Breech/transverse bub

Just wondering if someone can give me some pointers. I'm 35 weeks tomorrow and the little man still isn't head down. He was at my midwife appointment on the 5/6 but by the next day was lying across with feet near his head.

At what point do the hospital team decide to not wait for him to turn and decide a c-section is best? Do they wait until active labour is happening and do an emergency one, or can this be planned?

I know I still have a while, but just trying to get my head around the possibilities.

I am due for my 10th scan in a couple of weeks as we had a scare at 30 weeks whereby they thought the placenta/cord was failing. It was seen then that he is on the small side, but nothing further done.
The measurements at the scan at 30+2 showed his weight at approx 1476g (+/- 216g)
I don't know if he is just utilising the extra space to his full advantage and will eventually drop, but I know dd was head down and engaged by this time.

I did have some monitoring at the hospital last week, where the midwife and dr were whispering about his size, heart rate (it was high for a while) and also the fact he wasn't head down, but nothing was said directly to me.

Am I worried for nothing? If I'm going to end up with c-section I'd prefer to know before hand and make plans for my dd. My sister is hopefully going to make it for the birth, and my bil will look after dd whilst it's all happening.

Any ideas on ways to get him to move or what the chances are of a c-section?

Most bubs turn in time, but then there are some persistent breech bubs! There are lots of things to try, check out the spinning babies website. You can also try acupuncture and moxibustion. Sometimes seeing a chiro can help get the pelvis in line if that's preventing bub from turning. A last resort thing you can ask for is an ECV which we ended up doing and it worked, just before 37 weeks.

If there are other concerns about bub tho, these could be contributing to being breech. Sometimes there are reasons bubs want to stay up. But if bub is still happily flipping around I wouldn't worry too much. Just try the natural methods of positioning and maybe acupuncture to encourage it.

I doubt many hospitals 'allow' trial of labour before a c/s, going by scheduled operations tend to be safer than emergency. But the hospital I was booked into and who did the ecv (which got me my homebirth incidentally ;) ) told me there was nothing stopping me turning up in labour with a breech bub. I was reassured that they had had a number of breech births at that hospital so I wasn't too concerned that they wouldn't know how to handle one. IMO its the inexperience with breech that can make it dangerous.

I hope bub turns for you and all goes well.

Amelia was breech at 37w, and a few days later I had an external version to manually turn her. It was explained to me that there was a small risk the version would cause placental abruption, and an emergency c/s would be necessary in that case, so I prepared myself for that scenario ahead of time. I started a thread about it, I'll dig through my threads and see if I can find it...

ETA: Here it is :)https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...se-157401.html

It's more about preparing for a possible c/s, but it might be slightly helpful...


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Thanks ladies - I have midwife appt on Thursday so will be asking more then! Also spoke to DD's father and his gf and she has said DD can go there for a few days if need be.

I'm going to definitely do some more research and hope this little man moves the right way

Search the forums, there are a fair few threads about this, including my own story. When mum had me, I was born 9 days post dates, turned the day before I was born. Another BB member had the same story when she was born. If I was born in this time, I would have been a bit over 3 weeks early. I think most babies know what they are doing... you just have to get through the 'rules' these days.

Acupuncture, Breech Birth Woman Wise, Spinning Babies, time... all great resources and help.

What Liz has said is great advice.

I could not find any hospital prepared to allow trial of natural labour prior to c/s.

I found it really easy to find stats on babies still breech at birth, but only lots and lots of annecdotal numbers on babies who turn from breech in the last 2 weeks of gestation.

Good Luck xx

my baby was highly mobile right up until labour started. He was transverse at my 37 and 39 week appts, breech at 40 weeks and my midwife helped turn him head down each time using rebozo techniques. He was born at 41 weeks and was in an awesome position for birthing.

even if bub does not turn, and you decide to go for a c section, you still have input on when this is planned.

check out the info given above.

Thanks ladies - the worst thing is I am petrified of having a c-section purely because of the recovery time and I really have no assistance with DD or when the little man is born. My sister has told me to stay with her, but 6 people in a 2 bedroom unit for 6 weeks. I think I'd kill someone!!!

DD was transverse from about 30 weeks and never turned. At about 34 weeks my OB 'pencilled' me in for a cs at 38 weeks incase she didn't turn.
I tried moxibustion and acupuncture, and while it made her move around, she wasn't able to turn. Her head was wedged in quite snugly! I was scared of the risks of an external attempt at turning so we didn't try.

Did you birth your 1st normally? you can try for a normal birth with this one if it is breech (transverse babies dont generally come out).
You also do not have to go with what the hospital suggests. when you research decide what you are happy with and TELL them. Do not ask as they can not force anything on you that you do not want, including the cesarean.

check out spinning babies website too!

Yep DD came out normally after a 43 hour labour. I've booked in for acupuncture and that mox thingy with a local lady. Also doing lots of research and will go to midwife on Thursday to discuss more :)

My little fellow was transverse, and breech then head down then breech then transverse.....he was a totally spinning baby! He was manually turned and I was booked for an induction the evening after.......he turned back! He was then manually turned again and although he stayed the right way up (head down) unfortunately his cord got under his head so I had to have c/s. I believe as does my ob that I would have had a good VB if it hadn't been for the cord problem which is quite rare when bubba's get turned!
Keep in mind my story is a little different to most. My first baby was born still at 41 weeks with no explaination. The plan (on my insistance) was an induction at 38-39 weeks.
The manual turning was not too painful and they monitored everything very closely. I also tried Moxibustion and accupuncture. These both made him mobile but not engaged.
I think his plan was to always come "out the skylight" !
You can only do your best in these situations. A good outcome is knowing you are aware you've done everything you can to avoid c/s and you have a lovely little bundle to hold forever in your arms. I recovered really well from my c/s. I was up and walking asap and able to do most stuff easily within a week or so. Lifting a toddler would have been a hassle but if you do get on and move it's all good.
Good luck with the spinning!