35 Weeks Along and Baby Is Breech...

My OB attempted to do an external version with my first child. It was the most painful thing that I ever experienced and it didn't even work!!! They gave me several sub q injections of trabutaline which made my heart beat really fast. I had two doctors pushing as hard as they could on my belly. Then I had to have a c-section anyway! It was a terrible experience that I would not wish on my worst enemy!

I was in the same situation. My doctor shared an old wise tale. I floated in a pool for 15 min immediately after having my first caffiene in months. The caffiene is to "wake the baby up" and the pool allows her to "float" to the right position. I will never know if that is what did it, but it worked for me!

Hi J.-I have had 4 children and did not have that experience. However-my midwife has an acupuncturist that has had wonderful success with that and it is all natural. She worked on me to help expedite my labor and is absolutely wonderful!! She does work out of an office on Rockwell in Chicago but will make house calls. You can reach the main office line at A Women's Place- ###-###-#### and they will be able to direct you to her.

I am not sure if she does referral discounts but tell her I sent you. They have a website www.womensplacechicago.com and if you go to www.acupuncture.com they have alot of info. My policy is do the research first before making ANY decisions. I only practice holistic and natural living.

If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Good luck

T. V.

Hi J.,
I am a labor and delivery RN, as well as a Certified Childbirth Educator.
First, your sweet baby certainly has time to move on her own. Hands and Knees, doing a pelvic rock works great, as does a laying on the floor with legs/feet up on the sofa....but/hips supported with pillows.
That said, using a birth ball(any stability ball) for these positions works awesome! Get on your knees and lean forward on the ball. and lay on the floor with your legs propped up on the ball.

Regarding the version, this safety of the version really depends on your OB. If you have faith in your practice, you can be confident they have your best interest at heart. The procedure is safe if done safely, in Labor and Delivery, with ultrasound, an IV access, and following a dose of a medication called terbutaline, which relaxes your uterus.
You can get IV pain medication vs. an epidural if you worry about pain. It can be quite uncomfortable, but this is limited to each attempt of turning your baby.
Epidurals come with their own risks, so this should be a decision between you and your OB.
They also won't do the procedure until your baby's heart rate is completely reassuring on the fetal monitor. Once the version is complete, successful or not, they will continue to monitor you on the fetal monitor you for awhile prior to sending you home.

You have already had a vaginal birth, you should do all you can to have a second vaginal birth. It is worth the try, and is often successful!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions....relax, you are almost there!!
You can check out my Pregnancy, Birth Consulting and Education business Website.
www.babyfeat.net. my email is on that website!

K.T.

Hi my name Is Debbie I'm a doula.. There are many things you can try that are online to help turn the baby. getting on hands and knee's on the floor. and other idea's. I hear the procdure the drs to do turn baby can be a bit painful but outweighs the recovery time of a c-section. Good luck! I have heard too , that the baby can flip back to breech. the main thing to focus on is healthy mom, healthy baby. any more support needed you can contact me at ____@____.com

good luck!

DEBBIE :)

My daughter was breech at that point too...my doctor told me to get on my hands and knees and arch my back (kind of like a cat) for a few seconds, then relax. He told me to do it a few times a couple times a day and it worked. By the time I went in for my next checkup, she had flipped!! Hope it works for you as well as it did for me. Good luck!!!!

J.,
My dad is an OBGYN and is totally against turning the baby. If not done absolutely "correct," it can cause serious harm to the baby (he has even witnessed a baby die due to the turning pinching the cord). A C-section is so much safer for you and the baby. Having a healthy baby and delivery is most important. Please don't do the external version (sp??). It is truly a risky procedure and doesn't always work. Congrats on your pregnancy and best of luck!! :)

You may want to try acupuncture.

Hi J.,
I am a sahm of five kids, and my third was breech until 3 days before I delivered. I was pretty much threatened with a c-section until I delivered. He was 10lbs and 12 oz, 22 inches long, so he was no small baby. Now after reading things about breech babies it is very common to babies to stay in that possition when you have close pregnancies, which I did and I see you do too, and when you tend to have fast labor. I did not so much have fast labor I was about average. However he did come in 2.5 hours from first contraction to delivery, I think now I was in labor for about 5 days before, he was also 9 days late. I did use a chiroprator in Warrenville, Dr. Borre, to help turn. She did acupuncture, and manipulation to turn the baby. Not sure if it was nature, the combination or just the chiro but I would do both again in a heartbeat. It was not painful it actually felt really good getting the adjustments. When he did turn I didnt even know it, but I did get a little sick to my stomach and that was my only clue. If you have any other questions please feel free to email me. I would not change a thing!
W.

Say hello to a c section, mama. It's just a bit tight in there and hard to turn at this point. My son did the same thing. I'm telling you, we had a profoundly radical birthplan, approved by all the doctors and the chief of ob-gyn, and yet Isaac insisted on staying double-footling breach, guaranteeing me a c section. I spent DAYS with my hips up on 3feet of stacked cushions, my broad hinnie in the air trying to get him to flip. The doctor sent me to someone to use the ultrasound and external version (massaging him to move) which has it's risks. Nothing moved. It didn't induce labor. The risk is tangling the baby in the cord, and having the heart rate go down.
But, if you go to a c section with good planning, a sense of humor, you can have an epidural and be awake for bonding, nursing and everything else. I had a vaginal birth the next time.
It's a longer recovery, you and the baby are drowsy for days/weeks. But it's not the end of the world. Better by far than a breech delivery with the head stuck in the birth canal.

Go Saluki's! Go to www.breechbabies.com to find other ways to help turn your baby.

Hi J.,
My baby was also breech and I tried the "external version" and despite my doctors high success rate at turning the baby (over 80%)she made a good 3 attempts and nothing. During one of the attempts my babys heart rate went alittle crazy and they thought they might have to rush me into delivery but after taking a few deep breaths her heart rate went back to normal. I was given the option to get an epidural during the procedure so I took it! Didn't feel any pain, just slight pressure. I went on the internet and tried some of the suggestions out there - shining a flashlight "down there", putting headphones with music "down there", elevating my torso with pillows - all to no avail. She never turned and I ended up having a C-section which although I was disappointed about (she is my first and only child) it went better than I thought it would and the experience was still beautiful.

My son was in the breech position and I too had a midwife. A physician turned him around. It was not hard. I did breathing...just in the nose slowly, out the mouth slowly and then jsut a bit faster as needed.
The physician put that ultrasound cream on my stomach, one hand on the baby's head, one on the butt and right around he went. They kept me there on the ultrasound to make sure I did not go into labor. I didn't and went home after an hour or so.

My first was breech and I had him turned ( I think it was called a version or something like that). It went very well!!! If I remember correctly, they gave me something to relax the muscles. In any case, when it came time to turn the baby, it was over in moments. I'll be honest and tell you that it felt strange and a bit uncomfortable. Who wouldn't with a doctor pushing and prodding your big belly?!! You can feel the baby turn, which made me feel queasy, but I survived. They also have an ultrasound set up and you stay for a while, afterwards, to make sure baby is fine. Once home, I had to take 20mins 2-3 times a day and count the little movements the baby made, as a safe precaution. In the end, no pain experienced and normal delivery.

I know it sounds scary but I'm sure the procedure is even better, as I had it done 15 yrs ago.

M.

No advice, but I just wanted to say I hope your little one turns! My first three were natural, vag births. My fourth had no reason to be any different, but she flipped breech when my labor started. (go figure!) I wasn't a candidate for a version because my bag of waters was bulging out and would more than likely burst at any attempt to turn the baby. I had a c-section. I was extremely bummed, but she was born without incident and very healthy. That's all I could hope for!

I have heard and seen (I am an OB RN) different numbers on the success of the external version. The percent of successful versions (if success is defined by leading to a vaginal birth) is more like 50, maybe 60%. That is not to say it is not worth a try, I would probably consider it to avoid a c-section. Most doctors will give you a drug to relax the uterus (terbutaline) and maybe a drug to relax you (Nubain, or Stadol, or something similar). But I have heard it can be quite uncomfortable to downright painful, I think that depends on how relaxed you are and how difficult the baby is to turn.
I have read research studies that have found a 70% success rate with accupuncture (to the big toe). There is also reported success with a chiropractic manipulation, I believe it is called the Webster Technique. I would probably start with those before trying the version, they seem less invasive and painful. Good luck to you.

I recommend these websites....
http://www.ican-online.org/pregnancy/breech

http://spinningbabies.com/index.php?option=com_content&am...

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/search/default.asp?query=br...

http://sharingtheskills.co.uk/articles.php?lng=en&pg=22

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/breechtn.html

Also, along with the exercises and postures that the midwives have given you, another exercise that can help breeches to turn is a mental exercise. Find a block of time when you can be uninterrupted and can spend some quiet time alone. Make a list of all the reasons that your baby's birthdate might be inconvenient. Then make a parallel list of all the ways you are going to deal with each of the items on the first list. As you do so, for each item tell the baby, "I know that you might be worried about this, but that's not your job. I'm the adult and I am very capable and it's my job, and I will take care of you, and this is the way that I am going to deal with that issue. So now you don't need to be concerned, and you can turn head-down and get ready to be born. We will be SO glad to see you when it's time for you to come! And we will take care of you and the other details in our lives when you are born."

Another thing that can help while you do your breech-turning postures, is to talk to the baby and point out to him/her how uncomfortable it is (for him/her) to have his/her head up against your ribs, and how much nicer it will feel when s/he turns the other way.

Sometimes babies don't turn until the mom takes her time off of work and starts to stay at home and begin nesting.

Sometimes babies just don't turn until closer to the end of pregnancy.

Best wishes.

J.,

You could try acupuncture and a technique called moxibustion, performed by a qualified acupuncturist, that often helps turn a mal-positioned fetus naturally. I've treated many patients this way with success. You would need to start getting treatment as soon as possible.

For more information, visit my blog. There's a link on my blog to find a Doctor of Oriental Medicine near you, also.

www.hunahealingarts.blogspot.com

Many blessings,

K. Bader OMD, L.Ac

One of my babies was breech also. I saw a chiropractor and that got our little one to flip. He then a couple days later flipped back to breech and I saw the chiro again and he flipped back to head down position. The idea isn't that the chiro can make the baby turn, but more the idea that it opens up your bone structure and alighns everything so that it is easier for your baby to move on it's own and when baby isa in correct position it craddles them better.

Hi,
I lived in Japan for 3 years and gave birth to our 3rd child there. She was breech and they gave me poses to do each day which ended up working. However, had that not worked, my doctor said they do a simple acupuncture between two of your toes and it works almost every time.
Most OB/GYN's w/ a traditional degree don't know all other "alternative" options since acupuncture is not traditional Western medicine. Find an acupuncturist in your town or area and call (and of course check w/ your doc if you think necessary). But at 35 weeks I'd say you need to act soon as it's getting tighter in there! Good luck!

Acupuncture has a high success rate for turing breech babies. My son was breech and while I tried acupuncture and an external version, neither were successful. I had a c-section (which was no where near as scary as I expected) and it turns out that the cord was wrapped around my son three times. Once around the neck and twice around his torso. My doctor said that this was likely the reason he would not turn and if he had turned that I probably would have had to have had an emergency c-section anyway. I was planning on natural childbirth throughout my pregnancy (had a doula, took natural childbirth class, practiced breathing and yoga positions) so a c-section was the furthest thing from my birth plan. But in the end, the health of my baby was most important and really the c-section worked out for the best. Good luck!!!

I have to agree with Cheryl :( I had the version done and did not have a good experience. I wanted to do what was best for baby and not have a cesarean. The procedure was so painful for me and it didn't work. I am hopefully, however, that others on this site had a more successful attempt. It may be worth a try then. I have also heard that chiropractic work can help turn baby. But I would try what you can to try to turn baby because you cannot lift anything that weighs more than your newborn for 6 weeks and you cannot drive for 2 weeks (at least with me). That means you would need help for your toddler for 6 weeks. I wish you luck and hope baby turns soon!! :)

Hi J.,
My first baby was breech. The Dr. tried 6 times to turn the baby with no luck & this Dr. had an 8 out of 10 success rate at turning babies. I will not sugar coat it, it was excruciating (it is also stressful for the baby). Since it did not work I had a C-section. I was in more pain recovering from the turning process than I was from the operation. Knowing what I know now, I would not have tried it. If you really want to try, find out how many the Midwife or Dr. has done & their success rate. If they have enough experience & have a good success rate & you want to go for it, be prepared for a lot of pain during & after & make sure you have a hand to hold onto to help you through it.

My second son was breech and I did not want to have a c section seeing as I had a 1.5 year old at home to take care of too. My doctor suggested something called an external cephalic
version. Which means they manually manuever the baby to the correct birthing position by manipulating the baby by pushing on the outside of your belly. Sounds really bad, doesn't it. I went back and forth and back and forth on what to do. After talking with the doctor again, she said there is some risk with the cord getting rapped around the babies neck but they are very careful and monitor the cord and the baby through an ultra sound the entire time. My doctor also told me that there was a 98% success factor with this procedure. She also told me that if the procedure did work the baby still might go back into the breech position before my due date. After going back and forth and back and forth I decided to have the procedure. My doctor(out of edwards hosptial) was great. They hooked me up to an IV, and to an ultra sound machine so they could monitor the baby. The doctor manually manipulated the baby by pushing on my belly and within 3 minutes the baby was turned. It was a little uncomfortable but not bad. They made me wear this girdle type thing for the remainder of my pregnancy to help hold the baby in the correct position til the birth. Five weeks later I had a vaginal delivery and today my little guy is a healthy 20 month old.

J.,
I had the version done because I REALLY did not want a c-section. My doctor, after trying and trying and trying, was unsuccessful. She was disappointed and said this was the first version in a long time that had not worked for her. Anyway, I thought the pain was tolerable and I would do it again faced with the same situation. The doc basically pushes very hard on your belly to try to turn the baby - one hand behind the head and the other behind the butt. His head was stuck on my ribs and even though she got it around to the other side, he never went any further. When I got home and was resting on the couch, I could feel him going right back around my ribs to where he was that morning. That little guy must have been in a cozy place and that was that! No, it didn't induce labor, but there is a chance it will and they are ready for it should that be the case. It was hard to relax and I nearly crushed my husband's hand into mush, but overall I was never worried about the pain - more worried whether it would be successful or not. My doc said seeing how I did she figured labor would have been no problem for me... which was my plan... but needless to say, I had to schedule the c-section. I was in denial because I've NEVER had any surgery and I'm really not into the pain drugs and all that (it takes quite a bit for me to even take a tylenol). So I had it scheduled for Monday and the PREVIOUS Tuesday my water broke and that was that - emergency c-section. Overall everything went fine and I would still have done the version even though it didn't work. I had to try, you know? Also, I tried all sorts of tricks to get him to turn on his own which obviously did not work for me... but it never hurts to try! Good luck!!!!

I didn't know my baby was breach until I was in the hospital for my scheduled induction. The baby must have turned within the last week before I was induced. They told me I could I could have a c-section (didn't want that) or I could try a "version" (I think that is what they called it). After a few minutes of the Dr.s pushing on me, the baby turned and I was able to deliver. I was a bit nervous and asked for my epidural before the version (just in case there was a problem and I needed to get an emergency c-section). With the epidural already in place, I wouldn't have had to be put under if there was a problem and I needed a c-section. The baby did have a little stress during/after the process, but she bounced back and was ready for a normal delivery. But, you can't do a version if your water bag is broken, so talk with your Dr. before you go into labor.

Hope this helps!
C.

Look around for a Chiropractor who knows Webster's Breech Turning Technique. It's a series of simple adjustments over a couple of days that is non-invasive and almost always works. I know a doc in Plainfield who does it-- Dr. Stuch. Where do you live?

It's sad that OB's will insist on doing a C-Section as opposed to just delivering a breech baby. Breech deliveries are commonly done by midwives and is becoming more of a lost "art" with hospital OB's.

Here is a website that lists some things to help baby turn on it's own. http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/turni...

I would also advise going to see a reflexologist or a chiropractor (both who are experienced in helping breech babies turn naturally).

Good luck!

If you are looking for good chiropractic care in this area, I believe Susan Mitchell may be a good contact. She has helped friends of mine in the past. She would also be a good source of info. The spinning baby's info another mentioned is also highly acclaimed.

Hello J.,

I am the office manager at Chiropractic First in Evanston IL. I have worked for Dr. Liz for over 10 years. She has been a practicing Chiropractor for over 20 years and is a mother of 5. Dr. Liz has been very successful in turning breech babies using the Webster technique which is not painful and is non-invasive. You can look at our website at www.chiropractic1st.com. Our telephone number is ###-###-####. If you would like to speak to her personally about this you can reach us at this number or on Dr. Liz's cell phone at ###-###-####. Many Midwives and Doulas refer their patients to Dr. Liz. Even though you are 35 weeks along, it is not to late, but you should see her as soon as possible if you are interested. Please call with any questions.

Sincerely,

A. Dale

My daughter was Frank's breech at week 38. I did not try to turn her and risk the many serious complications associated with it. I have read versions are very painful for the Mom and can be tramatic I did not care if I had a vaginal or a caesarean section delivery; my number one concern was a healthy baby. I have a girl and a boy via caesarean section and have never regretted it. My original birthing "plan" was to have a doula and try a drug-free birth. I laugh when I hear Mom's making "plans" because I know the only one whose got a plan is the baby and she ain't talkin'. It is so much scarier having an emergency caesarean, I've had many a friend put in that scenario. On the upside your baby might turn on her own and things will go smoothly. All pregnancies are different; I know mine were!!

Good luck with your delivery,
J. R.

I am 33 weeks and find out on Monday if my baby's still breech - she was at the 20 week ultrasound and since then my docs have been reluctant to discuss it since the baby could turn again and again. However I too am a little freaked, and did some reasearch on baby-turning. I have a friend who had a breach baby w/her 1st pregnancy and the turning was uncomfortable-to-painful, and didn't work. But, since you already have had a delivery (like me), your insides are a little more elasticised and the good news is that it seems from what's online that baby-turning is more effective when it is not your 1st pregnancy. There is more "give" for them to get the baby to move. Good Luck!! :)

My oldest daughter (now 6) was in a transverse breech position at 35 weeks. She basically was completely sideways, with her head by my left hipbone and her butt over by my right hip. She was lying in my pelvis like it was a hammock!

My doctor performed a version in his office and if I had known it would be soooo painful I probably would have said no. It was awful, he had to push so hard I had bruises along the sides of my stomach for a few days afterward. It turned out to be all for nothing, as the baby decided to go back where she was within 5 hours of the procedure. That was not much fun, as she was a large baby (8lb, 10oz) when born by c-section at 38 weeks. My second daughter (now 2 1/2) was also a transverse breech and my doctor didn't even suggest a version for her - he went straight to scheduling a c-section. I don't regret the c-sections at all, they allowed me to safely give birth to my beautiful daughters and that was the most important thing in the world. I don't know if my age made a difference or not - I was 38 when I had my first child and 42 when I had my second.

GOOD LUCK with this project! I really hope your babe turns. My son was breech from 30+ weeks and was born via c/s at 39 weeks because we never got him to turn. Here is what we tried, though:
* everything suggested in www.spinningbabies.com (great website)
* breech tilts
* cat/cow yoga positions
* squats
* swimming and diving in the water
* relaxation and visualization
* bag of frozen peas on the baby's head (while on breech tilt)
* talking to the baby
* Webster Chiropractice maneuver (make an appointment with Dr. Nella at Bucktown Chiropractic - she's great and does this - and definitely do it sooner - like NOW - than later!)
* at 37 weeks we tried an ECV. I did not find it painful - but it wasn't very comfortable either. Deep breathing and relaxation helps a lot. For me, it was my first baby and the ECV didn't work. I know that with second, third babies it works a lot more often because your uterus is more stretched out. Definitely worth a try, IMHO.

If all else fails, there IS at least one doctor in the city who will deliver vaginal breech babies. Email me and I can dig up his name. All of the medical evidence at this point indicates that the main reason breech babies are born via c/s is because of lack of skilled care providers - NOT because it's actually more dangerous (ACOG actually changed their guidelines on this 1 month after my son was born).

Good luck!

Hi J.,

My baby never turned. I ended up with a C-Section. Everything went well without any problems. Just thought that you should know.

My 1st was Frank Breech and we tried to get him turned. It was horrible. I would NEVER do it again. It was SOOO painful (nurses said worse than labor. It was hard having 2 people just pushing on my stomach and baby and then checking to see if he turned and if he was still ok.