Breech at 37 Weeks

Updated on August 23, 2012
J.M. asks from Santa Monica, CA
19 answers

So I had a shock this week. I was told that my baby is frank breech. My feeling is that the baby moved after an "intervention" when I was being monitored at the hospital. A loud horn-like sound was put to my belly to get a reaction from the baby. I know it has moved since then because I saw the baby react very strongly and my whole belly moved in a wave-like manner. Also I don't feel the the same pressure down below, I can move around, walk and bend down a lot easier than before. So my questions to you mamas are: has anyone had the sound intervention at a hospital monitoring and gotten a strong reaction from the baby? Has anyone had a baby return from breech to vertex after 37 weeks? I have an appointment on Monday with a chiropractor that specializes in breech babies, but as of now my doctor has scheduled me for a C-section, which I'm not happy about. It's been an emotional week to say the least.

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So What Happened?

So the baby never turned again. I tried the chiropractor and the homeopathic herb pulsatilla, but to no avail. I also did the ironing board tilt a few times. My beautiful baby daughter was born via c-section last week. She is healthy and I feel so lucky to have her. Now I am in recovery from the operation (that I never wanted!), and it's slow. I am still hobbling around a week later and having to ask my husband and family to do most things for me. I guess I'm not a good patient. I am taking Traumeel for healing, which is a homeopathic arnica treatment. Does anyone have any advice for a good recovery or any encouraging recovery stories? How long was it before you felt "normal" again?

More Answers

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

Mine didn't move so you know where I ended up. Just because they schedule a c-section doesn't mean you have to show up for it.
Add acupuncture to the chiro, they can do amazing things

1 mom found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

http://spinningbabies.com/
Try some of the exercises on this page. This was my lifesaver for my daughter that went sideways. She turned and I went on to deliver at a birth center with no issues. She turned a little earlier, 36 weeks I think it was. But it may not be too late for you.
I wish you all the best!!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.M.

answers from Phoenix on

A friend of mine found out that her baby had turned an hour before her scheduled c-section. If they want to schedule you for a c-section at 39 weeks (they usually do), ask lots of questions about the pros and cons. If there are no strong reasons for a c-section at 39 weeks, you can consider giving baby some more time to turn, if needed. The doctor is there to give you information and provide the care that you request. YOU are in charge, don't let them make you forget that!
Best of luck!!

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T.N.

answers from Phoenix on

My myopractor (similar to a chiropractor) turned my sister's baby around. It was upside down (head was up instead of down) so maybe that could help with breech too.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

When I was young, a neighbor was breech until the day of her scheduled c-section. They did an ultrasound right before prepping her and the baby had turned. She went into labor 2 days later.Always possible. My son was frank breech. They told me that if my fluids were not so low, he may have turned. They would have done an u/s before doing the c-section.
As it was, I ended up having a c-section a week before the scheduled date due to low fluids.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

At 39 weeks after a long walk up a hill my daughter turned. So anything is possible.

S.A.

answers from Chicago on

I had the sound device used while late in my third pregnancyl, but it didn't cause the baby to turn.

My sister had success with an external manipulation done by doctors. It was very uncomfortable, but allowed her to have the V-Bac that she was so set on having. Maybe if the chiropractor doesn't work, you can give that some consideration.

Best of luck!

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I was a frank breech home birth 37 years ago. I am just fine, thank you very much. ;) Most Obs and midwives have malpractice insurance that won't allow them to CATCH a breech baby.

There is an OB in your area that catches breech babies:

Stuart Fischbein, MD
10309 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 300

Los Angeles, CA 
###-###-####
###-###-####

The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2006) 194, 20-5
“Results: most cases of neonatal death and morbidity in the term breech trial cannot be attributed to the mode of delivery. Moreover, analysis of outcome after 2 years has shown no difference between vaginal and abdominal deliveries of breech babies.”

Chiropractic worked for me! He was breech and 20 hours after my water broke, I got adjusted. He turned immediately after and was born vertex 9 hours later. ;)

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M.S.

answers from Portland on

My doc told me about an acupunture treatment they can do that will turn the baby also. Maybe look into it where you are. I have had acupuncture many times and its not that bad. Much better than a c-section which I had 2 for other reasons. Good luck mama!

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G.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

My second baby was breeched through the whole pregnancy. I had tried everything. Chiropractic help, standing on my head for 30 minutes every night, bright light at my lower belly, external version.. nothing helped, and I was in tears.
At the day of my scheduled c-cetion I felt my baby turn, by it self, in the elevator up to the third floor of Saint John's Hospital. When they checked with an ultra sound they saw that that was true and she was born with natural vaginal birth four days later. Anything can happen! Hang in there!

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J.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

My friend had success with acupuncture in turning her breech baby.

I tried moxibustion before going in for an external version, which did turn the baby. I ended up with a c-section for other reasons. The version was NOT pleasant, but it did what it was supposed to do.

Not knowing what is involved with the sound intervention, I'm a little curious if trying it again will get the baby to turn back? Something to consider if it's not too onerous or expensive a procedure.

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

My first baby was breech at 34 weeks, and my doctor tried external manipulation. It didn't work, but my son turned on his own a few days later - very uncomfortable. He was born at 35 weeks.

I hope your baby turns, but either way congratulations on your impending birth!

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S.K.

answers from Chicago on

Does your doctor not offer an external version (where they bring you to the hospital and try to manually turn the baby by pushing on him/her from the outside, i.e. your belly)? I would definitely try some of the exercises/maneuvers recommended on that website in the first post, if the baby truly was head down before it is likely he/she will go back to that position. I have also heard positive things about acupuncture for turning breech babies. I believe the needle goes into your big toe.
And if you do end up going in for a c-section be sure they do an US RIGHT before you go to the OR, they can turn at any time. If you are there for a c-section but they find he has turned they will either send you home to wait for labor or induce you instead. Best of luck!

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

I had a breech baby and an external cephalic version at almost 37 weeks. It was a very easy procedure, no anesthesia, just regular monitoring. The doctor who did it was experienced: a quick ultrasound before and after and 30 minutes of monitoring the baby. The version itself was uncomfortable but not painful, just lots of pressure on my bladder to lift DD's butt out of my pelvis.
DD was born 5 days later in a textbook, wonderful vaginal delivery.
I would do it again any time.
Good luck.

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D..

answers from Charlotte on

I didn't have sound intervention like you are talking about, but my second baby was breech at 36 weeks. He turned by himself. Don't give up hope that your baby won't turn. And if he or she does turn, ask the doctor when you go in to give birth to please do an ultrasound to see if the baby is face up or face down. Face up (OP) can cause the baby to be stuck and can cause back labor. They can turn the baby if it is OP.

Dawn

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

Babies can turn at the last minute and often do. My doctor told me that he used to turn them but often they turn back too as they liked that position and that's why they chose it to start with. Some are just more comfortable that way or the shape of the uterus seems better to them upside down. I had my first baby at 33 weeks approximately and in those days they did no sonograms. At the very last minute they found out he was frank breech and I delivered him vaginally, he is fine but I guess now days nobody would do this. I had a very big episiotomy ( spelling may be wrong ). Then my fourth and eighth babies were also breech but not frank breech and so they delivered them vaginally, also they wouldn't do that now days, and all was fine. They said since I'd had one and then two that they'd go ahead and do it. I'm not saying this to convince you to have the baby vaginally but to let you know you can live doing it that way and the baby can be fine. I didn't want a C-section at all. Your baby can turn either way at the last minute so just be patient and maybe it will work out to not have a C-section.

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A.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try acupuncture and moxa. A traditional Chinese doctor can support your body to take its natural course. I too had a breech baby and a nurse practitioner at my doctors told me to try acupunture, she heard many moms who had breech babies tried it and it worked incredibly. They gave me a cigar looking moxa stick and you light it up at the tip. I was instructed to place the heating stick near my toe and other acupuncture points, but without touching my skin. My husband would do the 3-4 treatments at home, after watching the specific instructions the acupuncturist told us to do and be hold our C-Section was cancelled and we had a natural birth. Good luck and I hope you get a chance to try this as soon as possible!

R.B.

answers from La Crosse on

my son was breech until the day before I had him at 39 weeks. I was to have a c section so I could go to my uncles funeral due to him being breech ( they were afraid the stress of the funeral would put me in labor, since we would be traveling 6 hours, they found this the safest).

I went in into the hospital that morning and they did an ultrasound and seen he had turned by himself. I didn't even feel him move. so he was induced :) So try to have some patients with your little one, they might do it on their own!

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L.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

My baby was breech at around 32/33 weeks. One of the things i did to try to get her to turn was take an ironing board, prop it up on the couch so that it's at a low slant, then sat on the ironing board facing the couch and had my husband help me slowly lie back on the ironing board so that i was slightly inverted. I couldn't stay in that position long - maybe about 3 min - then i had him help me up. But I did feel a relief of pressure in my pelvic area which maybe gave the baby some room to move. I did this around twice a day for a week or 2 and at the next ultrasound, around 34/35 weeks, she had moved into the correct position. I have no idea if this exercise helped (i found out about thru googling it) but it's worth trying. Good luck.

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