Breech Position

What is the best way to deliver a breech baby?

Breech Position

Your doctor may examine you or perform an ultrasound and tell you that your baby is in a breech position. If your baby is found to be in a breech position, that means he is sitting with his butt or feet at your cervix. Your baby may be frank breech-which means that he his bottom first with his feet by his head. A complete breech position occurs when the baby is bottom first with his legs crossed Indian-style. If your baby is sitting in a footling breech position, he has one or both of his feet near the cervix. Ideally, babies need to be head first to have a safe vaginal delivery.

It is not uncommon for a baby to be breech early in the pregnancy. This should not be a cause for concern because there is still plenty of time for the baby to move into a head-down position. Around 8 months, there is not very much extra room in the womb. If your baby has not turned by this point, the likelihood of him turning on his own is slim. Normally, your healthcare provider can tell what position your baby is at the beginning of the third trimester.

If your baby has not turned into a head-down position by the time you are 36-37 weeks pregnant, you may be a good candidate for an external cephalic version. This simply means that your caregiver will try to manually turn your baby into a head down position by using her hands over your abdomen.

If the external cephalic version is not successful or you were not a candidate for the procedure, you will probably have a caesarean section to deliver your baby. In twin pregnancies, a vaginal delivery is attempted if the presenting twin is in a head-down position. If you have a planned c-section because of your baby's breech presentation, you will probably be given an ultrasound to confirm the position before the surgery.

Comments: Breech Position

Comments 26 to 49 of about 64.
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shirls - 148 days ago.
An article about changing the policy in Canada for cesareans due to a breech delivery. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/c-section-not-best-option-for-breech-birth/article1186104/

lippylou - 163 days ago.
Hiya girls, I had a growth scan this morning and was told my little girl is in breech plus she is a bit on the small side, the sonographer didn't seem all that worried but she has booked me an appointment with a doctor at the hospital on Monday so he can check me out. I've read up about External -cephalic-version and sounds quite promising but its meant to be uncomfortable, I will hear more about it when I see the Doc. I haven't written a birthplan so if I have to have a c-section then I'm not going to be too upset.....my little girl has to come out one way or another!

4thonitsway - 168 days ago.
needing info on transverse babies, there doesnt seem to be a forum for this, anyone have a tranverse baby that turned after 33 weeks, this is my 4th kiddo and have never had this problem

xweegeex - 190 days ago.
& to add to that, even wen i was in hospital that nite, they gave me a couple of internals & they still kept saying 'oh yeh i can feel the babies head' how wrong can u get it?? I mean these are meant to be trained nurses for goodness sake!!!!!

xweegeex - 190 days ago.
No one spotted the fact that my daughter was breech until I was 8cm dilated & pushing lol!!! Also they were trying to send me home before that because the midwifes kept sayin that I wasnt in labour & they sent my mum & partner home. Well within the hour I was pushing & I had to get rushed in for an emergency section because not only was she breech but there was maconium everywhere so she was in distress. My partner missed the birth by about 5 mins, but thats jst the way things go. Im jst really glad that I stayed at the hospital against the midwifes advice....I cant even bear to think about wot wouldve happened if Id have gone home...........my daughters 6 months old now, & perfect :D

dazieoo - 197 days ago.
Question.. Does anyone know if its harder to do an external version if the mother has an anterior placenta?

avah-grace,s mammy - 199 days ago.
my baby was breech the whole time and nobody realised a day before my due date it was discovered and had to stay in hospital and wait incase my waters broke it was awfull three days after my due date i had a c section this could have been prevented if my caregiver had actualy realised it was my babys bum engaged not the head. make sure you get them to check.

nicnmicsmom - 201 days ago.
I'm at 30 weeks and have been told that my little girl is lying sideways all scrunched up. BOTH times I've had ultrasounds, she's been in this position. I have previously delivered early around 37 weeks and I'm a little afraid she won't turn. Any thoughts or suggestions??? You can directly reply to my profile if you'd like. thanks

trying4babynum1 - 202 days ago.
any exercises that anyone used that are good to make breeched babies flip??

alison3773 - 222 days ago.
My son was butt first and really low at my 38 week appt and my OB said not to worry, that he still had time to turn around and that they would only do a C section if he was still butt down at 39 weeks when I got induced. He turned around sometime that week and I delivered vaginally just fine.

lubbs - 223 days ago.
Hey ladyjaid sorry im a new member so sorry for the late reply to ur post :D With my first pregnancy my little girl was breech and i attempted ecv which was very painful and uncomfortable, didn't work and only has a 50% chance of working! My girl was bron via c-section at 39wks. Im now 38wks pregnant with my second who too is breech and has been since 23wks! Im scheduled for c-section nxt wednesday but this time i refused ecv. for reasons above... happyinclouds good luck with ur c-section as u can c im heading for my second. A buttoned nightdress is a good idea whether feeding or not they like ur child rto have skin to skin contact and will place her up ur nighty, a nightgown and slippers and don't worry about the pj pants hurting the incesion it didnt for me. I have bought 3 pairs of pj's and a pack of 7 BIG,HUGE black "granny" pants and lots of santry towels. You'll still bleed heavily even thought you havent had a vaginal birth... Basically pack everything you'd need for a 3dy stay in hosp for u and ur baby. My girl had a weak reflux which meant she brought up loads of her milk so i went thro LOADS of clothes and bibs but remember theres no need to overdo things in the bag because ur partner, family members or friends can bring u over things as u need them :) I always travel lightly :D :D

nicola5 - 236 days ago.
hi everyone i am 27 weeks pregnant and my little girl is breech i am also high risk for premature labour my last 2 babies were born at 37 weeks and 34 weeks i am really worried about going into labour early with a breech baby and having to have an emergency c section i also have a history of very fast labours my fastest being 26 mins and 31 mins

ladyjaid - 242 days ago.
Hi all! I am 37 weeks today, i have a cerclage in place, it comes out tomorrow but the baby is breech now, he turned on Sunday.... Has anyone else run into this problem? I tried to call my specialist yesterday, but she didn't return my call. I am afraid of the manual version they may want to do, but hope they don't...did anyone else have to have that done? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks ladies!

jamie - 249 days ago.
So Im 27 weeks and this baby is breech and has been since 14 weeks...He never moves. He is always head up on the right side and I feel kicks in the lower region around my navel..My biggest concern with a c-section is the fact I devlop Horners syndrome and it could be a really bad thing. Im not supposed to have an epidural again-so what the ???? I have to be intabated and pout under so I am scared to death of the surgery becoming a reality!!

supermompj - 250 days ago.
I’m almost to week 31 and (from the best I can tell) my little man is still head up! I go in on Monday for a checkup, I’m hoping to get an u/s so we can check his position. I am also a little worried because he stays on my right side. He ONLY ever moves on my left when I sleep on my left side. It’s like gravity pulls him down (over) there. the doc felt me last checkup and said he was just laying there hanging out. She didn’t seem concerned but I am starting to worry now that he is bigger that I should be feeling him throughout the entire area.

Mama-of-2boys - 254 days ago.
Well my little man has finally turned head down which doesnt really matter because I have to have another c section anyways lol. Him being head down is so much more comfortable for me anyways and I cant see how in the heck he would want to stay breech, looks uncomfortable. happyinclouds- You can buy a night gown with button down the front for breastfeeding, whatever is more comfortable for you. With my first son that is what I had, but with this one I have bought me some really big and comfy pants that will go up and over my belly and nice big ol granny panties lol They arent the sexiest panties in town but heck they do the job and they dont hurt. I will also bring big t shirts. So yea I will be up at the hospital looking like I'm goin to clean house lol but I will be comfy.

happyinclouds - 257 days ago.
Sooo, i am 36 weeks preggo with a boy and on my last appointment we found out that he is breech. We did ultrasound and it confirmed that he is fully breech. We will be scheduling a date for csection soon. At first i was very emotional, but as time goes i feel at peace. Anyways, anyone in similar situation, what practical things you are doing to get ready for afterwards? Like i purchased night gown with front opening instead of pj pants as it might touch the incision, etc.

Amy208 - 257 days ago.
Well went to get my membranes stripped today and when the doc was up inside of me he said he felt a foot and not the head. So they sent me to U/S and sure enough my little girl has turned once again. Her head is under my heart and her feet and legs are in my pelvic area soooooooo i am now scheduled for a C section on the 17th. I am very excited and am OK with having a c section. I got to see my little one again and she has a full head of hair, it looked like it was in a mohawk LOL. They didnt tell me how big she should be but thats ok, only 6 more days for me and I get to hold my baby girl.

domevapurple - 260 days ago.
34 weeks now.thank my little man turn to the Right position,

Mama-of-2boys - 261 days ago.
I'm 35 weeks and my little boy is breech. I have to have a c-section either way but I know I seemed more comfortable when my first son was in the head down postion. I dont know why they would want to stay breech it looks soooo very uncomfortable, in the u/s he has his hands,feet,legs and umbilicord all in his face...how is that pleasent lol.

samantha.s - 265 days ago.
hi all im 35wks an found out my madam is breech, this my 4th baby and a large one (11-12lber) again my last lot were big.... any tips on getting her to turn will be most welcome

little1.com - 265 days ago.
weel ladies...my we man was head down until now...im 30 weeks and he done a summersault and nwo hes breech! we think he has it back to front lol he should of been breech then turned round, i find out on the 23rd of march if ihe has turned or if its c section! x

domevapurple - 276 days ago.
Ladies,My little boy is breech too.30 weeks now i wish before the due date he turned in the proper position. anybody here have problem like mine i cant sleep in Straight posistion...the problem is when i turn to the Right and my lift position i can feel his moving and moving maybe his not comportable to the posistion inside...hay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just worried :-)

Mrs.jandrews - 292 days ago.
Hi there, My sister and myself were both breech...I had my son in November and he wasn't breech! Just thought I was add my experience!

babyl - 292 days ago.
I was breech also. My mom had to have a c section. I am 38 weeks with my 1st and she has turned and is in the proper position.