This is a topic I had not put very much thought towards until I got the news
that my little guy, at 36 weeks, is breech. I kind of felt like I had been
punched in the gut. What did I do wrong? Is there a way I could have prevented
this? Am I now destined to have a c-section no matter what? Well a good dose of
prayer and some research later I have discovered a few things.
To start, what does a breech baby really mean?
Breech is when baby does not turn and point his head downward towards the birth canal. There are three common breech positions; Frank breech, Complete breech, and Footling breech. He is an illustration:
While there are no known reasons why babies decide not to turn at the appropriate time; in some cases it can mean problems in the uterus, distress on part of the baby, or early labor. But do not start stressing out quite yet and scheduling an early c-section. Let’s look at the options for mama’s and their babies.
Once at 36 weeks, if a breech diagnosis is given, your doctor will be keeping a closer eye on you. Preferably they do not want you to go into labor with a breech baby as it makes things more complicated. It’s time to start trying to coax baby into turning.
Natural options:
Medical option:
If the stars align and baby is in the Frank breech position there is still a small option to birth vaginally. A lot of doctors and hospitals will not let you birth breech period but some will. Talk with your doctor and see if you are a good candidate for this if you are wanting to avoid c-section at all cost. However keep in mind it could still end in a c-section if your labor does not progress smoothly and the baby is in distress.
I many cases, if your little one is still breech after all your maneuvering and coaxing, your doctor will suggest to schedule a c-section for sometime in your 39th week. It’s better to have the c-section before you are thrown into full labor, as there can be fewer complications. However, there is always a possibility that baby can flip even right before your c-section. Because of this possibility you will have an ultrasound and exam before you go into the Operating Room to check baby placement and position in case of a change. Even as common as cesarean sections are becoming, there are still risks as it is major abdominal surgery. Make sure to understand all the risks and give yourself plenty of time to recover after it’s all said and done. You’ll need it.
Always remember God is in control of your birth. Be it without any medical intervention or by the steady hands of a surgeon. As hard as it is, we have to trust Him with our babies and know He is with us the whole way, no matter the outcome.
To start, what does a breech baby really mean?
Breech is when baby does not turn and point his head downward towards the birth canal. There are three common breech positions; Frank breech, Complete breech, and Footling breech. He is an illustration:
Factoid: 1 in every 25 full term births
are breech (Americanpregnancy.org)
While there are no known reasons why babies decide not to turn at the appropriate time; in some cases it can mean problems in the uterus, distress on part of the baby, or early labor. But do not start stressing out quite yet and scheduling an early c-section. Let’s look at the options for mama’s and their babies.
Once at 36 weeks, if a breech diagnosis is given, your doctor will be keeping a closer eye on you. Preferably they do not want you to go into labor with a breech baby as it makes things more complicated. It’s time to start trying to coax baby into turning.
Natural options:
- Pelvic tilts
- Play music with headphones on lower abdomen
- Swimming
- Do somersaults in deep water
- Do handstands/ walk on your hands on the bottom of the pool.
- Sink to the pool floor and lay facing up
- Massage
- Elephant walking (bear walk)
- Walk around with hands and feet both on the floor. Tilts your uterus and allows baby more room to flip on his own
- Tailored sitting
- RELAX!
- The more tense and anxious you are about baby turning the more you are constricting the little space he has to move. Get loose!
- Good websites to check out for turning your baby:
Medical option:
- External Cephalic Version (ECV)
o
This
is a procedure where uterine relaxing meds are given and your OBGYN coaxes baby
to turn head down by manually applying pressure, with his hands, to your lower
abdomen and manipulating your uterus.
o
Some
risks of this are: possible for your water to break, kick starting early
labour, vaginal bleeding, or cord prolapse.
o
The
success rate of this procedure is about 54%. And it reduces the need for a
c-section by 33%.
o
Attn:
It can be advised for you to not undergo version if you have previously had a
c-section, you are suspected of having a big baby, high or low amniotic fluid
levels, or if there is fetal growth restriction.
o
Because of the risks, rule of thumb is that this
is preformed no earlier than 35 weeks.
After all these exercises and procedures, some babies will still just not
budge. It’s even possible for you to have a successful ECV and your little one
decides to flip back before you go into labor. Don’t be disheartened. From here
there is still a choice to be made.If the stars align and baby is in the Frank breech position there is still a small option to birth vaginally. A lot of doctors and hospitals will not let you birth breech period but some will. Talk with your doctor and see if you are a good candidate for this if you are wanting to avoid c-section at all cost. However keep in mind it could still end in a c-section if your labor does not progress smoothly and the baby is in distress.
I many cases, if your little one is still breech after all your maneuvering and coaxing, your doctor will suggest to schedule a c-section for sometime in your 39th week. It’s better to have the c-section before you are thrown into full labor, as there can be fewer complications. However, there is always a possibility that baby can flip even right before your c-section. Because of this possibility you will have an ultrasound and exam before you go into the Operating Room to check baby placement and position in case of a change. Even as common as cesarean sections are becoming, there are still risks as it is major abdominal surgery. Make sure to understand all the risks and give yourself plenty of time to recover after it’s all said and done. You’ll need it.
Always remember God is in control of your birth. Be it without any medical intervention or by the steady hands of a surgeon. As hard as it is, we have to trust Him with our babies and know He is with us the whole way, no matter the outcome.
