How to naturally turn a breech baby?

Question

My friend is 36 weeks and just found out her baby has turned and is now upsided down in the breech position. She DOES NOT want to have a c-section and is looking into to homeopathic methods to possibly help turn the baby before her due date! Any advice?

Answer 1

My third was breech until about 37-38 weeks but I was able to get her to turn.

Your friend should be doing breech tilts 2 or 3 times a day for about 20 minutes at each session. Basically, this is lying with her hips elevated. When I did this I also put ice on my fundus (top of uterus) and heat on my pelvis (the exit) to help encourage turning.

She can try putting a light between her legs or playing music between her legs or having someone lay their head in her lap and talk to baby.

Doing handstands in a swimming pool works for some....I never tried that.

What seemed to work for me was doing shoulder stands. I came down from one and felt a HUGE distinct movement and I know that was when she turned.

There is a chiropractic technique - the Webster Technique - that would have been my next step if the other stuff I did didn't work.

Check out the links below or send them to her.

ALSO.....
She can talk to her doctor about trying an external cephalic version (ECV - doc turning the baby.) before resorting to a c/s.

If baby doesn't seem to want to turn she can talk to her doc about WAITING until she goes into labor instead of scheduling a c/s ahead of time. MAYBE the baby will turn when labor starts. If not, at least she'll have the reassurance that baby was ready to be born because labor came on it's own before she had the c/s.

Answer 2

At 36 weeks, there is still a good chance the baby will turn on its own. Sometimes they don't even decide to turn until the mother is in active labor. In any case, don't attempt to turn the baby at home; there is the possibility that the dr will be able to do it manually later on. However, if these things don't happen or don't work, a c-section may be inevitable. I understand not wanting to have one, but make sure she knows that even if that is what happens, it isn't her fault and it isn't anything that she should feel badly about. Good luck!

Answer 3

Doctors are able to manipulate the baby, but they almost always go back to breech. Mine did that, too near the end of pregnancy, and stayed breech for over a week, then turned back. If baby doesn't turn, it doesn't necessarily mean c-section. Some will wait till in labor before turning again.

Answer 4

A baby is breech when her bottom, foot or feet -- instead of her head -- are presenting in the lower part of the uterus (womb). Your midwife or doctor should be able to tell if your baby is breech or not by feeling your bump. Up until 32 weeks gestation about 15 per cent of babies lie this way, but by 37 weeks the number is down to about three or four per cent. Many breech babies spontaneously turn around before, or even during, labour without any assistance. Some babies who remain in the breech position can be turned by hand, using a technique called external cephalic version (ECV).

This technique has been practised by doctors for thousands of years and a lot of research has been carried out to test its safety. The results have been so positive that the Royal College of Obstetricians now recommends that: 'All women with an uncomplicated breech pregnancy at term (37-42 weeks) should be offered ECV.'

ECV is generally carried out when you are close to your due date. Sometimes, it is even carried out at the beginning of labour. You will not need to have a general anaesthetic. The procedure will be carried out in hospital, where there is equipment to monitor your baby's heartbeat and ultrasound. You will be given a drug to help make the muscles of your womb relax and, if you are rhesus negative, you will have an injection of anti-D.

Because ECV is often successful, a policy of offering it to every woman with a breech baby means that there will be fewer caesareans for breech babies.

ECV is more likely to be successful if:
• this is not your first baby
• there is plenty of water round the baby
• your baby has not yet descended into your pelvis.

Turning techniques you can do at home are collectively referred to as spontaneous cephalic version. Some trials have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of these various methods, but more study is required before we can really be sure how well they work.

In one study of 71 breech babies, 65 turned when their mother adopted the knee-chest position. To do this, kneel on your bed with your bottom in the air and your hips flexed at slightly more than 90 degrees (don't let your thighs press against your bump). Try to keep your head, shoulders, and upper chest flat on your mattress. Maintain this position for 15 minutes every two waking hours for five consecutive days.

Alternatively, try lying on your back with your hips slightly elevated and your hips and knees flexed. Gently roll from side to side for 10 minutes and repeat this manoeuvre three times a day. If you have had any backache, pelvic pain or hip pain during your pregnancy, do talk to your midwife or physiotherapist before you try this.

Finally, moxibustion is a form of acupuncture which is currently being researched to see if it could help turn breech babies. Some therapists claim an 80 per cent success rate, but before trying it, seek advice from a qualified acupuncturist -- you'll find one via the British Acupuncture Council.

At the end of the day it might be that your baby prefers to lie in the breech position. But if this is the case it does not mean you are automatically in line for a caesarean section. Discuss the possibility of having a normal delivery with your midwife and obstetrician.

Answer 5

See a chiropractor who knows how to do the Webster technique. My husband is a chiro and my first baby was still breech at 37 weeks my OB said the baby probably will not turn but my husband adjusted me a few times and she did turn.

Answer 6

My midwives told me to walk a as much as possible and that this would help to re position the baby. It worked, then they just had to stick their hands in and slightly adjust him. It wound up being a 6 hour labor. Have her talk to midwives... they always do their best to avoid a c-section.

Answer 7

My doctor told me to swim. THe weightlessness helps the baby move or something. It worked for me!