How to Turn a Breech Baby: 6 Methods to Try

The breech position is when the baby is in a supine position in the uterus near the due date. The optimal birth position is with the head facing down, known as the prone position or lying on top. Usually, babies in the breech position will roll over before birth, but in about 3% of term pregnancies (37 weeks or later), babies are still in the breech position. In these cases, interventions can be used to rotate the baby. If unsuccessful, usually need C area delivery.

overview

There are several types of breech positions, including full breech (the baby’s bottom and feet lie down in the pelvis with the knees bent and up to the chest), incomplete breech (one leg bent at the head). knee and other leg straight and extended upward), breech position (both legs extended toward shoulders) and breech position (legs extended under baby’s bottom).

There are a number of techniques that can be used to create a breech position before birth, each with varying degrees of effectiveness. Some seek to gently push the baby into the correct position during the later part of pregnancy (from week 30 onwards), while others are performed by a doctor or midwife at a hospital near or at the time of delivery. .

If your baby is in the breech position, that doesn’t mean they will stay that way. Newborns often transition to the peak presentation stage on their own in the final weeks before birth. However, within a week or two after birth, it is less likely that the baby will be able to move on its own due to limited space in the uterus. This is why interventions are often attempted to help the baby get into a head-down position.

Butt Tilting Exercises

The buttock tilt exercise uses gravity to encourage baby to turn. The simple procedure, which can be done at home, involves lifting the hips above the heart. Some women do this by placing pillows under their hips when they lie on their backs on the floor or bed. Others prop one end of the iron on the couch at a 30- to 40-degree angle and lie on it with the end facing the floor.

You can do this exercise three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes each time. Note that this position can make you dizzy. If you feel light-headed, stop the exercise and talk to your doctor or midwife before trying again.

Pelvic tilt and other positions

Sometimes, all your baby needs is a little encouragement to turn her head over. Finding positions that can make room for your baby can be very simple and can do the trick. Good poses to try include hands and knees, forward bends, and squats. Discover what feels good for your body.

One traditional pose to try is the pelvic tilt, which is performed by swinging your pelvis back and forth from a hand-and-knee position. Yoga practitioners can also explore the assisted bridge pose, which has the same effect as the buttock tilt, in a third-trimester prenatal yoga class.

You can also experiment with different sleeping positions, such as lying on your side with pillows against your body and between your legs to create more space in your pelvis for your baby to roll over.

Heat and cold

The strategy for using heat and cold is to place cold near where the baby’s head is currently (at the top of the uterus) and warm where you want your head to go (near the bottom of the uterus). Even in the womb, babies want to be kept warm and cuddled, so any cold placed near them will cause them to react and stay away. A bag of frozen peas or ice works well for this technique. To stay warm, try taking a shallow bath that covers only the lower half of your belly or using a warm pack.

Change the position of heat and cold as the baby begins to shift to pull them towards the pelvis. This method can be used for as long as you like as long as you remove the cold and the heat when/if it becomes uncomfortable.

Music and light

There are certain stimuli to which a baby will respond even while in the womb; One side is music and the other is light. By turning on music or shining a flashlight near the pubic bone, the baby can be drawn to the stimuli and to himself. You can do this technique gradually, starting on one side of the abdomen and moving toward the pelvis as the baby begins to turn. This can also be used in conjunction with the above cold tip.

If you use music, you can get headphones and just play the music loud enough that you can hear it with the headphones near your pubic bone. This may prompt the baby to move towards the sound. You can start by playing music on the side of your belly, then move more downward towards the pubic bone.

Acupuncture and Acupuncture

Sauna is a form of traditional Chinese medicine performed by a trained physician that involves burning a bunch of dried plants known as “moxa sticks” on specific parts of the body to warm up. and energize the flow of qi (the life force in Chinese medicine theory) to inspire. baby to move.

Acupuncture uses ultra-thin, single-use needles inserted into the skin to release qi, block qi, or help qi move. This release of energy is intended to help the baby find a better position by allowing the pregnant woman’s body to move freely and the baby to have the room it needs to be well placed in the womb to be born.

Many midwives and doctors recommend trying these interventions, especially because they don’t cause pain or have adverse side effects. Although not empiric, some small studies have suggested that these methods may be as effective as physically redirecting the baby (see more on the ectopic version below).

Webster Engineering

The Webster Technique is a chiropractic technique in which the body is adjusted to open up the pelvis, soften the ligaments, and relax any tension that might hold the pelvis in one position. rigid, less moving. By releasing the tension, the baby can more easily maneuver around him into a more favorable position.

External Cephalic Version

The extravascular version (ECV) is a procedure performed by a doctor or midwife. This procedure should be done in a hospital, as it has risks, including placental abruption and umbilical cord prolapse.

Basically, the doctor uses their hands by applying pressure to the outside of your abdomen to encourage your baby to get into a prone position. Medication is often prescribed to help dilate the uterus, while an ultrasound helps guide the practitioner. The force required to do so can sometimes be uncomfortable or even painful. An epidural may be indicated if the pain is particularly intense.

A very good word

While it may involve knowing your baby is in the breech position, know that very often your baby will transition to the tummy position — on their own or with a little help from one of these methods. intervention above. If these methods don’t turn your baby over, know that there’s still a chance that, by birth, the baby will turn over.

If you can’t rotate your baby in the breech position, your doctor will most likely recommend a cesarean section, which usually carries a much lower risk of complications. Waiting to see if your baby makes a move can be nerve-wracking, frustrating, and stressful, but know that no matter how your baby is born, the most important part of the birthing process will be the same. each other – the baby you will soon be holding in your arms .