Turn, baby, turn

October 9, 2009 7:13 PM

Unless we can turn the baby over, Mrs. Littlerobothead is going to have a c-section on the 23rd.

Although c-sections are perfectly normal—and we will be just fine if it happens—we'd really like to try and get her to turn. What are your tried-and-true, sure-fire ways to get a turn to happen? We've already done the ECV and the chiropractor with no luck, which puts us squarely in the realm of "try it, it can't hurt". Any ideas or stories, even ones about not turning? This is our first, and we'd love to not have to go through surgery to get her onto the earth.

Extra bonus backstory: she turned once, and then turned back again. She must be comfy. We'll be swimming tomorrow, with some headstands for good measure. Our little family thanks you for any suggestions!

posted by littlerobothead to health & fitness (27 comments total)

Here's a study claiming that acupuncture can help.

Here's a study claiming that This about.com page has a bunch of other ideas.
posted by alms at 7:24 PM on October 9

Just something to consider....has Mrs. littlerobothead had any other babies? My wife found out when we had our son (3 years ago) that she had a 'Heart-Shaped Uterus', which would prevent the baby from turning once it was done cooking. The doc's told us that she would always have to have a C-section any time we had any more babies. The Doc said that it was extremely common, but couldn't be diagnosed until the first c-section.

Good Luck! :)
posted by AltReality at 7:26 PM on October 9

Get a second opinion. Many American doctors are not trained to assist vaginal deliveries of breech babies, but the evidence in favor of c-section as the safer alternative isn't conclusive. I'd recommend speaking to other doctors or midwives about their experiences with breech birth before deciding whether surgical intervention is what you want to do.
posted by decathecting at 7:43 PM on October 9

I know it's not exactly answering your question, but sometimes, no matter what you do, they turn on their own even when it looks hopeless.

My friend, about 2 weeks before her due date, was told the baby was breech. A week later at her next check up, baby had turned on her own without any coaxing.

But she was getting some of the suggestions alms linked to, especially the frozen peas.
posted by jerseygirl at 7:52 PM on October 9

I know certain chiropractors are trained in the Webster's Technique, and I personally know of several mothers who have had immediate success with this. I'm not a huge fan of chiro care, but I do know that this has one of the highest success rates. Just make sure your chiro is trained in this specific technique (and you can find tons of vids on youtube to see what to expect).

This thread on mothering also has many suggestions.

Good luck!
posted by Lullen at 8:22 PM on October 9

Oh, and I've watched an external version on my good friend--it looked absolutely horrible and she was bruised, in pain and on medication after. That should probably be your last resort.
posted by Lullen at 8:23 PM on October 9

We tried a bunch of stuff, with moxibustion feeling the most blatantly ridiculous. But our OB said, "it can't hurt and there is some indication that it helps". So we tried it. Didn't work.

But you should try it. It can't hurt and there is some indication that it helps.
posted by dirtdirt at 8:24 PM on October 9

Seconding acupuncture. The doctor I work for sends her breech patients there after no luck with ECV. And the acupuncturist I go to turns babies around on a regular basis! Well worth a try!
posted by theotheramy at 8:25 PM on October 9 [1 favorite]

I don't want to freak your shit out but I would not be doing headstands in late pregnancy outside of a pool. I'm not sure if you had this planned as a water-only activity. That is not a great way to turn a baby and while I am in no way a hysterical pregnancy person, I would be concerned about the configuration of the cord.

Good options: Your wife could spend some time swaying on her hands and knees; alternatively she can lie on a board with her feet slightly elevated (I can't recall the optimal angle.) Finally, an experienced midwife can attempt an external version, which will be successful in manually turning the baby about 30% of the time.

There is, by the way, no risk in letting your wife go into labour, which in and of itself can occasionally turn the baby.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:25 PM on October 9 [1 favorite]

My wife had me speak "down there" to try to make our baby turn and go into the light so to speak...who knows if it worked but she did end up turning.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 8:28 PM on October 9

A friend of mine was in the same boat, and was told by her OB to play music loudly on headphones held to her pelvis so that the baby would turn to hear it. Weird as it sounds, it worked.
posted by Gianna at 8:32 PM on October 9 [1 favorite]

I'm glad DarlingBri said it first. A critical issue is the cord. Neither external version nor any other procedure should be attempted unless you are sure that your experiments are not putting your fetus in danger.

Having been through a C-section (as the father) I'd suggest that it's really very minor surgery and may well have a shorter recovery time and less trauma for both mother and child than a vaginal birth.
posted by JimN2TAW at 8:46 PM on October 9

The website spinning babies.com has lots of tips and tricks to try.
posted by xo at 8:53 PM on October 9 [1 favorite]

Some great stuff here, some we've seen and some we haven't. Thanks so much. We'll try what we can and report back.
posted by littlerobothead at 9:00 PM on October 9

Uhhhh, having been through a C-section as the mother (and not just the father), I'd have to argue that a C-section is a bit more than a "very minor surgery."

Try having your skin and subcutaneous tissue incised, abdominal muscles cut open, a baby removed (sometimes requiring great pressure), then your uterus pulled out to lay on top of your abdomen while they clean all the placenta and yuck out of it, then your uterus stitched back up, stuffed back into your abdominal cavity, your abdominal muscles re-sewn, and your skin stapled, and tell me its a "very minor surgery." Then have all that done AND try to take care of yourself AND a newborn baby.

If it's a matter of getting through birth with both mother and baby healthy, then a C-section is a blessing, of course. If there's a way to try to avoid even this "very minor surgery" without risk to mother or baby, then why wouldn't you try to avoid it?
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 9:05 PM on October 9 [12 favorites]

We did an external inversion with our first; my wife very much did not want a cesarean if at all possible. It worked. Though we were under the care of a midwife, the attending doctor actually did it. It was uncomfortable; it may have left bruises--I honestly don't remember. But to her at least it sure was better than going under the knife! I don't know if you have this option or if it's too late for it, though.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 11:05 PM on October 9

nthing the suggestion for finding a midwife who has experience with external inversion. Also nthing the rec to ask around (perhaps at your hospital) to see if you can find a (probably older) OB or midwife who has experience delivering breech. Breech delivery used to be very much the norm and there are still doctors around, if you look, who have experience in delivering breech babies. That having been said, the Term Breech Trial did show that there was a statistically significant risk to vaginal delivery of a breech baby vs. a C-section.

If nothing works, be firm in your insistence that she be allowed to begin labor naturally before they do the C. Recently there has been a rise is what have come to be called Late Preterm Births, and studies show these babies are subject to more problems than those who are allowed to go to term.

Oh, and this: "I'd suggest that it's really very minor surgery and may well have a shorter recovery time and less trauma for both mother and child than a vaginal birth." is codswallop. Most women "recover" from a vaginal birth within 48 hours. Recovery from a C-section can be 4-6 weeks or longer. No medical professional or woman who has been through it will tell you that its anything other than major surgery. Perhaps routine surgery, but serious stuff none the less.

Good luck!
posted by anastasiav at 11:55 PM on October 9

I don't have any tips for getting Baby LRH to turn around and fly right. But seventeen years ago yesterday I had a baby boy by c-section (but not for the same reasons Mrs. LRH might have one). I was up and about the next day, nursing, baby care, etc., and back to almost normal activities by day 4. I agree with SweetTea that it's not minor surgery, but the outcome for baby and me could have been quite, quite different if a c-section hadn't been available. Today the same baby is about 5' 9", played paintball with his friends, and promised me for the umpteenth time that he'd clean up his room.

Three years after baby #1 I gave birth to baby #2 vaginally. While I felt way better immediately after a vaginal birth than I did after the c-section, the total recovery time was probably only two or three days different. (Baby #2 is about 5'6", and is right now blowing up aliens and saving the world with Baby #1.)

All to say that in my opinion, if Baby LRH turns on her own or by risk free methods, that's wonderful. But in case it doesn't happen, healthy mum and healthy baby is what it's all about. My experience is that whether it happens by c-section, vaginal delivery, or magic wand is, in the long run, not nearly of the same importance that it seems now.

Good luck and congratulations on your new family member!
posted by angiep at 12:01 AM on October 10 [2 favorites]

Most women "recover" from a vaginal birth within 48 hours is as entertaining to me as the "very minor" bit was to SweetTeaAndABiscuit -- but I completely 2nd anastasiav's advice to be firm about letting labour start naturally. However, this seems early to fret, to me. My daughter was breech until fairly late on (also born fairly late on) and I thought "Feh, she'll flip," and she did. Trust thy fetus!
posted by kmennie at 2:30 AM on October 10

I was a breech baby although my mother delivered me vaginally. I guess it wasn't a pleasant affair and I have a sneaking feeling she still holds it against me to this day. But really I'm posting to nth the midwife/second opinion thing.
posted by Syllables at 4:56 AM on October 10

My daughter was breech and she didn't turn by my due date, so she was delivered by scheduled c-section. We tried some external methods and light exercises, but nothing major. She was a pretty big baby so it didn't seem like she'd have a whole lot of room to turn around! The c-section was definitely not "minor" surgery, but I recovered in about 4 weeks. Still, if I had it to do over again, I'd go talk to a midwife or try to get a recommendation for another doctor that has extensive experience delivering breech births without c-section, if possible.
posted by bedhead at 5:05 AM on October 10

Two weeks from now? Plenty of time! My second was breech at 3 weeks before EDD. Lots of rocking on hands and knees, and if you have a landing on the stairs (or low ottoman, or bed) where she can be on her hands and knees with her knees one step up, and hands on a lower surface, that's a helpful position.

Once or twice a day both my husband and other son would also command the baby to turn. My husband was gentle but assertive, but my other son (3yo) was very bossy and would shout right at my stomach: "Hey, New Guy! Turn your body around right now and get ready to be born!! I'm not kidding!! Do it!"

Nthing letting labor start on its own to see if that helps. But in either case, be sure to confirm the baby's still breech by ultrasound before the c/s! It's not always easy for Mom to tell if the baby's turned or not, and it would suck to have the c/s for no reason.
posted by cocoagirl at 7:11 AM on October 10

You could look for a doula. Doulas are similar to midwives, but they don't actually deliver babies, they just assist you in pregnancy and childbirth. My friend is a doula, and one of the things she does involves putting women in yogaesque positions that encourage turning. Worth a shot.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:34 AM on October 10 [1 favorite]

I had an external version with my first. It was done in the hospital, with everyone prepared for an emergency c-section -- they basically were humoring me. I had an epidural for it. It was the weirdest feeling you can imagine, but not painful (because of the epidural). I was fine, the baby was fine, no bruises at all, and he was delivered vaginally a few weeks later.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:00 PM on October 10

Our local midwives tell people to apply heat to the "lower" area and cold to the higher area. Supposedly babies prefer to have warmer tops than bottoms and will adjust themselves accordingly. Just posting because I didn't see any tips like this here - though I have no idea if it works (but they swear it does).
posted by wackybrit at 12:08 PM on October 10

Oh, sorry, just saw you'd already done an external version. I'd never heard it called an ECV before, and skimmed too quickly.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:23 PM on October 10

littlerobothead, please keep us posted!
posted by anastasiav at 8:31 AM on October 11