Having a Baby Moved in Utero

There's a lot you can do to try to move the baby yourself. Check out this sight: http://www.spinningbabies.com/ and yoga and swimming. Crawling on your hands and knees in general is good. Laying down with your feet higher than your heart and bum elevated. Also, a lot of people I know swear by the Webster technique of adjustment from a chiropractor. And, put and iPod or music right down there (like resting on your pubic bone) or have dad talk to baby and even shine a flash light while talking or playing music. Sounds crazy but babies definitely respond to and follow sound and light.

My child was breech and delivered by c-section. It wasn't the end of the world in my opinion even though it was clearly not the delivery I had envisioned. I discussed all of my options with my doctor. The options I were offered: external version (where they physically rotate the baby), chiropractic care, tilting your body while massaging your belly to encourage rotation, music and/or light on your belly to encourage rotation, sitting in warm water to your hips with something cold on the top of your belly, and acupuncture. He said other doctors and/or midwives might be willing to try delivering a breech baby but it was against his affliated hospital's policy. I wasn't willing to change doctors that late in the game so I tried his suggestions.

My doctor did not want to perform an external version. He said if I insisted, he would insist it be done in a hospital setting in case an emergency arose during the procedure. His experience was not favorable for the procedure so he was not a strong supporter. He said patients told him the procedure was uncomfortable at best and painful at worst, depending on the person's pain tolerance. I did try all of the other options except the acupuncture. I couldn't bring myself to try acupuncture. My friend had success with acupuncture with her breech baby, though.

The chiropractor I used specialized in pregnant women. She had specific procedures to help turn the baby but she said her success rate was about 85%. She said some babies just don't get with the program. I will say her procedures really helped with my back pain towards the end but did not turn the baby. I tried tilting myself on an ironing board but there tons of other options. Google it and you'll see what I mean. The light and music were also attempted. Also I spent several nights in the bathtub in hip deep warm water with cold peas on the top of my stomach. Other than feeling like Bugs Bunny in the stew pot, it was only good for a few laughs. I tried everything all at once during the last few weeks of my pregnancy but my son simply refused to budge. Since I was carrying a known breech baby, I had to schedule a c-section and that was that. Whatever route you go, inform yourself and many well wishes.

My co-worker had version performed and said it was one of the most painful experiences she could imagine. Also, it didn't work. She wound up having a c-section (for an unrelated issue) and was so traumatized by the whole experience.....

I don't know why they still offer to do versions. The baby can flip on it's own up until labor starts. They're stupid dangerous, too. I would say give nature a chance to take its course. If you wind up with a c-section because your baby is breech when you go into labor, it is not the end of the world. You'll be OK. My c-section was not in my "birth plan" but I am so happy my Mom was there (she had two c-sections) to help me get over my feelings of what might have been my birth experience.

There may be a few extreme cases where a version is medically necessary, if so, by all means trust your doctor. As an option, not just no, but Hells NO!

Try spinning the baby yourself (websites below on other posts) I did this with great success with my second child

I wouldn't do the version, because of two peoples experienced bat I knew personally. And it just scared me more than a csection, all that mattered to me was getting baby here safely. I tried the chiropractic Webster technique, acupuncture with moxa, and several of the spinning babies techniques found online. Nothing would have worked they said as they took her out because she was too big and my placenta was in a place that would have blocked her from turning all the way. I've since sent two friends to that chiropractor and he was able to turn their babies within three visits! You can google Webster technique and find a Chiro in your area that is trained in it.

My 1st was breech and they tried an external version and IT HURT!! I hated every second of it and it didn't work. It was worth a try to me though b/c I didn't want a c-sec but she's here regardless and my wounds have healed. :) Congrats on the baby!

One of my kids was breech. They tried an external version twice. It was very painful, especially the second time , since I was still bruised from the first. I looked like someone had taken a bat to my stomach, the next day. I have heard that some places give epidurals , for pain management during a version. The version didn't work for us, ended up with section.

My D.O. turned my baby while I was laboring, as the little booger decided I guess right ( I had had an ultrasound due to my babies size and he was the right way 2 weeks before, not sure how or when he turned!) before delivery to change his mind on which end was coming out first, it wasn't very comfortable, I felt a bit queasy but I think it was probably less painful then trying to recover from a c-section, I have not had a c-section but just guessing.
Oppppps and yes, it did work.

My fourth was breech. At 39 weeks my husband and I took a long walk up
an incredibly steep hill. At the top she turned. Oh how it hurt. Went to the
doctor the next day and I was right. She had turned. Was born 5 days
later.

Breech babies are a common finding before 35 weeks and occasionally up to 37 + weeks. I'd wait patiently and then have an ultrasound at 36 weeks. You can try lying in certain positions to encourage the baby to turn as others suggested. Sometimes if there is a lot of fluid or a small pelvic structure, babies will continue to rotate head down (vertex) to breech (head up) or even transverse up until 40 weeks.
The real risk in having the baby turned to vertex by the Dr. using an ultrasound to guide his movement, is separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus which can be life threatening to you and baby due to bleeding and lack of oxygen to baby AND the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby when it is being turned thus reducing oxygen to baby.
You have the option of waiting to the onset of labor and having an ultrasound to check position and then opting for C-section if baby is still breech. This option is not often presented because it does prove more risky in the even of a very quick labor. Breech vaginal deliveries are becoming a lost art and many doctors don't feel confident in doing them due to greater legal risk for them.
Please think all your options through carefully and don't do anything out of desperation or feeling pressured. As long as baby is doing well, breech position is not harmful prior to labor. Wishing you the best....Nurse Midwife Mom of 3

I had a version performed with DD. It was done in the hospital, but I wasn't given anything, I was not hooked up to anything, except a monitor for the baby's heartbeat and I had a doctor who knew what he was doing and came highly recommended for just this procedure (my primary caregiver was a midwife who referred me).
The version was NOT painful AT ALL. I had heard all the horror stories before hand about someone who knew someone... but from my personal experience NO PAIN. The doctor lubed up my belly with plenty of ultrasound gel to reduce the friction as well. The most uncomfortable part was pushing up my daughter's butt out of my pelvis, because it meant a lot of pressure on my bladder (go pee beforehand) - but that was just uncomfortable not painful.
The doctor attempted it three times, on the third attempt my DD got the hint, turned around and stayed head down. She was born just 4 days later via nice and relatively fast vaginal birth.

I had a breech baby and tried EVERYTHING to move him. I was 9 months pregnant doing "handstand" type exercises and burning moxi-sticks by my baby toe (some reflexology thing) that's supposed to encourage them to move. He moved ALL OVER THE PLACE - but never got heads down. His head was literally stuck under one of my ribs - my hubs said they had to YANK him out when they did the c-section. I never had the external procedure done but i've heard it's quite painful and normally doesn't stay.

Sometimes if they are breech it's for a reason - ya know - like being stuck - and all the manipulation isn't going to change that. Try all the methods if you want but prepare yourself for a c-section. :-(