Hi all! So I have a question for my brother and sister-in-law and hoped that some of you wonderful ladies could help. My sister-in-law is due with her 3rd child in about 2 weeks. At her ultrasound and appointment about a week and a half ago all was good and she was ready to go, baby was in correct position and she was dilated almost to 3. She was having major contractions about 5 days later and went in to see her doctor. The baby had turned and is now breech. Her doctor has scheduled an appointment to try to turn the baby on Tuesday. In the meantime the doctor has told her to get on all four on the floor to try to give her enough space to turn. She has heard (and so have I) that attempting to turn the baby is painful and there is no guarantee. She was also told that once they are done they will send her home and that she may very well turn again. My question is multifaceted:
Have any of you had experience with manually turning a breech baby? If you have what was your experience, did it work, etc.
Have any of you had a baby at this late stage of a pregnancy "right" itself on it's own and did you know when it happened.
Usually I can help her out with all of her questions but in this case I just didn't have enough information so I'm turning it over to you. All of your help is greatly appreciated!
I was in this situation last year. From what I know, if the baby was able to turn from right to wrong it should be able to turn back. My baby was too big to turn right but never was right to begin with.
I was too scared to try the version (turning) after hearing how painful it was, statistics, and others' personal experiences and am glad I didn't try. I preferred to have a planned c-section than try the version and end up with an emergency c-section if the cord got wrapped around the baby, or if it worked and she turned again.
I did the all fours, upside down position, flashlight and music on my lower belly, acupuncture with moxa, and chiropractic webster technique but had a great c-section experience and would choose it all over again!
I know people who have had the baby turn (one after labor had started) through prayer (as they attribute it and I would agree but obviously that is a matter of faith)
but more normally, the midwifery community might be able to help out. I've read about the all-fours method, but I hadn't heard it was painful (perhaps that is such a Known Fact that the midwife literature didn't feel the need to mention it for those of us sneaking a peek into their conversation). There were also discussions of other things: other positions, homeopathy, acupuncture ... and of course discussions of breech births, which are still largely accepted within the midwifery community (state laws may mandate what a licensed midwife can do; in Oregon for instance I am pretty sure a licensed midwife can't deliver a known breech, although a non-licensed one can choose to ... but that requirement actually pushes midwives to gather all the knowledge they can about how to turn breech babies, which is probably not a bad thing ;) ).
If your SIL is open to such things, she could contact a naturopath with a women/birth focus, or a midwife with a naturopathic focus, or add the more "woo woo" type of chiropractic (the kind that works more openly with body energies) or a woman/baby acupuncturist (again, looking for one that more openly acknowledges body energies, because a strict-to-'science' acupuncturist will be fixing only the mom's direct qi flows, by the book, and turning a baby would require acknowledging the energy and effort dance inherent in pregnancy, birth, and childrearing.
'K, that's my "woo woo" answer for today ;).
I hope no matter what her birth is like that it is beautiful. The one one one universal thing is to minimize fear--fear guarantees pain and trouble in birth in a more immediate way than in the rest of life ( ;) ), and hope and trust lead us to joy ... no matter what the process ends up being.
Oregon law does allow Midwives to birth breech babies, Birthing centers are not licensed for birthing Breech babies.
External Versions (which is what your SIL's appointment is) can be painful. It doesn't always mean that the baby will stay that way. T J had many of the alternate ways to turn the baby. The one that I have seen the most success with is talking to the baby (both Mom and Dad) and asking it to turn or in some cases ordering it to turn. The other one that I have seen have better luck with is laying on the back with the pelvis tipped up, so that the baby is forced to move back into the torso area, which allows room for baby to rotate if it is stuck in the pelvic floor.
If your SIL is scared of any of this have her talk to midwives with in the hospital (if she is going through a hospital) some of them are willing to work with breech babies.
Birthing breech babies does carry a slightly higher risk of issues if the person who is monitoring the birth doesn't know how to deal with them, but a well trained midwife would have experience and would know what to do if there are issues. This is coming from a Mom who delivered twin breech babies.
I did not have this happen to myself, fortunately :) But being a homeopathic practitioner know that we commonly use the remedy Pulsatilla in 1M potency to turn the baby around. Many midwives either know how to use essential pregnancy/birthing/postpardum remedies or consult us. She might want to try the Pulsatilla, email me for instructions/where to get it.
Wishing her well,
Liz
Good morning! i have had this procedure done while late in my third trimester. The procedure was not painful and was successful. Our son turned with a little nudging from the physician. Prior to undergoing this procedure I was informed that it can be uncomfortable, cause bruising and may induce labor so make sure that everyone is ready for the "potentials". Good luck to your sister in law.
My first child was head-up. The doctor tried turning her. It was very painful and did not work. I had my dauther by c-section the next week. Then I had my son naturally 2 years later. Just warn your sister-in-law that it is painful and it does not always work. It is worth a try if she wants to have a normal delivery. Would I try it again, of course, it was 10 years ago.
Hands and knees is a great start.
If she can go in for some acupuncture that might also help. Or chiropractic adjustment might also help.
Some babies keep turning up until they are born.
Here are a few other things.
1. Visualizing the baby moving down with the head very deep in your pelvis, several times a day; especially in conjunction with positions and exercises below.
2. Swimming as often as possible. This keeps your body and pelvis loose and relaxed. Do in conjunction with headstand below if you have help.
3. Headstand - with assistance and in a pool frequently as possible.
4. Breech Tilt - begin at 32-35 weeks gestation. Do 3 times daily for 10-15 minutes each time, when you have an empty stomach, and the baby is active. Prop one end of an ironing board securely on a sofa or chair 12 to 18 inches high (or may use slant board). Lie down, bend knees but keep feet flat on board. Relax, breathe deeply, avoid tensing. May also use pillows on a flat surface to raise hips 12-18" above shoulders. Gravity pushes the baby's head into the fundus, tucks it, and baby can then do a somersault to a vertex position.
5. CD/iPod headphones - place them inside mom's pants toward her pubic bone and play classical music for 10 minutes 6-8 times a day.
6. Flashlight - try moving slowly down from the top of the uterus toward your pubic bone while you are in a breech tilt position.
7. Massage - start with your left hand at the bottom of the abdomen and your right hand just above it. Move move your hands clockwise around the right side of your tummy. As your right hand reaches the top of your abdomen, slide the left one over your right and move it down the left side of your tummy. Your left hand leads as you you come full circle, continuing clockwise. Massage gently as you would to apply lotion. Massage for ten minutes or more up to several times each day.
8. Clothespin - place on the small toe of each foot at the outside corner of the toenail; sideways so that the toenail and toepad are stimulated for 30 minutes per day, this is an acupressure point that is a "moving down" point. You can also do this with just finger pressure as you remember to do it.
9. Motion Sickness band - place with the bead four fingerwidths above the inner ankle bone - another acupressure point that is used for stimulation of the uterus. Do not use this point if you are experiencing any pre-term labor.
10. Glass of orange or other juice - follow this with a side-lying position with your hips positioned higher than your feet. Babies move more after a sugar high!
11. Pelvic Tilt- with an ice pack on the top of your tummy on an empty stomach, 10 minutes twice a day. Do this while lying on your back on the floor with knees flexed and feet on the floor with three large pillows placed under your buttocks. Try this in conjunction with headphones and visualization.
12. Cat stretch - start with all fours, then lay your head and chest flat on the floor with your buttocks in the air, as you round your back and return to all fours.
13. Knee-chest position - by kneeling with hips flexed slightly more than 90 degree, but with thighs not pressing against your tummy and your head, shoulders and upper chest are flat on a mattress for 15 minutes every two waking hours for five days.
14. Belly Relaxing followed by Inversion - Partner places a shawl, sheet, towel or rebozo under mom's hips as she lays on the floor. Lift up on the corners of the cloth and shimmy her from side to side moving your hands up and down to wiggle her belly from side to side. These should be very small movements which mom should find very relaxing. Do this for about 5 minutes. Then mother kneels on the stairway landing. Walk your hands down 2 or 3 stairs into an all fours position; have your partner support your shoulders to balance you. Remain in this position for about 5-10 minutes or as long as comfortable. Also do this on an empty stomach.
The following techniques to turn breech babies to vertex involve the assistance of a specialist or medical professional:
Acupuncture - find a acupuncturist who is familiar with pregnancy and knows the points to stimulate for turning a breech baby.
Webster's Breech Technique - see a Chiropractor who is experienced in this technique.
External Version - this can be done in the hospital at about 37 weeks; see an Ob-Gyn for assistance and more information.
My second child was breech and we tried a version. It was rather uncomfortable and unsuccessful. I tried some of the ideas listed here as well but my little one just would not budge. We ended up having a c-section. When I compare my two birth experiences I actually prefer the c-section but that probably has more to do w/ the difficulties I experienced the first time around. Best of luck to your sister in law. I pray that no matter how it all turns out her baby is healthy and her recovery is smooth.
My advice to her is don't bother with the painful (and dangerous to the baby) procedure. One of my babies was fine for months, and then breech at my 39 week appointment. By the appointment on my due date she had turned and stayed that way until I delivered her 10 days later. My friend's baby turned during labor!
There is information online about the positions she should be putting herself in for the best chance of baby turning. She should sit Indian-style on the floor all the time, or if she has to sit in a chair she should sit backward. She should get on her hands and knees multiple times a day. (The heaviest part of the baby (head) will fall to the lowest point.) She can even add music and/or light to her lower pelvis to encourage baby to turn it's head to the sound/light.
Dancing - shifting weight from one foot to the other - with a partner or the wall helps, too, if she's leaning slightly forward with her legs spread a bit wider than shoulder width apart.
As a last resort, my sister in law delivered her baby knowing she was breech, and said it wasn't any harder than her other kids. However, some dr's won't do that because they're afraid of a lawsuit if something goes wrong. Anyway, she shouldn't worry. Odds are good that baby will turn within 2 weeks.
My doctor attempted to turn my breech baby. It was unsuccessful (we later found out the cord was wrapped around her neck) and very painful. This was 17 years ago and I was very young. I am sure it made more of an impact on me because of this.
A fantastic website that you can check out is www.spinningbabies.com. They have some great articles on turning breech babies as well as options that your sister in law has. This will give her the oppertunity to decide what she feels comfortable with and make a great informed decision from there. Hope this helps. If you need any more in-depth information or have any questions, please let me know.
Your poor sister-in-law! I found out my son was breech at 36 weeks pregnant. I tried getting on all fours, lying on my back with my feet in the air against the wall, and elevating the end of my bed with cinder blocks so the end was 6 inches higher than the head of the bed.
Nothing worked, so I did elect to try to have my doctor turn the baby. It was VERY painful as the baby had pressed up against a rib, and I'm pretty sure my rib was bruised in the process. I trusted my doctor and his success rate was about 50%. Your sister-in-law should ask her doctor the success rate before she considers trying this procedure.
I ended up having a scheduled c-section because the baby never turned and he was a "frank breech" meaning he was hugging his legs, so there was no way I was going to try a vaginal delivery.
I had an external cephalic version with my daughter last year, at about 37 weeks of pregnancy. She had turned breech by 34 weeks and all attempts to get her to turn back on her own were in vain.
The doctor who was turning her made it very clear that he would not FORCE her, just gently help her along. I had an ultrasound before the procedure and they hooked me up to the monitor for a while to make sure she was ok and also to see which way to turn her around.
The doctor slathered my belly in ultrasound gel, then pushed my lower belly up to lift her butt out of my pelvis. This was uncomfortable because if the pressure on my bladder. With his other hand her pushed on the side of my belly to show her to move. On the third try she got it and flipped around. After she turned they monitored me for another 30 min and I was told to walk a lot and remain upright after the procedure, which I did.
She remained vertex from then on and was born the next week after a nice and easy, speedy delivery, all natural without any drugs, which was what I had hoped for.
The procedure was not at all painful, just uncomfortable and I would do it again any time to get out of a sure c-section. It is true, that there is no guarantee, however, the doctor I saw was recommended by my midwife as the best baby-turner in Seattle, and I would definitely suggest that she asks around for someone with experience. He said he could get them to turn in most cases and had never go anything wrong. He also mentioned that the most important thing was to make sure beforehand, that the mother and baby are good candidates for a version (not heavily overweight, baby not too large or too small, enough amniotic fluid, no pre-term labor and a few other things).
Congrats and good luck to your sister.
My daughter was breech and I did the exercises that had me lie on my back with my hips elevated several times a day. After several days, she turned, and yes, I felt it! She stayed head down after that.
my baby was breech at 35 weeks. at 36 weeks i went in to have him manually turned....for me it was SOOOOOOO painful. you would have thought i was giving birth if you were standing outside of the room. the tried a few times but he just wouldnt flip. his butt was really low so they even tried to go in vaginally to help flip him (tmi!). i cried through the whole thing. i went home, my belly was so sore and bruised and i swore that i would never do that again. i tried the exercises but they never worked for me. i think my baby was too far along at 36 weeks to flip...he was just too big and too cozy. so i ended up scheduling a csection and to this day, if my next baby is breech...i will NOT try to manually turn the baby for a million reasons: mainly because it was too painful and i didnt like the chances of the babies cord wrapping around his neck or his heart rate going up or the potential of going into labor. although i will say that i saw a show where a woman's baby was being manually turned and she didnt even flinch. so i might just be really sensitive.
my son was breech as well and I had an appt to have him turned and i ended up cancelling it. after doing some research the success rate (65-70%) was not high enough to justify the potential risk to the baby by doing so, and there are significant (possible) risks. The people i spoke to that either had it done or knew someone that did said they would not do it again.
I ended up having a c-section, and although the recovery was a little longer for me than my first pregnancy, I would not have made a different decision.
My 1 month old was breech until a week before he was born. I did acupuncture and sitting upside down. We also went swimming and I did a whole bunch of flips.
Who know which helped, but he did turn. I had so much fluid that I did not realize he had turned until we did an ultrasound.
I personally had to go to great legnths to have a VBAC, including driving to OHSU for all my prenatal care and delivery. When I found out I had a breech baby, I was willing to do anything, and spent a lot of time lying inverted on an angled ironing board, finally, I went to an accupuncturist for a procedure called Moxibustion at the suggestion of my midwife. It's strange, but the baby turned that night and I delivered her naturally!