Breech babies?

[joralyd]

does anyone know what causes babies to be breech? I'm just curious because my first baby was heads down most of the time and stayed that way till the end but my second baby was heads up the whole pregnancy and never turned, now baby number 3 is in a heads up transvers possition which he/she's been in since the start. I know they turn and move alot and can stay heads up right till the end but I wondered if there's a reason which causes babies to be breech?

[blue daisy]

Hey Tiff

babies can be breech for a number of reasons...

but first up be reassured that your buba has lots of room to move, so will do baby gymnastics for a while yet...after the 1st pregnancy our abdominal and uterine muscles dont have the same degree of tone and elasticity

babies will generally adopt a head in pelvis position anytime before the onset of labor...simply as this is comfy for them...little baby head shaped space

breech bubas can be so because
1. baby too big for pelvis/or pelvis too small for baby...cephalic disproportion...and it is not all that common
2. short umbilical cord
3. baby wrapped in umbilical cord...shortening the cord, making it hard to turn
4. grand multi...more than 5 children...wroking on the theory of the muslces having reduced tone, making anywhere comfy for the baby to lay in the uterus

hope this helps Tiff

xx yogababy

[blue daisy]

oh I forgot one
5. placenta previa...placenta covering the cervix

x

[joralyd]

Thanks Natalie! I did a bit of research today on the net and found that baby is actually breech but transverse?? head to the right side, bum near pelvis and feels quiet high up not alot of presure in the pelvis at this stage. Plus I have that flat, sunken saucer shape around my belly button. is it comon to have subsiquent breech babies? or is it usually a one off unless you have those conditions?

[blue daisy]

subsequent breech babies would indicate a true cepahalopelvic disproportion...pelvis too small/baby too big

maybe someone with subsequent cases of gestational diabetes with a big baby

...but I have never met anyone with all breech babies...perhaps someone else has

xx

[Danni]

Hi Natalie....do you think it could be a heriditary thing?

I was a breech baby with feet first and so was Mason?

[blue daisy]

yep some women do inherit a pelvic shape that is not favorable for vaginal birth

remember back in the dark ages women would die in childbirth...and they would not birth if they had an unfavorable pelvic shape, and the baby would often also die...today we have c/s who allow for healthy mummy and baby, and the passing on of unfavorable pelvis's to their daughters

one OB once remarked to me...that vaginal birth will one day be a rarity as the human race will evolve with a pelvis that does not support vaginal birth...scary thought

xx yogababy

[boo]

My bubs is also breech - he's all crunched up though with he's legs near he's head. Has anyone got anything they can suggest i try to get him to turn? Ob said if he doesn't turn by 37 weeks then we will try an ECV but i'd really like to avoid that if possible - i'm thinking of giving acupuncture a go?

[Trish]

Another breech baby here too. Noah was a breech bub, he was a complete breech with his head up under my ribs on the left. This baby is a frank breech atm. I thought it was really weird. I can always pretty much tell what postion my babies are in, but not with this bub. I couldn't find her head or her bum. Probably because she has her legs right up in front of her face, so when I did actually find a leg it was hiding her face. Norty girl. I sure hope she moves.

Nat, I have heard that too, because I am a grand multi I have more chance of a breech bub. I hope this changes soon though. I really don't want to end up with another c section. Especially not for my last baby. I want my homebirth again

[blue daisy]

Hey Trish...sending you happy home birth warm fuzzies

xx yogababy

[doulacara]

My bubs is also breech - he's all crunched up though with he's legs near he's head. Has anyone got anything they can suggest i try to get him to turn? Ob said if he doesn't turn by 37 weeks then we will try an ECV but i'd really like to avoid that if possible - i'm thinking of giving acupuncture a go?

There is also moxibustion, a herb available from chinese herbalists and some acupuncturists. It sounds weird, but you burn the sticks next to your little toes essentially. It's inexpensive and has some success. If you google moxibustion and breech you should be able to find out more about it.

BUT - you still have heaps of time for your baby to turn. Some even turn when labour starts.

[blue daisy]

a qualified reflexologist trained in pregnancy techniques can also turn a baby (special technique that 'tweaks' the little toe)...but they can turn themselves right up to about 38ish weeks for a first baby or the day of labor for a 2nd/3rd etc baby

[Trish]

Boo, I used moxi with Tehya as she was posterior and it worked fine. My SIL had moxibustion combined with acupuncture to turn her breech baby. It worked fine for her too. Although he didn't turn until 36 weeks. I will be looking into getting some acupuncture and moxi done too to help this little one turn. Just not sure hwo long to leave it to start trying as I am very aware that she could very well just turn back around. Esp having so much room in my stomach, crappy muscles and all.

Nat, thanks for the fuzzy's hun. I will be storing them up for the next 9 weeks

[joralyd]

good luck Boo and Trish

I was diagnosed with a bicornate uterus with my first pgcy which could have explained it but during the C for my second (breech) baby the ob said he couldn't determin a bicornate uterus. Baby no1 also got stuck in my pelvis during labour so as yet it's an unfavourable pelvis lucky we're not in the dark ages

[boo]

Thanks for the tip re the moxi - i rang and made an appointment with the acupuncturist and it turns out that she also uses this, fingers crossed it works, will find out in a few weeks.
Ob said we will wait until 36 weeks if bubs hasn't turned then he will organise an ECV for 37 weeks - if he still doesn't turn then they'll book me in for a c-sec at 39 weeks which is something i really really don't want to happen!
Sending lots of turning vibes to your bubs Trish

[Trish]

Boo, I had an ECV with Noah, unfortunately for me it didn't work. Hoping for the both of us that our babies go head down, bum up before we need to walk that path. It is really quite uncomfortable, but nothing I wouldn't try again if it means I get to birth my baby the way I want to.

I am so not wanting to have another c section. Alot more against it this time than I was with Noah.

When are you going to start the moxi and acupuncture Boo ?? I was wondering how soon I should start trying.

[boo]

Hi Trish,

My acupuncturist said she has treated ladies anywhere from 30 weeks, but she did remind me that the earlier he turns then the more time he's got to turn back again - i'm going to see her next Friday so i'll be 32 weeks, i'll let you know how i go.
Everyone keeps telling me i'll know when he has turned because things will feel "different" what do they mean by this?

[Trish]

What they mean is your belly will feel different. Depending on what sort of breech position bub is in now he might move up higher. Once he is head down you will feel a diff sort of pressure down below. When bub finally engages you will feel it in your chest too, breathing will become somewhat easier. Your belly will feel diff from the outside too.

Although in saying all of this, my SIL had no idea when her baby had turned around at 36 weeks.

Sending you a stack of head down bum up vibes hun.

I think I will wait another couple of weeks before I start to encourage this baby downwards. As my muscles are so stretched the likelyhood of her turning back is higher too.