Breach Pregnancy

Updated on July 02, 2008
D.D. asks from Everett, WA
50 answers

My sister has a baby who's breach (she's 37.5 weeks). Dr.s are scared it will be born behind first. Do any of you have experience with this? Are there exercises? Dr.s want to turn the baby. Any homeopathic remedies you recommend? Any advice would be helpful.

What are the chances of baby turning on its own.

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your responses. My sister decided to have the baby via C-section last Monday and is now recovering. She tried acupuncture and tried to have the baby turned. She was also walking more. To no avail.

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A.S.

answers from Eugene on

If her doctor is scared, this is not so great. Even this late in the pregnancy, she could find another doctor. Or better yet a midwife. C-section has many of its own problems, and there is no reason why most breech babies can't be born vaginally (as long as the attendant is experienced with breech birth, which most doctors aren't these days). Also - she and her partner could talk with the baby directly - realizing that there may be an important physical reason the baby is breech - but it could also be a psychological reason, so communicating with the baby could help with that.

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L.Z.

answers from Anchorage on

1. pulsatilla
2. Webster tech with chiro
3. headstands in pool
4. talking/ music to direct head down

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L.S.

answers from Seattle on

The exercise that I heard is to prop up pillows or an ironining board against the couch and to lie upside down for about 20 minutes at a time. This is suppose to be done a few times a day.

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T.R.

answers from Portland on

D., I had a breach baby 11 months ago, born eventually via C-Section. Here is what I tried:

I was working with a midwife/Naturopath. She tried turning the baby manually around 35 weeks, which for some reason I was instincly against. She used much less force and more time than a normal doctor would have and it was very h*** o* me. It hurt physically, but mostly emotionally. I felt that if my baby hadn't turned there was a reason. I feel that this is what are bodies are made for...if the system breaks down, I feel there is a reason.

We tried the turn and the baby moved slightly but literally placed it's foot against my pelvis and braced itself. So, we stopped on my direction and on the advice of the midwife.

I also tried hypnotherapy which I heard could work. I had planned to do more, but my water broke shortly after that appointment, at 37 weeks.

My baby was butt first as well, which I'm told is better than feet first since the butt is shaped more like the head and can help open the birth path. Since it was my first child, my Naturopath said it would be very risky to birth the baby naturally so we opted for a C-Section. All went very well and the hospital staff was very supportive of getting me right back to the room for skin to skin contact and nursing. They delayed all the typical procedures of weight, wash, etc. until I was ready (which was the next day or so). If they understand your wishes clearly and know it's important to you, they will often do as you wish. And, if for some reason the nurse you have isn't supportive of your wishes, appoint an advocate to get another nurse in there who is.

I have heard of several people who's baby's were manually turned and all went fine, but I've also heard of those that turned and then turned back.

In my case, my gut feeling was there for a reason. There was a physical reason my baby had not turned. His skull was fused and he probably wouldn't have made it out the birth canal, since his head would not have been able to mold. I would have ended up in an emergency situation.

Bottom line: the mom should trust her gut and her baby. If she feels wrong about the manually turning and feels her baby would not want that, then don't do it. If she feels ok with it, I see no harm in trying.

Best of luck to your sister. Tell her to have a wonderful birth experience. That baby will be born either way and she will be holding a beautiful being in her arms! And, that is what really matters in the end.

P.S. If your sister doesn't have the birth experience she dreamt of, it can be difficult, so help her process her feelings after the birth. I went through a greiving process of not having the home water birth I had planned. All in all, it all worked out perfectly though!

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C.N.

answers from Seattle on

Hello

I am in the same boat as your sister. I am 37.5 weeks with a breech baby girl. So, let me share with you what I have learned. It is possible to have the baby turned by a Doctor ( it's called " Version " )but it's only done in week 37. Not before and not after. And It's only done after an Ultrasound in which the Dr. makes sure there is
A- enough room
b- enough fluid
C- everything OK with the Amb. Cord

All the dr's I have seen all say the same thing: women DO NOT give birth to breech babys. If the Dr. can NOT turn her in week 37 your will have a c-section.
Has your sisters OB/GYN said anything to your sister about a poss. c- section? Maybe your sister needs to ask the question.
Hope this was a little bit helpful.

Blessings to you and your sister

CHris

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N.M.

answers from Portland on

There are all kinds of "old wives tales" and different homeopathic things to try and get the baby to turn but it's really all just hit and miss. It may or may not work. If nothing she tries works let the doctors try to turn the baby, it may or may not work. If it doesn't they will more than likey do a c-section.

My son was head down thoughout my entire pregnancy - literally was never, ever head up. Until a week before we were to induce. He flipped over. I didn't even know it except I was going in for an ultrasound. Within two days he flipped back. Again, only knew through ultrasound. He was a very active baby so I never felt anything different when he did his flips. Two days after he flipped back over we induced. He was 8 pounds, 12 ounces and 21 inches. Yeah, you would have thought I would have felt something during his acrobatics. If he hadn't flipped himself the docs were going to try a version, turning the baby, and then c-section if that didn't work.

Good luck!

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J.M.

answers from Anchorage on

My 3 year old was breach the morning before he was born. He turned right before I went into labor. My 1 month old turned breach from being head down I had to have a c-section! So there is a chance the baby will turn on its own.

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W.C.

answers from Seattle on

My 10lb .5oz so was breach until 3 weeks before he was born. And my doctor was going to turn him. My son turned himself during the middle of the night. I lifted six inches of the bed. It didn't hurt, but it was a big surprise and much easier than a breach birth.

Let the doctor turn the baby--it easier on everybody.

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L.G.

answers from Eugene on

This is the Pomo Indian way of dealing with breech birth. I've had a great deal of success with it.

The husband and wife change sides of the bed. He sleeps on her side and she on his every single night until the baby is born. This makes the baby uncomfortable and so she/he changes from head up to head down.

In Europe they break the baby's shoulder to make the delivery happen. Too much pain!

Yes, there are homeopathic remedies for birth. Look them up in the books of John Hodge Clark. These are the best.
If you want the best homeopath in the business contact me and I will forward his name and e-mail to you. He is German and has permission to work in this country.

L.-Maggie

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K.M.

answers from Seattle on

Do you know the cat cowl (not sure on that spelling) in yoga? Look that up, I hear that can help and also acupuncture has been recommended.

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D.R.

answers from Seattle on

Hi D.,

Breech births are a bit of a hot topic in today's world and sadly, most people in our society don't have a lot of info. regarding them any more. Because your sister has SO many options and there is a lot of info. regarding breech babies, I would like to give you a link to a good site regarding breech. I also wanted to say that depending on where your sister is located, there are docs that are very comfortable delivering a breech baby. She does have options even if baby doesn't turn. Let me know if you need any help finding anyone. Here's that link:
http://www.spinningbabies.com/index.php?option=com_conten... If you copy and paste it it'll take you right to the section on breech.

D.
A Blessed Birth Doula Services
Shelton, WA
###-###-####

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D.F.

answers from Seattle on

Hi D.:

RE your sister's baby's breech presentation, acupuncture is generally quite effective at turning a breech baby, although we generally like to see the mom in week 34 (37 is a bit late, but still possible). If she is open, she should see an acupuncturist right away. The acupuncturist will work on a point on her small toe and will probably not even use needles. Otherwise, OB's have a technique in which they manually reposition the baby, which is considerably less comfortable. While it is possible for your sister's baby to reposition itself naturally, it's not very likely at this point as there is less room for the baby to move around given her/his increasing size and the accompanying lack of space in the uterus. Good luck to your sister!

D. Ferdana, L.Ac.

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R.G.

answers from Spokane on

There is an acupuncture technique that is 75% effective for turning breach babies. It is far more comfortable on mom and baby than an M.D. external version and if the baby doesn't turn with the technique alone it often makes the external version more effective.
I am an acupuncturist and momma in Spokane and am taking new clients. My number is ###-###-####.

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J.B.

answers from Eugene on

Hi D.,
There is an acupuncture point that can correct the baby's position, even up to the time she's going through labor. Encourage your sister to consider going to see a Licensed Acupuncturist---any acupuncturist who has been trained will know the point I'm talking about!
Jennifer

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N.W.

answers from Eugene on

My 2nd baby was breech and I did the exercises, (lying on my back with pelvis elevated) and they worked. She flipped herself one night and wow, that was a strange sensation! I was not as far along as your sister. It has been awhile but I saved the instructions so if you cannot find them on the internet, send me a message and I'll go look in my files.

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M.M.

answers from Portland on

Hey D.!

I was born breach and my mother delivered me naturally (no meds even!). My mom said the only thing that was different about my birth versus my brothers' births (who were all in the correct position), was the doctor checked my heartbeat after every push and they had equipment brought into the room so that if they needed to do a c-section, they were ready to go.

Other than that, it was fine.

I know doctors today prefer to do a c-section if the baby is in a breach position - no doubt due to possible lawsuits as well as the slight increase in risk. But, breach babies can actually be delivered naturally with no complications.

Good luck to her!

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S.J.

answers from Spokane on

Find a chiropractor who is certified in the webster technique......it works!

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E.B.

answers from Seattle on

Hello Diane,
I am a Classical Homeopath and know that Pulsatilla in 1M potency has often turned this around. Other more specific-to-the-patient remedies may also be required.
I'd be happy to help :)
In Health,
E. Brandegee
###-###-####

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K.D.

answers from Eugene on

My baby was the same way. The dr. literally just lotioned up his hands and started "massaging" my belly until the baby turned herself around. It didn't take long at all, and it wasn't painful in the slightest. I had my baby in Montana and I will tell you that they do things a bit differently than here, but in a good way. In my opinion, sometimes Dr's are a little too quick with their "procedures", especially with babies. Do we forget that our bodies were literally built for this function?? Tell yor sister to hang in there and good job to you for going out and looking for an alternative!

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S.W.

answers from Portland on

i have seen doctors and heard the advice from doctors to spend time on your elbows and knees to help encorage the baby to turn. my sister in law had to do this when she was in labor with her first child she was sideways and then was face up. she turned finally and came out fine. good luck!! just keep a positive outlook and remember the goal is a healthy child and not the how it came out.

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S.E.

answers from Portland on

i birthed both of my twins breech. My son was a frank breech. My daughter was a posterior footling. Pushing out a breech baby is the same as pushing out a vertex (head first baby). If the DR is willing to allow her to push the baby out she needs to be able to be in an upright position. This means on her knees, on her feet holding on to someone, or squatting position. This is not a time to be on her back or or supine position. Most Dr's haven't seen a breech birth since they will do a c-section just to make sure that a baby doesn't get stuck. It is not part of their training to learn how to deal with a breech birth.

i had a friend who had a breech baby up until the week she gave birth and then he flipped. She went and saw a chiropractor and didn't help. She also saw another DR who had her laying on a triangle shaped pillow with her rump on the end that sat furthest in the air. The theory there was that would have the baby move further in to the uterine cavity and allow baby to turn. She did that for 20 minutes a day. My son was head down up until the day I went into labor and he flipped into a breech position. My daughter came out the best way for her. she had a dent in her head and potentially wouldn't have survived coming out head first.

If your sister really wants a vaginal birth have her find a midwife. Most should be comfortable with a breech birth. She can go to http://mana.org/memberlist.html to find a licensed midwife.

S.

S.

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K.Z.

answers from Portland on

Lots of things she can do! First of all, don't panic!!!

There are excercises to turn the baby, do a google search or ask your Dr, mine gave me a handout to do at home. They worked, but my baby would turn back around and wouldn't stay put! This was 36-38 wks when I was able to turn him. I had a Version at 38 or 39 wks, I forget exactly. I swore I had him head down that morning, but when we went to the appt he was feet or butt down again (there are 4 different breech positions). I won't lie, the procedure does HURT! But it does not take long, just a couple minutes. Then you have to stay for a hour or so while the Drs monitor everything. I guess things could go wrong (but true with any delivery situation) or the baby could turn back around right away. Mine actually stayed put until delivery. He kind of stopped moving too after that, whereas before he had been extremely active. I think his head was engaged in my pelvis and he knew he was supposed to stay put, plus he kept growing and for sure had less room to maneuver around in there.

I wish I had tried other things first, before allowing the Dr to do the Version. OR had just trusted my baby to flip on his own, but I was an anxious first time mom! Many babies turn on their own right up until delivery. Maybe if I had let mine do his own thing I would not have suffered through back labor because he was facing the wrong way!

Find a good acupunturist and try moxibustion. (I know one if you are in Portland! Her office is near the zoo.) Or if you know a good chiropractor, they can do the Webster technique.

On a side note, it is quite sad that Doctors are so afraid to deliver breech babies these days. My mom delivered 4 breech babies back in the 70's! Midwives still do it. I wonder what is the big deal, all I can think is liability for the Drs. Easier to do a C-section, forget about the recovery time for the mother, at least the Dr didn't have to take any risks. JMHO. Watch the movie called "The Business of Being Born!"

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K.B.

answers from Seattle on

My son (5mos now) was breach. I did a lot of research on the prospect of having the baby turned. In the end, it seemed too much of a risk for a low potential gain. There are risks associated with having the baby manually turned, which are all on the baby and with the success rate around 65%-70% that the baby will even stay in that position, it just wasn't worth it. I opted for a c-section. I don't regret that decision at all.

I think there are a lot of home remedies out there that are always worth a shot, but in the end, if you have to have a c-section, that's ok too.

Good Luck!

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H.T.

answers from Anchorage on

My younger daughter was in a breach position and turned herself the right way before delivery. Sometimes doctors can teach you exercises that would help encourage a baby to turn. I've also heard of some people making an appointment at a hospital and having a professional push on mothers stomach in a certain way to try to force the baby to turn. Sometimes though nothing works and you have to do a breach delivery anyway.I will pray that her baby turns like mine did.
H. T.

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J.K.

answers from Seattle on

Great responses by all! I found out my little guy was in a frank breech position at 36 weeks. I tried all home remedies listed on the websites referenced in other responses (lying upside down, in yoga positions, swimming, using ice, using music, having husband talk down low to baby, etc.) I also tried accupuncture (I have a good recommendation in the Seattle area). The accupuncturist I went to was a former OB-GYN from China. In her experience, accupuncture is 95% successful in turning a breech baby before 36 weeks. (Of course, this is the time babies are turning on their own anyway . . .) After 36 weeks she indicated that the success rate goes way down. Despite her poor prognosis I tried six sessions. No luck! Although I must say that even though I was very suspicious of accupuncture, the sessions were extremely relaxing if nothing else!

I also tried two external versions to turn the baby from the outside. My doctors/midwives indicated there was VERY little risk to the baby in trying either of them. One was done at 37 weeks and one at 38 weeks. Neither were successful.

On doctors advice we ended up having a planned c-section at 39 weeks. I had no other complications with my pregnancy, but the doctors were concerned with the complications and potential risks of delivering a breech baby vaginally. I was very disapointed at the time, but looking back on it I am happy with the way it turned out. I felt like I did everything I could to try to get my little guy to turn. The c-section went extremely well, and the recovery was quick and fairly easy considering.

Best of luck to your sister in whatever she decides to do! Tell her not to worry and if she tries some of the home remedies they should make her smile and laugh!

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C.F.

answers from Portland on

I have a friend who read about turning babies in the womb. She also had a breach. Do some research online. There are ways. She said that what she did was to lean an ironing board up against the couch and lay down on it (with her head at the ground and her feet up). After she broke her ironing board, she found other ways to lay in this position. Then, she turned on soft music and talked to her baby and massaged her stomach in a clockwise position. It took 45 minutes and her baby was then turned. She was 38 weeks.

I'd definitely research this and other methods. I am not sure of all the details... but it worked for my friend.

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A.S.

answers from Richland on

Hi D.,
A baby can turn at the last minute if they choose to, my youngest did during the last week of pregnancy, though he was in a good position before he turned, I just knew he did because loads of pressure came off my bladder, so do let her know that if she suddenly can't stay off the toilet that it would be a very good sign, means the thinner head has sunken into place.

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C.P.

answers from Bellingham on

My youngest was breach at 36 weeks and the Dr told me to get on my hands and knees and rock my pelvis. It helped turn her around and stay head down.

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J.O.

answers from Corvallis on

find a good accupuncturist! I know of one in the Corvallis area.

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H.W.

answers from Seattle on

My little sister just had this happen to her. The doc told her there best option was a C section and when she went in to get it they found the baby had turned. I personally wouldn't freak out about it. I would let the docs try to turn the baby and wait and see. If its her first she will probably have the baby after 40 weeks, the doc knows the situation and will keep an eye on it and make recomendations as they see fit. I think a sort of child pose, hands and knees butt up in the air head on hands is suppose to help the baby turn. I have also heard shining a flash light in the bottem of your belly can get babies to turn. Also make sure your supporting your sister, being on her side no matter her decisions and how you feel about them.

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O.A.

answers from Portland on

I am a midwife, so I have some experience with this. In my opinion, it should be okay try the external version (having the doctor try to move the baby), but only with very close monitoring and with the understanding that it might not work. Like others have said, the baby could still move right up until the last moment, or there may be a good reason why it's breach (very short cord, for example). When I have patients with breach pregnancies, I instruct them to try an exercise in which the mother gets on all fours, but lies her head and shoulders down on the floor (bed, couch, wherever), so her butt is sticking up in the air. She then rocks her pelvis back and forth, up and down. She should try to do about 20 minutes of this three times a day. The idea is that it will help to open up her pelvis and use gravity to reposition the baby in the correct orientation. Quite honestly, though, I've only observed moderate success with these exercises. Sometimes babies turn, sometimes they don't! But the exercises are gentle and low-impact--they won't hurt anything and if they help, so much the better. Therefore, I think they're worth a try. I would definitely do them in the same situation!

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S.W.

answers from Portland on

i found out my babay was breech, also but down, about the same time in my pregnancy and we did several things to turn him:
1) moxabustion - which you get through an acupuncturist but then can do at home with your partner. this is a very well respected way of turning breech babies and has a fairl yhigh success rate.
2) while in a swimming pool, do head stands to "fool" the baby to switch.
3) listen to the brandanburg concertos (while doing the moxa). yes i know this is odd, but apparently it has been tested and it actually has been shown to work.
4) lying on a n incline with your head at the bottom. for example placing an ironing board with one end on the floor and other probbed on a chair. again do this while listined to the concertos.
5) visualization and talking to the baby.
6) the webster method, done my a chiropractor. I didn't have to do this becasue my baby turned before i had a chance to make an appointment. many chiroparcators do this, but if your sister is in portland, i reccomend rebeccas hgginson at whole mama whole child.

my baby did turn before we had to do the medical "version" but i honestly can't say it was becasue of any of the things we did, but i like to think so. i hope tis helpes and good luck.

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J.H.

answers from Portland on

Hello,
My 2nd child was breach until 38 weeks. They wanted to do an external version which we decided against as the majority of the babies turn back to breach before birth anyway. I have a friend who is a NICU nurse and has seen it done and said it was quite awful, the mama is literally left black and blue. Babies are breach for a reason and drs don't quite get that. For instance if the procedure would have been done on me my son would have gone into distress because his cord was too short and I would have had an emergency c-section. He actually flipped all on his own right after 38 weeks and stayed head down. He was 9lbs 11oz so that was a big baby doing a summersalt! There are many things she can do to try and turn the baby. She can lay on a board at an incline and babies don't like that so they flip. If the baby does turn she needs to do lots of squats to help settle the baby down into the pelvis. Unfortunately drs don't know how to deliver breach babies vaginally anymore so the option is a midwife. It is completely safe if you have a trained person who knows what to do. Most babies will turn on their own by birth so she still has time. Drs will freak out though and in turn freak her out. How well I remember that part! I also went to a chiropractor who knew some adjustments to help loosen the ligaments that hold the uterus tight and then in turn help the baby to move. Good luck!

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J.B.

answers from Seattle on

My baby girl (now 4 months) was discovered to be breech at 37 weeks. It came as a bit of a surprise, and the drs were worried that she might come breech too. They said that most doctors are no longer trained to deliver breech babies.

They used a medical procedure called a version to try to turn my baby. It works about 50% of the time, and then they were going induce labor afterward to keep baby from turning back. Basically what they did was put their hands on my abdomen and try to forcibly guide baby around to a normal position. The procedure is completely safe, but it is about as painful as labor (or so I've been told). I had my doula with me for it. In my case it didn't work, so the doctors scheduled me a c-section and took baby a week early. I was a little disappointed because I had hoped to birth naturally, but once I had my baby I really didn't mind anymore.

Here are some websites with home techniques that we also used. They didn't work for me either, but there's no harm in trying.

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregna...

http://www.mother-care.ca/breech.htm#deep

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F.G.

answers from Anchorage on

When my mom was pregnant with my brother he was doing flips all the way up untill the day he was born. The Drs did try to flip him and when they did he turned right back around. he did end up turning head first the day the Drs induced but this is extremely rare. most babies dont flip posistions after a certain point in the pregnancy. as far as any remedies i really dont know any maybe she should just try and put pressure above one side of the baby and see if thats enough to make it flip on its own. good luck to your sister!

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N.M.

answers from Seattle on

Acupuncture works for turning babies. Good luck to your sister!

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E.W.

answers from Portland on

My second child was breech up until going into the delivery room. I went into the hospital 2 days before I was scheduled to be induced to have him turned. No, it wasn't pleasant! But it worked. The medical staff had me and the baby monitored quite well throughout the process. I was not concerned about the baby's well-being. However, when I went in for my appointment to be induced the stinker had turned himself back around into the breech position. Again they turned him around and I had a normal vaginal birth. (With the exception of having to hold him into position because he kept trying to turn himself. Seventeen years later you still can't make him do anything he doesn't want to do.) In my opinion a C-section should be the last resort. I'm sure it means more money for the doctor and hospital, and the recovery time is much longer than a vaginal delivery.

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J.H.

answers from Portland on

I personally do not have experience, but one of my best friends just dealt with it in her first pregnancy. Her doctors also wanted to turn the baby, but after research my friend and her husband decided against it. Turning the baby is VERY stressfull on the baby and painful for mom. Also, her research found that I believe 75% of the time, the baby will turn back to the breech position because that is what they feel comfortable in. Once my friend made the decision not to turn the baby, her doctor scheduled a C-Section without any argument and agreed it was a personal choice. This was a relief to her.

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L.D.

answers from Medford on

A good way to get babys to turn is by the mother inverting herself (yoga head stand or shoulder stand). If that is physically possible for mom, she should try it. Assisted of course. good luck

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M.W.

answers from Seattle on

Here is a link to a site that deals with this issue:
http://birthinternational.com/articles/andrea13.html

I have two close friends who used the moxa sticks to turn their babies successfully. Perhaps contacting a midwife or a naturopath might also be helpful.

My sister-in-law went in for her last appointment before her due date and was told since the baby was breech, she had to have a c-section...liability issues. She was okay with it, but I certainly would not be. I would have tried every remedy listed on the above website!

best wishes to your sister and you

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L.M.

answers from Portland on

She may want to see an acupuncturist. There have been good studies done using moxibustion (moxa) on a point on the baby toe (BL-67). I did it for my baby and she did turn around.

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J.S.

answers from Seattle on

Is this her first baby? My sister-in-law delivered her baby breech with no problems, (she even said it was easier!) but it was her 5th baby. My 2nd daughter had not turned yet at my 38 week visit, and we talked about our options, including manual turning of the baby. Another sister-in-law had this done and said it was extremely painful. On top of that her son flipped back the next day, then turned properly during labor and was born just fine! I opted for always sitting on chairs backwards (I explained to my co-workers why I had to do this and they understood, thankfully), sitting Taylor-fashion on the floor rather than on couches/chairs at home, and held a flashlight to my belly where the midwife told me to. I don't know when it happened - she was always so painfully active!- but by my due date visit my daughter had turned herself around and stayed that way until she was born 10 days later.
Just do some of the exercises, pray that everything will work out, and if the baby hasn't turned by delivery time then she can cross that bridge when she comes to it. Midwives are good sources for activities that help turn babies. Dr's just want to cut them out, which is not good for mom or baby.

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M.B.

answers from Portland on

I have heard that turn is not very successful but will keep your sis. in my prayers

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T.H.

answers from Seattle on

Hi - I had that happen with my first child. He was breach and we went through the whole process of trying to have him turned. That is a painful and somewhat strange process, but it did not work. I had a C-section. It really is not a big deal unless the doctor is saying there is a problem with the baby...it is a bummer not to give birth naturally, but so much nicer in many ways too! I would not worry about it at all...you never know, maybe the baby will turn on its own before and maybe not but either way you will have a wonderful addition to the family!

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D.L.

answers from Seattle on

I was a big fan for the external aversion (where the doctors turn the baby) until I knew someone who's baby died from it just a week or two before due date. :-( Now it scares me too much to suggest to anyone. Most women I know schedule a c-section to be safe. However, the one other technique we learned in birth class (and it's a funny one) is to have the daddy (or partner) talk to the baby down at the mother's crotch often throughout the last few weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes it works because the baby responds to his/her voice and turns around on his/her own. I don't know what the success rate is, but it can't hurt and has to make you laugh and have fun while doing it! Tell your sister congrats on her new baby!!! :-)

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D.B.

answers from Seattle on

I had a breech pregnancy. I was trying all the natural things 1st instead of trying to do the transverse (since I heard it was painful) like having my feet on a higher stairs and the rest of my body down lower (that was a tad scary, not recommended), then I tried downward dog (a yoga position, it was rather comfy and gave me a reason to put my big booty in the air), then I told myself to start bending over to clean up my other girls toys without swatting... NONE of it worked. At 36weeks my water broke, probably due to high blood pressure, my dr did an ultrasound realized my little 4th girl was still up high and breech position. Dr tried to do a transverse in the hospital it didn't work and it hurt like a mo-fo... So it was a c-section that was my option, or not.. When dr was getting ready to getting Lexi out of the incision she was nice enough to come out head 1st that way.. So in a matter of 15mins she turned herself! I am very excited to deal with this little one b/c of what another mom message said.. Doesn't want to be controlled :) I had my 4th one in 2006. I hope this helps...

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C.F.

answers from Seattle on

You can try acupuncture, there's a point on the 5th toe by the nail that has been used for turning the baby. Sometimes even pressure on the point will do the trick. There are also yoga poses that may help. Best of luck!!!

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K.S.

answers from Eugene on

Someone recently told me to do head stands under water. I don't know if the under water thing works, but it could be worth a try. I am pregnant with twins and the first one in position for birth is in the breach position, too. Good Luck.

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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

Someone just asked this question last week, read heidi's question titled "transverse at 34 weeks..." for some good responses! I asked the same question in late november 2007 if you look through past requests too.

If you go into labor with a breech baby the cord can get wrapped around their neck and you have to have an emergency c-section.

I was advised by many people not to have the dr. perform an external version, and I didn't and I'm glad I didn't, very uncomfortable and I know of two people who lost babies during it.

I tried the webster technique (performed by a chiropractor), acupuncture with moxa, having my husband/daughter talk and shine a flashlight on my lower belly, stretched on all fours, and laid upside down on a board. Nothing worked because it turned out my baby was too big and my placenta was in a weird position.

I had a wonderful c-section, actually preferred it to my first (vaginal) birth, and have zero regrets, it wasn't scary or as bad as I originally thought!

There are chances the baby can still turn, even on delivery day, but I personally wouldn't take the chance of waiting until labor, I scheduled my c-section, kept up the chiro/acu treatments, and prayed that if it was meant to be she would turn. I had them check before surgery to make sure she hadn't turned, but am glad she came out not as an emergency had I waited until I went into labor. Like someone else said, it doesn't matter how they get here just that they are healthy!

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E.J.

answers from Seattle on

My sisters baby was also breech and because of other risk factors (she has a heart condition)they ended up doing a c-section, but they did talk to her about turning the baby although they said that only works about 50% of the time. The other thing they told her was to spend 30 minutes on her hand and knees everyday and that is supposed to give the baby room to turn. All that said, my mother-in-law gave birth to my husband breech and she did it without drugs! Amazing Lady! So tell your sister it can be done! My sister and I decided that a baby staying breech is just his or her way of letter the momma know right away that you cannot control your baby!!! Baby is in charge! Good luck to your sister and regardless she will have a wonderful baby soon and how he or she got here won't matter as much!

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