47 answers

Baby in Breach Position

I had an appointment today with my dr and an ultrasound had been scheduled because my son was measuring small. During the ultrasound it was determined he is in the breach position. The doctor scheduled me to have an external cephalic version done on Monday. I agreed before really reading anything about it because it seemed like the right thing to do but now that I have read the paperwork I am not so sure that this is the right thing. My husband totally does not think we should do it. I really want to avoid a c section if at all possible but this version sounds rather scary and dangerous. I am a rather drug free kind of person and this version involves having an iv and being administered a drug to relax my uterus and then pushing (rather hard) on the belly to move the baby into the right position. Has anyone had any experience with breach babies and/or cephalic versions? Any words is greatly appreciated.

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There is a chiropractic technique to flip a breech baby. It will probably take some calling to find one that knows it. Also I have known midwives in other states that can do versions without all the drugs. It is a skill. You might call around midwives in the area esp. those that do homebirth and see if any of them can do it or have other suggestions. The risk info they are giving you on the version maybe scary but if they gave you all the info on a c-sec you would be even more frightened. It carries a lot of risk for mom and baby.

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My first baby (I now have 2) was footling breach and I had a version done. The version worked, but then they induced me (at 37 weeks) because they didn't want her to flip back. I would do the version again, but I wouldn't allow them to induce me again (since the induction failed and I ended up with a c-section anyway). The version didn't hurt although it did take my breath away for a moment when the baby pressed into my lungs. Also, I used a midwife with my second baby and she said that it is not uncommon for babies to continue moving until delivery. If you don't want to have the external, you can just wait it out and see if the baby flips on its own. I have friends who vaginally delivered breach babies and they were fine. Or you could have the backup c-section route, although I'd give the baby all the time possible chance to flip first. Good luck!

Since a c-section is a surgical procedure, it's more dangerous than the external cephalic version. It is painful, but if your doctor is experienced in it, it should be successful. Ask your doctor what his/her success rate is. Also, I understand about wanting to be "drug free", but if you end up having a c-section, you will be far from drug free.
Another option... if the baby is in frank presentation and isn't big, there is still a chance on vaginal delivery. It happens all the time. It's a riskier delivery because the head doesn't have time to mold, but it can be done.
No matter how you deliver, you'll still have a wonderful baby, so try to relax.
Good luck...

When I was pregnant with my 2nd I was seeing a chiropractor toward the end of my pregnancy. A woman I met in the waiting room was seeing him to try to get her breach baby to turn. This chiropractor didn't do full on twist spine cracks on pregnant women. His approach was very gentle. I don't know if it worked for her but you might do some research on it. I've also heard of people doing accupuncture to turn the baby.

You also might check out http://www.spinningbabies.com/ for "natural" ways to get baby in position.

I personally would not do an inversion. Babies who aren't messed with, tend to have a very low rate of breach birth. They may not flip when your doc wants them to, but the vast majority of the time, they WILL turn on their own. Also, the version does cause a false sense of security, quite a few babies flip back to breach again.

Make a visit to a chiro who does prenatal, and ask them to do the webster tecnique.

As another posted suggested, I also reccomend www.spinningbabies.com

Hi V.,
I would ask your dr. to wait until closer to your due date to try and perform the version. I was scheduled to have one with my son but my husband couldn't be there so we rescheduled for a few days later. When we went in they gave me an ultrasound before they did anything, and they couldn't find his head. What'da ya mean? I know he's still in there. The nurses were in shocked. The dr. came in moved the wand to way down there and said 'there he is. go home' my son had turned himself!
A version can be very stressful and in some cases induce labor.
Best of luck
M.

My son was breached as well and one doctor wanted to do the prodcedure but another didn't. It can be dangerous, very painful, and may not even work. Your son may turn back. I decided not to do it and have a c section. My suggestion is not to do it. I hope you are @ peace @ whatever decision you make. L.

V.~
My first daughter was breech (we found out b/c I was measuring big and they did an ultrasound!) and my doctor too suggusted the version. I had the procedure done, it did not really hurt at all. My version was unsuccessful though, b/c my daughter's heart rate kept dropping. After three tries, they performed a C-section. I'm not sure what your doctor has suggested as far as what to do if they get your son turned, but just remember if they do get him turned and send you home to "wait it out" there is a chance he will turn right back! Or, if they get him turned and induce your labor, there is about a 40% chance you'll still have a C-section b/c your body isn't ready to go into labor! That's the stat that stuck out in my mind! I have to say, I was actually very happy when they decided to do a C-section b/c the last thing I wanted to do was to get the baby turned, be induced, go through hours of labor only to have to have a C-section in the end. You will have a much easier recovery if you do no labor prior to having the C-section.

One other suggestion for you...I see a chiropractor and have done so since having my first daughter. When I was pregnant with my second daughter, the chiroprator told me that if she too was breach, there was an adjustment that she could perform that would make the baby turn on it's own. I don't know how you feel about chiroprators, but if you're up for it, you should contact one. If you live in or around the Richmond, VA area, I'd be more than happy to give you the name and number of my chiropractor! She's wonderful and really cares about preserving the "natural" way of childbirth! She gave birth to 4 children without any drugs for any of them!

Hope this helps! Good luck!

I would definitely NOT DO it yet. There is every reason to expect the baby will get into the correct position before birth. I would get a second opinion and/or talk to others in the medical field. DON"T stress out! That won't help. RELAX. You and your baby will be all right. God Bless you both!

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