Breech baby and estimated baby weight at 29 weeks

Hi all,

I am fairly new to this site and am looking for some advice

I had a general well being ultrasound yesterday at 29 weeks. The scan indicated that the baby is 'a frank breech' and the placenta is upper anterior.

i am wondering when Obstetricians usually make a decsision about the likelihood of the baby remaining breech and schedule a caesarean?

When do babies usually turn?

Also, the babies weight estimate is 1.3kgs, is this normal for 29 weeks?

Any advice gratefully received!

georgiekate

First baby due 1 September 2007 :)

Hi there and welcome to Bellybelly. Bubs has plenty of time to turn around between now and then and there are some great hints for getting bubs in the right position on the spinningbabies website too. I wouldn't go getting excited and booking a c/s just yet, even if you feel that you are being pressured to by your Ob - just try some of the tips on the webiste and give baby some time. My 1st baby was breech until the 32wk appointment, my third was transverse until 32weeks when they had both turned.

As for the weight, I would say it is average for the gestation. I got a weekly email update today (being 27wks today) and at 27weeks baby is supposed to weight around the 1.2kg mark, so I would say 1.3 at 29wks is just fine. Bearing in mind though that ultrasound 'guesstimates' of babies weight are notorious for being wrong too.

The great news is, your baby is in the most favourable position for a breech vaginal birth (same as it would be head down, just bum down) and even on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gyn's website says this is favourable. So if baby remains breech, you can seek the services of an Ob experienced in breech birth. You might like to speak to MeredithD who is a member here, I supported her in a drug free breech birth.

As the others have mentioned there is still plenty of time - mum told me I was born 9 days post-dates and was breech until the 8th day! But an Ob not experienced in breech birth will want a caesar usually about 38 weeks.

Good luck, research your options and there is a great book to check out, Breech Birth Woman Wise by Maggie Banks.

Hi All,

Thank so much.

I think I just hadn't given any thought to the possibility of the baby being breech or maybe even having a caesar until yesterday... just always assumed I would definately have a vaginal birth. I think I am coming to the time in my pregnancy when the birth itself becomes much more of a reality, and a scary one at that!

I will definately look into my options and talk it through with my (very good - I think) ob before booking in for a caesar.

Thanks again, it is great to have advice so quickly and readily available!

Georgiekate

hi georgiekate and a big welcome to BB!

Here were my results from an ultrasound at 28wks for a comparison:

Weight: 1127g (1.1kg) or 2lb 8 oz
Position: Breech
Placenta: Upper Anterior

So I was more or less the same as you!

My baby turned head down just 3 days later though after lying down and elevating my hips up on a high pillow, which is a way to try and turn a breech baby.

I found it really uncomfortable though and only did it for about 30 seconds, but within 2 hours my baby had moved head down as confimed by my OB who I had an appointment with that afternoon.

I must say I was sceptical when he told me. 3 days earlier he was definatley breech, sitting comfortably in the lotus position actually! That night I found the spinningbabies website as the others have suggested to have a look at and it helped convince me he was indeed head down!

There are a whole heap of great stretches you can do during pregnancy which are relaxing and encourage baby into good positions for birth. I'm happy to send you details, you can email me at august_moon27@hotmail.com

Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy!

August x :D