Breech...maybe?

Question

I am 27 weeks pregnant with my first and had an ultrasound done 2 days ago. During the ultrasound, they found out my baby is laying upright with his head up by ribs and it looks like he's holding his feet. I have at least another 10 weeks or so before i deliver, but is it posssible the baby will do some kind of shifting or turning. I've heard that breech babies have to be delivered by c-section which is something i do not want to do...has this happened to anyone else? Please help...

Answer 1

A diagnosis of breech can't even be made until at least 34 weeks, babies are not supposed to be in the vertex (head down) position before then. Almost all babies are head up until 30-34 weeks. And babies can turn anytime up until they are born (even during labour).

If your baby is still breech after 34 weeks there are many safe things you can do, which can be found here, amoung other places:
http://ww.mother-care.ca/breech.htm
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6917
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/breech.html
www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/breechpresentation.html

Also it is just as safe to give birth to a breech vaginally with a qualified professional. Sadly there are fewer qualified professionals, but you may want to start looking into that now.

Answer 2

Lots of babies are in the breech position for at least part of the pregnancy. Many times, the baby will just turn on his own.

The bigger the baby grows, the harder it is for him to turn.
Sometimes the dr. can perform an extraversion, where he re-positions the baby, but this is pretty tricky and before I'd let my OB even try, he'd have to convince me with his own personal track record. If he had not done it successfully many times, I would not allow this. (And it's not necessarily an indicator of how good your dr. is or isn't----it truly is just a learned skill, and like with many things, some are good at it, and some are not----doesn't have to do with education, just nerve and experience, and mechanical ability).

Also, you *can* have a vaginal delivery with a breech baby---it's a little trickier, but when you have your epidural, it's not going to bother you. Depending on size of your baby, many OB's will just go ahead and section you---it is fine, and you will do fine. I think the national C-section rate is somewhere around 25% (higher in large metropolitan areas, and with certain physician groups, because of convenience---mostly to the physician).

Sections are generally safe---it is not preferable because it IS major surgery, and because vaginal delivery is better for the baby, but generally the patient is young, in good health, etc. so the outcomes are very good. Also, (unlike most major surgeries) you have a wonderful gift---the gift of new life---and that's not something that can be said about gallbladder surgery!

All the best to you....and just remember, this is one of those issues in mothering (and there will be soooo many through the years!) that is out of your hands, so just be at peace.
If you are a religious person, do pray.... this is definitely something God can do! He could flip that baby right side up with just a thought.

Answer 3

The baby might just be in that position for now. I sleep on a water bed because I like to sleep on my stomach. I noticed when I would get in bed and roll over on my stomach the baby would actually move to a side that made them comfortable. The baby is always moving and might just be in the correct position for delivery. Before you getting worried check with the local library and see if they have material you can read on breech babies. I watch the discover health channel in my area and I have seen where the doctor turned the baby on the day of the delivery my inserting his or her hand and trying to repositioning the baby. I had two c-sections and they are not that bad. You even get to return to a normal sex life earlier than a vaginal delivery. I was real happy about that. I was afraid with my first baby also. I had a doctor that really did not care and when I asked question he really did not answer them. I changed providers to one that made sure I understood everything and took the time to answer all of my question. You are paying for their services make them do their job or take your money elsewhere. GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

It is very possible... until the lightening or droping occurs the baby isnt stuck in a particular position.. I am 36 weeks and my son lays side to side, and occasionally shifts head down... I am sure around 34 weeks your doctor will become more concerned with the presentation of the baby.. if you find then that the head is still up, there are things you can try to encourage the baby to move,, I know this sounds silly but I heard to put a cold ice pack on your tummy, and the babys instint is to move away from it.. good luck

Answer 5

Sounds like he's getting ready to tuck and roll! Make sure you encourage swimming and diving when he is a little older, you have a mini-olympic champion on your hands.

All this to say, the baby will most likely move into place just fine. If not, it may be a disappointment but it's not the end of the world to have a C section. Try to relax and enjoy your last couple months, talk to your OB about any concerns, and then get your rest. Everything will be fine.

Bless you and the baby!

Answer 6

they say that a lot of babies that are breech, turn into the right position when they drop.
i'm 22 weeks pregnant with a breech baby .. but I'm sure he'll turn around by delivery :)

my sister in law just had her first in sept. and he was breech right up until 2 days before she delivered him. nature usually takes its course and the baby turns over! :)

good luck! God bless!

Answer 7

There is still plenty of time for the baby to turn, and later in your pregnancy, if it doesn't turn on it's own, the doctor will try to turn it from the outside.... My doctor also had me do some stretches many times a day to try and make my son turn. Either way, I have had 2 c-sections, and had no problems with either of them, so it is not something to worry about... stress is not good for you or your baby right now. Congrats on your little one, enjoy your pregnancy!

Answer 8

Im in the same boat, I'm 31 weeks and they said he was breech since week 19, but my doctor said they move all the time and until your about 35 weeks not to worry about it....I'm hoping I dont have to have a c-section either!! Good Luck

Answer 9

I asked my midwife when the baby should be head down and she said that it really matters at 36 weeks. If the baby is not head down at that point that is when it can be a problem. So you still have quite a bit of time for the baby to turn.

Answer 10

yes, this happened to me three months ago. i was going to the doctor every week at this point. about two weeks before i had her, they were checking for dialation, and making sure she was in the head down position. well they did a ultrasound to make sure that it was right. she was in the head down position at that time. the next week everything also fine. then on a friday i went to the doctor, again everything fine. sunday my water broke, i went to the hospital. the nurse kept saying she has her head tilted it does not feel like her head is aligned fully. they kept saying it felt like her ear.

so the doctor came and did an ultrasound and she was butt first. so of course we had to have an emergency c section. i still cannot believe she had been head down for almost two months that i know of, so that really blew my mind.