand was on the side of my belly and he gently pushed sideways to motivate her to flip (there was plenty of ultrasound gel on my belly to help this motion). He did this three times and on the third time she flipped around.

Not every woman is a good candidate for the procedure, so you will need to talk to your health care provider about it. If you do it, get a recommendation for a experienced performer. My midwife referred me to the one who did mine, and he said I was his 5th ECV that week alone (my MW claimed he was the best baby-turner in town). There are risks involved, but he mentioned that in his entire time practicing the procedure he did never have a complication and that they are pretty rare. He also advised me beforehand that he would not "force" the baby to turn, but just "encourage" her, so there is a possibility that even that will not work.
Good luck!

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I know nothing about the Webster Technique but I do not about breech babies. Several of mine were in the wrong position. My midwives had me lay on a slant board at home several times a day for 15 minutes at a time. I would stack my couch cushions on the floor, lay one end of my ironing board on top and the other end on the floor. Then I would lie down with my hips on the high end and my head toward the floor. This is a little uncomfortable but my babies all turned the right direction in a few days. I was able to have all 11 naturally. I hope this helps some. You may be able to ask your health care provider about this. One time I was scheduled for a version where they turn the baby under ultra sound and she turned on the way to the hospital. I was able to have her at home. That was my closest call.

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My 3rd baby was in breech position and my OB suggested that as often as I could get on my hands and knees and rock my pelvis, pushing my tuckus to the floor and then lifting towards the ceiling using only my hips to 'encourage' her to turn around the right way. It worked like a charm.

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Hi K.,

If you are adamant about have a VBAC, have you considered switching to a midwife? They do breech births frequently and my midwife still have 3% c-sections rates compared to the super high numbers at the hospitals. They can also give you a ton of advice on positions, stretching and other things you can do to encourage your baby to turn.

I am expecting twins one is head down and one is breech, but since the head down one will come out first, we are simply planning on the second one coming out breech. She may flip at the last moment, but with out any room right now we aren't counting on it until after her brother comes out and then we'll see what position she relaxes into.

I know at a hospital I would either have both vaginal birth and a c-section or they would require me to have a c-section as the majority of doctor's do not do breech births and many have never even seen one!

If you would like some referrals, please let me know. I can give you some names of Natural Family Doctors and Midwives that can assist you in trying to turn your baby!

A.

I do not know anything about the Webster Technique, but my second baby was breech and I was the one who discovered it, not the doctors. We had discussed many options to turn him around, and then the doctor suggested we just wait it out and if he didn't turn by 39 weeks we would try turning him externally. Well he ended up turning around on his own at around 38 weeks and it was very painful. I definitely felt it and the doctor confirmed it at my 38 week appointment. It got me wondering how many babies just don't get the opportunity to turn on their own. He was almost 8 lbs at birth also. Give it time and hopefully it will happen. You might consider trying some of the suggestions that are less evasive since you are trying for a VBAC, so as not to strain and increase the risks. Good Luck!

Hmm, I dont know about that!! I had a breech baby at 40 weeks and had a "version" done by an OBGYN. Its an out patient procedure, and the Dr. physically moves the baby using his hands from the outside of your stomach. Mine went great and I went on to have a natural birth. Much better than getting too close to your due date and having no other choices to get her in the right position.

Good Luck!

it does sound like that's the webster technique from what i gathered here:

http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2001/aug/aug...

i'm guessing you don't yet know if it worked? if it didn't, i think i'd try all the upside-down methods mentioned and do an ECV as a last resort.

my first baby was also breech. i was not yet crunchy and had great trust in my dr so i just went along with her recommendation to do an ECV. luckily it worked out fine for me, in that it didn't hurt me or my baby but i heard horror stories after the fact. it wasn't painful but was uncomfortable. my daughter did turn, so the ECV would have worked if it weren't for the fact that i have a bicornuate (heart-shaped uterus) so my daughter popped right back to breech as she didn't have enough room to be head-down. we didn't find out the shape of my uterus until after delivery. i pass this info along, just in case. i think it's pretty rare.

Try swimming in a pool and diving down deep again and again. This was the suggestion given during my prenatal yoga class.

i've never had it done, BUT...GOOD FOR YOU FOR GETTING CHIROPRACTIC CARE! My son (21 mths) and I both get adjusted at least once a week...mmm, love it!

I have also worked in the chiropractic field for a few years, and have seen it done, and worked and not worked...everyone is different. i know, not something you wanna hear..but its worth a try..just don't let them do it in the hospital with needles, and putting their hands up "there" to turn the baby...I've heard of people going into labor right then and there...

GOOD LUCK! =) congrats on baby#2!

p.s.. she pushed on the ligaments to turn baby, BUT the baby can flip back in a moments notice...so just relax and try to just take it one day at a time. I had a baby breech, never tried webster technique...i actually just had to have a emergency c-section ( premature rupture of membranes @35 wks)..and will have to have a repeat..due to a uterine septum. i figure, no matter how the baby is born, and long as its healthy..i'm ok with it. =)

K. - A couple friends of mine had their OB's turn the baby which they said hurt like Hades and both ended up flipping back breech again anyway! Poor things!

My daughter was breech at 38 weeks and my midwife gave me these suggestions:
Always sit backwards on your chair. Baby's head is the heaviest part of it's body, and it will naturally go down with gravity. Tilting your belly forward by sitting this way will help.
Shine light at the bottom of your belly. Baby will turn toward the light.
Play music at the bottom of your belly. Baby will turn to hear the music.
Do some Yoga poses - Cat/Cow, where your belly is down and relaxed. Baby's head will want to drop, too.

I tried a lot of these things, and at some point she turned because on my due date visit (I delivered a week late) she was head down and ready to go!

Also, my girlfriend's baby turned during delivery. She definitely felt it, and everyone in the room saw it happen!

Lastly, my sister in law delivered breech and she and baby were fine, although she was really scared about it.

Blessings!

I don't know what the Webster technique is, but I will tell you what worked for me. My midwife had me put a pair of headphones at the bottom of my belly - with peaceful, soft, music (classic, meditational, etc) She says it encourages the baby to actively take part in correcting the situation. The baby actually moves his/her head down there to listen to what is going on. It worked for me as I had twins and one was in breech and I was NOT going to have a c-section!! I cannot guarantee this for you, but give it a try. It may take baby a few days to get all turned around (I hope you have that long) but keep giving baby that nice sound to follow. Good luck!

The thing that seems to be the most well thought of is inversions - hanging upside down off your bed, spending time on your hands and knees, doing 'downward dog', for long periods of time. But i imagine that your doctor also already discussed doing an external version. These sound uncomfortable to me, but, also seem to work with greater reliability than any other technique.

You may also want to look into moxabustion. It worked for me at 36 weeks (baby's heart beat was literally in line with my diaphraghm she was sitting up like a little buddha). You can buy the moxa sticks at lots of places and the point you are trying to reach is the outside of the pinky toe, where the lower outside corner of the toenail is, but more on the outside of the toe. I did it two times and I could feel little buddha rolling and spinning! at my 38 week appt, she was just right.

This website explains it in detail, as well as some exercises you can try:
http://www.birthinternational.com/articles/andrea13.html

good luck and I hope you are able to have a wonderful VBAC!!

Yes, that's the Webster Technique (I've had it done). My chiropractor adjusted my legs/lower back and then flipped me over and pushed on the ligaments(?) on the sides of my pelvis. Oh, boy! Going to my chiro helped me sooo much with the tension that comes with carrying a baby.

IF you can afford it, do it everyday. Otherwise 3x a week (that's what I did).

38 weeks is rather late for the Webster Technique to work, but don't give up! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Inversion works well, etc. There are awesome sites out there about turning your baby. Just search Google for "turning baby" and a whole plethora of sites will come up.

Since you're giving birth naturally, you're in the very nice position of being able to wait until the absolute last minute (transition) to see if your baby is still breech. Babies often turn during labor.... I, unfortunately, was not given the chance to see if my little one would turn, and was forced into a C-section (because I was at a "birthing suite" where the "midwives" had to go with hospital policy and the hospital refused to even ATTEMPT a vaginal birth with breech babies).

Another thing you might try is "Andaluz" as they will do a breech birth at home for you.

http://www.waterbirth.net/

Happy natural birthing!