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 74.
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momagainaft16years - 236 days ago.
My daughter in in transverse position. Her legs are dangling above my pelvis and her back is curved away from my breasts. Doc says if she doesn't turn by tomorrow he wants to schedule a c section. Don't I have time yet???

trkrchk - 237 days ago.
I gotta breech boy baby.. Hes my 2nd breech out of 4. for some reason it just seems more uncomfortable than a normal laying baby. I gonna have a c/s anyway so it doesn't really matter, I suppose. Good luck to those still early enough to turn on their own.. P.S. A ECV with my first was unsucessful and resulted in a C/S. :)

mommy2bee6917 - 247 days ago.
I am almost 36 weeks, baby is breech, head pokes out up by my ribs....I just saw a chiropractor that practices a 'Webster' method which is supposed to be something like 95% effective -- just finished my first treatment...he did like one thing, and i have been feeling quited a bit of movement since then, very excited. I am seeing him again next week. Doc said that if baby has not turned by Monday than we will talk about c-sec but I am not giving up...Also there is a Chinese 'Accupuncture' thing that can be looked into called 'moxibustion' not sure if that works or not, but its another option I am willing to try. Just on a side note, there was alot of tension down by my pelvis in the front, he just applied some pressure to help it ease up, it felt better just him doing that...??

YoungMum- - 254 days ago.
I think that you have until 38wks to have the baby turned by a doctor, I found out after 38wks and the doctor was saying that he wouldn't have attempted it any way even if I wasn't 38wks because of the complications. He didnt really go into what the complications were though

Bri - 254 days ago.
At 35weeks there still is a chance. There are yoga positions that 'can' help to turn the baby. There is also a procedure that your doctor can preform that can turn baby. The problem with that is it's high risk. You would need to do a non stress test afterwards and sometimes it will send you into labor. I've also heard about baby getting disstressed because of it and an emergency section has to happen. If when the doctor turns the baby and the cord doesn't go correctly it can go around the neck. Basically, it's really risky. You could as well deliver the baby breech, well depending on what type of breech it is. It's also risky and painful. My second sister was delivered breeched, my mom didn't have (no time) for pain meds. She went on to have me perfectly. I guess for your question, you do have a chance but if not then oh well. I have a section with my last. It really wasn't bad. I do want a natural VBAC this time around but I want to let you know that sections aren't always horror stories. I know plenty of women that would rather have a section then go into labor. Good luck!

jenakatessa - 254 days ago.
I am 35 weeks and today i had a ultra sound with my doc to see what posistion baby was in and he is in breech position....what are the chances of him turning

Beautiful Bre - 258 days ago.
well, thank you for the info. i would rather do the vbac not c section!! but i will take what comes at me.. not like i have a choice! just curious i will have to have my dr do another ultra sound when i go in. i would feel so much better if my little one was head down.

wantingfourth - 258 days ago.
I just want to mention a woman's or shall I say a mother's intuition is usually spot on. When I was pregnant with my dd I had 2 u/s's and both times she was head down. But around the 7th month I noticed a lot of pain around my cervix like it was being kicked, when I mentioned it to my OB she said oh she'll turn. By the time I was 8 1/2 months I was done, I couldn't take anymore and opted for a c/s instead of a vbac. Convinced she was head down my OB was shocked that she was breech and actually knicked my dd's thigh when they cut me open. Needless to say I knew the whole time. So if you sense something-don't hesitate to speak up. Had I been induced I may have had a very complicated birth but instead it went quite smoothly and my dd is now 8 1/2yo and just as stubborn now as she was then.

YoungMum- - 258 days ago.
Bre the doctor can physically assist in turning your baby but like everything there are complications and it must be done by a certain time frame in the pregnancy.

Beautiful Bre - 258 days ago.
i have a breech positioned baby.. i am 27 and a half weeks and i was just wondering when they usually turn around... if they do. is it j ust at all different times or usually around the same time? cant your dr also go in a try to help move them to be head down?

shirls - 259 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 - 274 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 - 278 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 - 301 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 - 301 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 - 308 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 - 310 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 - 312 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 - 313 days ago.
any exercises that anyone used that are good to make breeched babies flip??

alison3773 - 333 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 - 333 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 - 346 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 - 353 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 - 360 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 - 360 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.