Infant Breech Baby - Indianapolis, IN

I was in the same situation exactly. The morning I went in for my ECV my OB did an ultrasound before and my baby had flipped on her own. My OB sent me to labor and delivery that morning and induced labor so the baby didn't flip back into breach position. She told me when I scheduled the ecv that either way I was having the baby that day.

go to spinningbabies.com

also, look in to the safety of birthing a breech, it's not as scary as some doctors make it out to be!

I've never had this done, but I always thought they let you go home after. Apparently I was mistaken, lol. The website www.spinningbabies.com has a wealth of knowledge on rotating babies that are not in Optimal Fetal Position (OPF).

Some suggestions to try at home would be to put headphones towards the bottom of your belly or have your husband talk at the bottom of your belly to encourage your baby to turn in order to hear better. You can also use a flashlight. Baby will want to turn to see it. You can also use a tilt board. I don't know a ton about this, but basically you use a board (I think some have actually used an ironing board that is sturdy enough to lay on) and prop one end on the couch. Lay on it on your back with your head close to the floor and your legs in the air. This will help bring the baby's bottom come up out of the pelvis. I don't remember how long or how often this is to be done though. The website i gave you will have more information on that.

I hope all this helps. And, if you can, try contacting a midwife or doula. They can definitely help in this area. I am a doula, but haven't had experience with rotating a baby yet.

linsay.

hi. this doesn't really have anything to do directly with your question, it is more like maybe some advice.

several years ago i had seen on one of thgose baby channels about doulas having their breech patients lay head down on like huge foam triangular cushions for breech positions babies to see if the babies would turn.

now i was 38 weeks with my 4th at the time and he was a big baby. (9 lbs 5-1/2 oz) at my check-up they told me he had turned breech, and probably would not have room to turn back around because he was pretty packed in.

getting absolutely desparate to avoid a c-section, i got a big comfy pillow, put it in the corner of a room, and forced myself to stand on my head! LOL i know, CRAZY! LOL and a little difficult! LOL BUT....it worked!!!!! the dr's couldn't believe it! supposedly if the baby prefers un upright position, you being head down makes them feel like they need to turn again to be in "their" upright position. if your behind is up, their head is up! LOL anyway, i am sure it doesn't work for anyone, and not everyone is willing to try something so silly sounding. but it might be worth a try!

good luck with all with your new little one. best wishes.

C.

I had this happen. Typically after the version - if they succeed, they induce labor right then to prevent the baby from turning back.

In my case, it was not successful - but it was my 7th baby, so my doctor allowed me to deliver breech. That is a rare occurrance these days. Most will insist on a c-section.

Maren R's advice is great, and I would recommend trying those things. Go see April Dunnington in Centerville--she is experienced at this type of thing. Her number is ###-###-####. Babies do turn at the last minute, and the best thing you can do is let your body relax...which of course is hard when you're nervous! But getting a massage (contact Amy Chavez, below, for a wonderful prenatal massage) might help, along with all this other stuff. Merek Ramirez in Springfield is a great acupuncturist, and I would recommend him. (http://www.harmonycentre.org/herbolo.html)

I had a breech baby, and tried all these techniques. My OB (Dr. Stephen Guy) tried an external version in his office, but the baby didn't turn. However, he was WONDERFUL and even though it was my first baby and I was 41 years old, he supported me in a natural, vaginal birth. I had a great doula (Amy Chavez of Bhakti--more on her at http://www.mamasource.com/business/13413956046058160129/d...) and my wonderfully supportive husband with me during the birth. Dr. Guy and Dr. James Horlacher are the only OBs in the area that I know of who will not automatically do a c-section for a breech baby.

At some point, I read something about maybe there being a good (healthy) reason for a baby being breech. This might sound odd, but I told my baby that she should trust her instincts, just like I was trying to trust mine, and that we would make it through the birth fine. I think there was some reason she needed to be born that way. In fact, my baby's birth (a year ago yesterday!) was absolutely wonderful, hard, but really empowering, and it made me know that this can be done, and reinforced the idea that our bodies are made to do this. I hope that you have a good supportive team, and that it all goes well--I was really anxious about the birth, but by the time the time came (I went into labor naturally, by the way) I trusted that I had good support and that my body could do the work. Remember that breech, although it's not the norm, is another perfectly natural position for babies to be born. It's really important, if you want a natural birth, to have the most support you can, and trust your body! You can do it. Of course this is if your OB is supportive. It might be too late to switch to Dr. Guy or Horlacher, but it's worth a call, maybe...

Good luck, and I hope this helps!
Best,
R.

a good chiropractor or massage therapist(april dunnington ###-###-####)can release your round ligaments which is MUCH more gentle and effective than a ECV....when your round ligaments are tight, it torques the uterus to one side, obscuring the space for baby to turn.

L.,
Here are some ideas you can try before the ECV is scheduled to try to turn the baby vertex. Also, I would insist on an ultrasound before I agreed to a c-section to be sure the baby was still breech.

Tilt board: the head lower than the buttocks is commonly used for 15 to 30 minutes one or two times a day to encourage a breech to turn. Most women use an ironing board with a blanket for padding and elevate the end about 12 inches. The idea is to lift the baby's head out of the pelvic girdle so it has room to turn without being stopped by the bones. The best time for this is one to two hours after a meal when blood glucose is higher. That is the time the baby is most likely to be awake and active. If the baby is asleep then it cannot turn itself. You may also want to place headphones playing music on your lower abdomen while you do to tilt board to further encourage the baby to turn.

Chiropractic care: there has been great success with a technique call the Webster Technique. Here is a link with information on it: http://www.icpa4kids.com/about/webster_technique.htm
Call around to the chiropractors in your area to find one who is experienced. This may be your best option as many babies are breech if the hips are misaligned and there is not enought room for their heads in the pelvis.

Accupuncture: moxibustion is a technique that involves the out edge of the pinky toe nail and some heat. I understand that it is uncomfortable, but effective. And certainly less discomfort than recovery from surgery.

Flashlight: use the flashlight to shine through the abdomen and entice the baby to follow the light to the lower abdomen.

Cold therapy: place a bag of frozen veggies on your upper abdomen. Babies don't like the cold on their heads and may move away from it to the vertex position.

Swimming: find a pool and swim froggy style, doing periodic dives under the water (not from the side, just from the surface of the water), and do handstands. The boyancy affect may allow your baby enough room to turn easily.

Nothing: find a doctor who is willing to attend a breech birth without fear. There is a doctor in Dayton, Ohio, who I have heard is willing to attend breech births on first time moms. Also, many babies will flip on their own without interference. Babies can flip even during labor, so you may want to have them prove that your baby is still breech before you submit to unneccessary surgery for a breech baby, only to find your baby moved to vertex anyway.

I hope these suggestions help! They certainly are less invasive than an ECV and many have been shown to be as effective or more effective. ECV are typically followed by an immediate induction. They don't tend to want to wait until term over concerns of the size of the baby, so the risks of a near term baby rise.
M.

Hello-I went through the same thing with my second daughter. I was 38 weeks with her though- I had a version done- and then I was induced. My doctor told me though that you can go home afterward- but I had decided to have the baby that day!!! Anyway, there is also another way you can get the baby turned. Some-not all chiropractors can stretch your ligments on your sides- this will cause you to have more room- for the baby to move. That could be an option for you. My 4th child was also breech and I almost went to a chiropractor- but then she moved- at 37 weeks!!! I The day I had her she still was not completely head down but still went into labor, and her not even a half hour later. I hope this helps- and good luck with your baby.

Congrats on the baby. Trust your OB and your own instincts. rely on your hubby's support. I was in the same situation with my first pregnancy...she just wouldn't turn around...and she wasn't even that large (7 pounds). In the end, we decided to have a scheduled c-section. So, I can not offer advice on the ECV, but I can say that you should talk to your OB and decide what option is best for you. And, relax (as much as possible). You've made it this far...just a little more to go.

My 2nd child was breech. I was all set to her her turned and mentioned it to my friend who is an ER nurse. She said only one thing to me that changed my mind.
"Where do you think the cord is going to go?" She said "There is a 50/50% chance the cord will wrap around the babies neck!"
I did not have her turned and had a c-sectionwith absolutely no regrets.
Just another way for you to look at deciding whether to have the baby turned.
Good Luck with whatever you decide.

There is a famous acu-point for turning breech babies which you could try. Press hard on the outer edge of your little toes at the base of the nail--use your fingernail even to pinch it hard and hold as long as you can or even better have someone else do it--also hold points in the area just below your sacrum at the same time(where it hurts good). And as another mom already said get your feet above your waist--you could even just lay on the floor with your legs against the wall or couch. doing cat stretchs can help also--on hands and knees and arch and concave your back--this helps with back labor pain also! Also I would not let them pressure you--some babies don't turn until labor starts. I had a good friend who was worried because of breech--we did all the things I jsut described and her baby turned--this was all after she started active labor. Hope your baby turns soon!

Hi L.,

My sister had this happen last November.
They were not able to turn the baby - it was her 3rd.
She said it was pretty painful but bot unbearable. She had delivered her other 2 vaginally and was hoping to again but she ended up having a c-section.

I have heard that it can be successful though so don't let that discourage you from traying!

I've had 3 c-sections and have nothing to compare it to but my sister said after 2 vaginal deliveries and one c-s it was worth the try to turn the baby around since she hated the cesarian ;)

I have never had an ECV, but just wanted to let you know that I have seen several of my friends and family go through the baby being breech. Believe me, that baby can still turn and be in the right position before your due date. I hope for your sake that it turns since its your first pregnancy.

One more simple idea: my first was breech, and my very experienced midwife suggested I go home and spend as much time as possible on all fours with my head low. It was a little odd, but I hung out that way in my free time for a few days and she turned!

My 1st was breech. We tried the vesion -- unsuccessfully, and I went home & didn't deliver for another 2-3 weeks. My girl was just stubborn & very comfortable where she was at! :) The c-section was scheduled & she decided to come 2 days before the c-section. Ha! She wanted to determine her own birthday -- and she's been just as strong-willed ever since she was born. :) I love her so much -- she & my son are my heart!!!

And just to let you know, my son came along 2 1/2 years later. I was able to have him vaginally (VBAC) and was thankful for being able to experience both ways of giving birth. They both have their pros & cons, so my advice is not to stress over it. Just do what you feel comfortable with, based on knowledgeable information from your doctor & others that you trust. Either way, you both should be fine & you'll be holding that bundle of love very soon.

Congrats & good luck. May God bless you & your baby!!!

I had the ECV in May and it took like 5 minutes, he turned and I went home about half an hour later. He was born exactly on his due date and he is great! I am not going to lie, it HURTS! but I felt so much more comfortable after it was over and the last 5 weeks of my pregnancy were fantastic. If you are really afraid, try some of the other techniques listed by the other moms. I tried the all fours and it did not work for me but that does not mean it would not for you. Try not to worry, try some of the at home techniques, if they don't work get the ECV, it does not work they will schedule a c-section and remember, it does not matter how your baby gets here, just so she gets here safe and sound. Good luck!

L.-
I know you have rec'd many responses but this chiropractor has an excellent reputation for turning breech babies.

Very kind and gentle....

Contact Hallworth, Julian DC
Phone: ###-###-#### in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio