Although it is very common for the baby to be in the breech position, or with the bottom down, during motherhood, about 3% of babies are in this position even after pregnancy. In this case we speak of 'breech babies' and are at risk of various problems, such as hip dysplasia and lack of oxygen to the brain during childbirth. Several natural methods are used to turn the baby into the correct (or cephalic) position. To turn the baby around you can follow these steps (if the gynecologist agrees) at the beginning of the 30th week.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Exercises (Week 30 to Week 37)
Step 1. Try postural inversion
It is the most commonly used exercise for turning a breech baby. It helps the child to lower the chin (flexion) which is the first step towards assuming a head position.
- To perform this exercise, you need to raise the pelvis 23-30 cm from the head. There are many ways to achieve this, the easiest way is to lie down on the ground and raise your hips with pillows.
- Alternatively, you can get a wide plank of wood (such as the one for ironing) that you will use to lift yourself up against the bed or sofa. Lie on the plank so that your head is at the base (with a pillow) and your feet in the air.
- Repeat this exercise three times a day for 10-15 minutes, on an empty stomach and when you feel the baby is active. Try to relax and breathe deeply, avoiding contracting your abdominal muscles. You can combine this activity with cold and hot packs or music.
Step 2. Knees to chest
This exercise uses gravity to encourage the baby to assume the right position for delivery.
- Kneel on the floor or bed and place your forearms on the floor / bed. Bring your butt up and your chin towards your chest. This position allows the lower part of the uterus to expand while leaving space for the baby's head.
- Hold the position for 5-15 minutes, twice a day. Do this exercise on an empty stomach or you'll end up feeling nauseous.
- If you can feel the baby's position, you can help him turn around. While leaning on one elbow, use your other hand to apply gentle upward pressure on the baby's butt which is right above your pubic bone.
Step 3. Lean forward
It is a similar position to that of the knees to the chest, but a little more extreme.
- Start with the knee-to-chest position on the bed or sofa. With great care, put your palms on the floor (while the rest of the body is still on the bed). Remember to bring your chin to your chest as this helps you relax your pelvic muscles.
- Be "very" careful when trying this exercise, your hands must not slip. Make sure there is always someone to help you and hold your shoulders throughout the exercise.
- Hold the position for 30 seconds. Remember that it is much better to repeat the exercise often (3-4 times a day) than to hold the position for a long time.
Step 4. Go to the pool
Swimming, somersaulting and curling up in the water help the child to reverse his position. Try these water activities:
- Curl up at the bottom of the pool where it is deep, then push yourself up by lifting your hands as if you want to break the surface of the water.
- Swim simply to encourage the baby to move and be comfortable during the final stage of pregnancy. Freestyle and breaststroke are particularly effective techniques.
- Do back and forth somersaults in the water. This relaxes the muscles and allows the baby to turn around more easily. If you have good balance, you can also try to do the handstand and stay in this position as long as you can hold your breath.
- Go underwater. Do this gently while supporting the baby's head on the abdomen. The floating sensation and movement of the water is believed to help the baby turn around.
Step 5. Pay close attention to your posture
In addition to the specific exercises, it is important to take care of your posture in everyday life, as this affects the movement of the child.
- Specifically, good posture allows you to leave as much space as possible in the uterus so that the baby rotates in the head position. Follow these guidelines:
- Stand upright with your chin parallel to the ground.
- Drop your shoulders naturally. If you stand with your chin parallel to the ground, your shoulders will assume the right posture and align automatically. Avoid pushing them backwards.
- Contract your abdomen. Don't stand up and push your belly out.
- Contract your butt. Your center of gravity must be above your hips.
- The feet must be as wide apart as the shoulders to distribute the body weight equally.
Part 2 of 3: Alternative Techniques (Week 30 to Week 37)
Step 1. Try cold and hot packs
Sometimes the cold applied to the upper part of the uterus and something warm to the lower part encourage the baby to move towards the heat and then turn over in the head position.
- To do this, place a cold pack or bag of frozen vegetables on the upper abdomen near the baby's head. Hopefully this will bother him a little and that he will move away from the cold looking for a warmer and more comfortable spot.
- Use an ice pack in the bath when the lower tummy is in the hot water so that the baby rotates towards the sensation of warmth. Alternatively, place a warm compress or bottle of hot water on your lower abdomen.
- This technique is completely safe and you can do it as many times as you like. Many women do it to help their breech baby become cephalic.
Step 2. Try the music
There are a couple of different methods that use sounds to turn babies around in the womb and both rely on the baby moving its head towards the source of the sound.
- A very common technique is to put musical headphones on the lower part of the belly. Online you can find songs designed for this purpose and that you can easily download, even if quiet classical music or some lullaby is fine.
- Alternatively, your partner can put his or her mouth near your lower abdomen and speak to the baby, encouraging him to move towards the sound of his voice. It is also a great way to strengthen the bond between the unborn child and your partner.
Step 3. Talk to an experienced chiropractor who has mastered Webster's technique
This technique was developed to restore pelvic balance which in turn is believed to encourage the child to assume the head position.
- Webster's technique involves two things: First, it ensures that the sacrum and pelvis are balanced and well aligned. If these bones are out of alignment, they prevent the baby from assuming the head position.
- Second, the technique helps reduce stress on the round ligaments that support the uterus by relaxing and decontracting them. When these ligaments are stretched, the baby has more room to move and is therefore easier to position the head before delivery.
- Remember that Webster's technique is a multi-stage process, so you will need to visit the chiropractor several times, at least three times a week in the last few weeks of your pregnancy. Make sure the professional you rely on is certified, licensed, and has a lot of experience in treating breech babies.
Step 4. Try moxibustion
It is a traditional Chinese technique that uses the combustion properties of certain herbs to stimulate pressure points.
- To turn the child, an herb, Artemisia vulgaris, is burned above the pressure point BL67, which is located in the outer corner of the little finger of the foot.
- This technique increases fetal activity and encourages the baby to turn around on its own.
- Moxibustion is performed by an acupuncturist (sometimes in combination with traditional acupuncture) or by a doctor who specializes in alternative medicine. However, there are moxibustion sticks on the market for those who want to try it at home.
Step 5. Hypnosis
Some women have achieved excellent results with the help of a hypnotherapist.
- This therapy usually approaches in two stages. First of all, the mother is hypnotized and brought into a deep state of relaxation. In this way the pelvis and the lower part of the uterus expand, offering the baby more space.
- Subsequently, the mother is encouraged to visualize the child turning.
- Ask your doctor to refer you to a good hypnotherapist who practices in your area.
Part 3 of 3: Medical Intervention (after the 37th week)
Step 1. Program an external cephalic version
By the time you get past the 37th week, the baby is unlikely to turn around on its own.
- Therefore it is advisable to make an appointment with the gynecologist to try to position the child manually and from the outside using the technique called external cephalic version. This is a non-surgical procedure performed in the hospital by a gynecologist.
- You will be given medications to relax the uterus so that you can push the baby into the head position. It is done by applying some pressure to your lower abdomen (which some women find quite painful).
- During the procedure, the doctor uses an ultrasound to check the position of the baby and the placenta, as well as the amount of amniotic fluid. The heart rate is also closely monitored during the procedure and, in the event of a sudden drop, an emergency delivery is carried out.
- The external cephalic release procedure is successful in 58% of cases. It is more effective on women who have already given birth than in the first pregnancies. However, sometimes the maneuver is not possible due to some complications, such as bleeding or less than normal amount of amniotic fluid. It is also impossible in the case of twin pregnancies.
Step 2. Discuss caesarean delivery with your doctor
In some cases it becomes essential, whether the baby is breech or not. For example, you may have placenta previa, triplets, or have previously had caesareans.
- In any case, if your baby is breech but all other values are normal, you can also decide to have him delivered vaginally or undergo a cesarean. Most women opt for this second option, as it is considered less risky.
- Scheduled cesarean delivery is usually not scheduled before the 39th week of pregnancy. An ultrasound is done before surgery to make sure the baby hasn't changed position since the last visit.
- However, if you go into labor before the date of the caesarean and it progresses too quickly, you will have to give birth vaginally regardless of your schedule.
Step 3. Consider a vaginal birth with a breech baby
It is no longer considered as dangerous a condition as it was in the past.
- In 2006, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) stated that naturally giving birth to a breech baby is safe and reasonable in some patients who meet certain requirements.
- For example, it can be a viable solution for those mothers with a large pelvis when the baby has come to term and labor is proceeding normally. Ultrasound should show a healthy baby, within weight limits and with no abnormalities other than breech position and the facility's primary should have experience in breech vaginal deliveries.
- If you think you fit these criteria and are interested in a natural birth despite the baby's position, discuss with your gynecologist to weigh the pros and cons and decide if it may be risky for the baby.
Warnings
- Always speak to your doctor or midwife before attempting any exercise or method to turn the baby in the womb. Turning the baby around can lead to problematic umbilical cord tangles or damage to the placenta.
- According to the American Chiropractic Pediatric Association, more research (still ongoing) is needed for the use of Webster's technique on pregnant women.
