BabyOhm

My #2 is breech and he is giving us a run for our money trying to get him head down but am i learning a lot about breech and transverse presentation. He started out at his 18 week ultrasound being transverse, and although this means nothing at that point in gestation it got me to do some research just incase he decideds to be difficult. I learned that less than 20% of baby’s who are transverse at 37 weeks will still be transverse at the time labor begins. However, an external version can be done on a transverse baby to encourage it moving it into the vertex position, but if that doesn’t work and baby doesn’t move on his own at labor then a c-section would be necessary. (info found at Birthing naturally)

My research has grown since then and is now moved onto the breech presentation. We hear a lot about breech and the dangers of it and of course about all the c-sections, but the satistics were actually surprising to me.

There are three types of breech: Frank breech (Butt down legs go straight up), complete breech (baby sitting cross-legged) and footling (one or both feet down). only 7% of babies are breech at 38 weeks and 3-4% at 40 weeks. Which is good odds, as that means most babies who are already not head down will turn head down on their own at 37 weeks.

Most midwives from what i have read do believe that its important around the early 30 weeks of pregnancy to start doing some exercises to help encourage baby move into the breech position. at about 34/35 weeks is one my midwife started recommending i  started doing what i could. We started working with the chiropractor, my chiropractor started with inversion and adjustments. Several midwives i have spoken with also recommend calling an acupuncturist to try muxabustion (which has around an 80-90% success rate of turning babies when performed prior to the 36th week.)

There are also home excercises you can do to encourage baby to turn. We started by checking out Spinning Babies and we read flyers given to us by both the midwife and the chiropractor. some of the exercises recommended include pelvic rocks, knees to chest position and breech tilts.

We did the breech tilt two different ways at home (first with pillows under my butt and my feet up on the couch. and the second with  my knees on the couch and my chest on the ground (this way was a bit more comfy for me). either way its important that the chin is tucked into chest to keep the spine in line. these excercise should be done 3 times a day for 20 min at a time.

When all of these method's fail the medical option is an external cephalic version. An External Version is the manual process of turning a breech baby.

An E-version is a fairly simple procedure that lasts a few minutes and has been around for centuries. According to the OB who performed mine as well as some research i read online versions have been depicted in ancient birth art, however, with the rise in obstetrics it was a procedure that fell out of practice until recent years.

To have a version performed on your baby you must meet certain criteria as there are dangers involved. According to FamilyDoctor.org women who do not pass a nonstress test, have low fluid, a placenta near the cervix, are caring multiple babies, or have premature ruptured membranes are not candidates. However, if at at least 37 weeks baby is proven stable and the pregnancy is low risk there is a 2/3 success rate of turning a breech baby head down.

As with any procedure there are risks involved however less than 1% of versions experience a negative outcome. The  most common risks include… premature labor, ruptured membranes, fetal distress. you are monitored for at least one hour after the procedure (successful or not) to make sure none of the above occur. If they do occur you may be taken to deliver your baby right then. (hence one of the reasons you must be 37 weeks before a version can be performed). One of the other risks which according to my OB occurs in about 10% of women is that baby will turn back. Typically however, baby not turning or baby turning back only occurs in babies who are not able to be delivered head down for one reason or another.

So what happens during the procedure? Its simple…. when you first arrive at the hospital you will be placed on monitors to monitor baby and make sure his heart rate is steady. an ultrasound is then performed to make sure you have ample amniotic fluid for turning the baby, as well as to confirm baby and placenta positions. If all looks well and you are determined to be a candidate for the procedure then the doctors will begin. Typically you are given IV meds to relax your uterus. Once you are laying back the doctors will begin. The start by lifting babies butt out of the pelvis and then they push on it while also pushing on babies head/shoulders to guide him as he turns. If baby is going to turn they will begin to move fairly quickly, however, the doctors my try lifting and pushing several times, after about 10minutes though if baby doesn’t move they will stop. When all is done successful or not you will be monitored for about an hour for any possible complications.

Does it hurt? Its a very uncomfortable procedure, they are pushing very hard on your stomach and the next day or so you may feel very sore or even bruised. i have heard both good and bad stories. for me it was just a matter of staying focused and relaxed and i was in no pain either time. For those interested you can watch a 2 1/2 min clip of my version.

With all the options both eastern and western medicine the odds are in your favor to turn a breech baby, so feel rest assured if your baby is breech, give them a shot, and know that when all is said and done and you go into labor a c-section can still be performed if needed.

Altered from original 2 part post at Intentional motherhood, you can also check out my blog to read more about my breech baby's birth.