Birthlight Forums

I wondered if anyone can suggest some postures that can help turn a breech baby.  I have a girlfriend who is 36 weeks and if the baby does not turn by Thursday this week she will have an elected c section. I would like to help her if possible, what postures do you recommend I teach?

all suggestions welcome, thanks!

Chelsey

Hi Chelsey

 You don't say if your friend is having her first or subsequent baby.  Usually, with a first baby there is little chance the baby will turn after 36 weeks, but with a subsequent baby the chances are higher as there is more space in the womb.  I would recommend her trying to turn the baby in either case as she has nothing to lose.  I teach a posture that is quite strenuous but I have found it to be effective in my own pregancies as well as many of my clients.  The idea is to get the hips as high as possible to tip the baby's bottom out of the pelvis and to then rotate the hips in a circular motion to help the baby to turn.  This best done by adopting a posture of the kneeling on the sofa or bed with your hands or elbows on the floor. Continue for as long as possible trying to keep the absomen as soft as possible.  Practice as often as possible during the day and then sleep on left side.  That will be the time that the baby will turn as he needs the womb as relaxed as possible to enable this turn in a tight space.

If this does not work, she can have moxibistion too which is highly rated and has been effectively used with many of my clients. She could also consider an ECV (external cephalic version) which would be performed by her consultant obstetrician This usually needs to be done before 37 weeks, so she needs to act now if she wants that option.  This is where the doctor manually turns the baby externally.  It does have risks though, so it needs to be an informed decision.

Wishing your friend all the best.  If she tries the postures and the moxibistion and baby does not turn - maybe the baby knows something she does not.

Vanessa Hodge

Midwfe and Birthlight Pregnancy YogaCise
 

I would just like to add that babies who have been in a breech position throughout the pregnancy have turned as soon as mum has gone into labour.

One of my ladies has had three babies in this way. I do think it is important to stay calm and not be in too much of a hurry. 

Peace in Yoga

Elizabeth  

My baby is breech, its due in 4 days. I have tried ecv where they try to turn the baby externally. It is uncomfortable however worth a try. I planned a home birth with no medical intervention, then they scare the life out of me with talk of C Section. I cried at the hospital so many times, they must have though me loopy.

I jsut don't trust the procedures in there, for one giving birth laying down seems very unatural for a start. I spoke to my midwife, she agrees that to squat is best, esp for a breech birth.

If I go overdue by two weeks then I have to speak to them again, but otherwise my midwife will deliver my baby in breech.

She has done many before, mainly due to the fact nobody reaslised babies positions till it was too late.

C Cuts are on the increase because of legislation, too many hospitals being sued. If a woman has a Ccut chances are she will have to have the same again for the next pregnancy.

My nanna had 3 breech births, apparently its hereditory

Ok, so wish us luck

Catherine

I stressed that I would not be able to relax in a hospital environment

 Hello Catherine,

First of all,  relax, relax, breathe deeply, relax more. Get in a warm bath if this helps, with sun glasses on and just a candle light in the bathroom. Have a quiet moment with your baby. The little one has been on your emotional roller coaster in the last few days, also has been shocked by the ecv. Feel this baby, is he/she shy, boshy, stuck, uncertain? all babies respond to loving contact and trusting intent. After all, if they come out breech in your family, this one may well follow the trend.  Please apply yoga principles to this situation. Actually, it's rather common sense. If you are stressed and tense, all the caring team around you will escalate the stress. Everyone is IN FEAR but it's largely irrational. Your email shows that you are aware of the loop: fear of suing, fear of malpractice, but actually it can be done, midwives have done it, your nanna has done it. Recently a Cambridge mother in Sally Lomas's class opted to have a breech birth at home and it went fine. Brave midwife. Acknowledge the circle of fear and step out of it, just for a moment. Trust that the best way can be found, whatever this is going to be, for your baby and you. Then you receive support, because no one likes this climate of fear and all are committed to support you. They would not do this job otherwise!

Why should you not be able to relax in a hospital environment? you might need props for your senses: one or more selected images that induce relaxation for you. A scent that you can douse on your hankie to reach your olfatic membranes and release endorphins right then. A special tune or song that you can hum or sing when you feel the tension well up, to force you to breathe slowly and deeply, also reaching your baby with your voice. What else? do you trust your birth partner? 

Rolling movements on all fours during labour can help a breech baby turn if the supported inverted positions have not worked previous to labour. Still worth trying... Then, the best birth position for a breech is not squatting, particularly for a western woman not used to squatting, because it is the delivery of the baby's head that is the most tricky part of a breech delivery and this could be awkward in a squatting position, even if you were perched on the bed in easy view for the midwife. In my experience of attending breech births (I saw two successful breech births at Hinchinbrooke hospital and attended an accidental podalic-one foot presenting first-birth at home) the best position by far is standing. This is also recommended by Janet Balaskas and I think by Michel Odent. Stand soft yet strong, knees slightly bent, legs comfortably apart, arms supported by people on each side if possible, let your contractions drop the baby's body, then the head, all in one flow.

Most of all, relax and tell your baby how much you love and trust her/him and you will be OK through this together.

Francoise.

Dear Catherine, have you considered acupuncture? There is reasonably good evidence that it can help turn a breech baby with a quoted research success rate of around 66-70% (info from Denise Tiran mdiwife and complementary therapy in pregnancy expert - see www.expectancy.co.uk).

It involves smouldering a stick of moxa (a herb used in Eastern medicine and acupuncture) over acupuncture points at the base of the nail on each little toe.I would recommend you find an acupuncturist who is used to employing this technique if possible and it is ESSENTIAL that you advise your midwife/obstetrician that you are intending trying this. Check for acupuncturist in your area via the British Acupuncture Council www.acupuncture.org.uk or contact

Stay positive and a brief story for you. One of the therapists who works with me, Faye had her second baby in a planned home delivery about 8 months ago. Apparently, nobody knew the baby was breech until the midwife saw her bottom appear instead of her head during second stage! Niamh was delivered safely with mum Faye in the squat position with no problem at all (although expect it was a hit of a shock to the midwife at the time!).

Love and light,

Julia