Babies Position

[Jellyfish]

How accurately can an Obstitrician or Midwife determine a baby's position from feeling around the outside? Both my Midwife and Ob (and also his fill in over Christmas) have said bubs is head down and has been for a while but I can't help feeling like maybe this baby is breech. I trust these people very much, they are the same that I saw with DD but then certain things, such as being so much later in gestation to what I got to with DD (she was born at 38w spontaneous trouble free labour, I'm now 40w 2d which I 100% know is normal but every little thing has you on edge when you're pregnant right?), the rib pain that I've been getting and have gotten for a while now, the irregular twinges (all pretty normal for second bub though anyway), she just still seems quite high but maybe she is just tall... I have movements that feel like feet near the top which is a good sign lol but then they could be hands? My placenta is also right over my belly button if that affects things although when they feel for bubs position they are a looking around lower than that so can't imagine it hinders much.

I mean, part of me knows that it would be really unlikely for 3 people to all confirm baby is head down and then she not be... I mean, from all the scaretalk I've heard about the private system, you would think if they so much as suspect baby is breech they would be rushing me to check on ultrasound (which isn't difficult as my Ob has one just in the next room haha)... although I know my Ob is very hands off and natural, which is why I choose to go to him both for DD and this one!! I know if I asked to have a quick scan just to make sure, he would do one but I also don't want to just have a scan because I'm having normal pregnancy freak outs... with DD I only had one scan (morphology) and so far, the same with this so I'm not really one to just do things because... but that feeling is niggling at me...

Someone tell me I'm just being a normal, over-analyse everything pregnant chick!!

[Charlotte91]

I always knew DD was breech because her head was right next to my belly button. Her head was a big lump. It was so cute.

Talk to your OB. Personally, I'd go for the scan just to confirm things for myself.

But, I don't know how they can tell if bubs in head-down.

Good luck.

[Bloom]

I think they are pretty sure re breech vs normal position. I think that if there were any doubt at all they would send you for a scan.

It is harder to feel anterior vs posterior. And it iss a bit harder anterior/posterior if you have lots of fat layers (not your case) or if you have really tight abdominal muscles (working out lots lately?) or if you have lots of waters.

Try to to worry and talk to your OB next time you see him. Baby will come when she is good and ready.

[~TT40~]

where did they pick up the clearest for her HB? chances are slim that 3 would miss it, but there are always cute little babies that slip through!! I was looking after one woman in labour and I was the 2nd midwife who palpated and examined her, no reason to expect breech due to where she was feeling movement and where we got the HB, and even on an internal breech never crossed either of our minds. That was until the 3rd midwife took over and examined her when she was fully dilated and only then did the fact bub was breech get picked up.
so some do slip through...