Two days ago, I know the baby was head down. I could tell by where the kicks were and the hiccups were. I see my doc this morning and he tells me the baby is breech. I had a feeling this was true since this morning the baby's hiccups were toward the top right instead of the usual place at the bottom left of my uterus. (This baby has hiccups almost every day now). Am I sleeping wrong? This baby seemed rather active the last couple of nights. I've been sleeping with three pillows lifting the upper half of my body cause it seems to help me breathe better.

Anyway, the doc said I should start rocking on all fours again to try and get it to turn...otherwise, he is going to have to try and turn the baby next Tuesday at my next visit. EEEK!
Has anyone ever did the rocking thing this late in pregnancy and it actually work? Isn't it real painful for the doc to turn the baby? Oh boy!

Any advice would be great please...:)

Three of my four were breech and I'll be honest and say that once past 32 weeks or so none of my turned on their own. I tried lying backwards on a slant board, rocking on all fours, and doing lots of swimming (including somersaulting) all at the recommendation of my docs and doula. I finally found out with#3 that I had a uterine abnormality which contributed to them settling in that way. I did attempt a 'cephlopelvic-version' with #2 and #3. The way it was done was by admitting me to the L/D ward for the afternoon, giving me an IV (for extra fluid and in case any complications arose), monitoring baby by ultrasound before and during the procedure. My docs worked in a team of two almost trying to turn like a windmill, if that makes sense. With #2 they tried for quite a while, baby would get about half way around and then push to go back. With #3 they only tried a bit because they didn't have an OR open and they like to be able to rush you in to deliver in a hurry if a complication arises. None of the manuvering was painful, just lots of pressure and it all made me a bit nervous. Feel free to pm me with any specific questions. You may want to check with the doc and see how experienced he is with the procedure and see what safety measures are available just in case. Some docs have different success rates.

With my fourth I didn't even try as I was no longer a VBAC candidate anyway so I knew I was headed for a section.

HTH
Beth

Oh, I am sorry, but there is stiil time. I have a friend whose baby was breech at 37-38 weeks and he turned back by himself and he was a huge baby. 10lbs. 6oz.! I have read midwives suggest swimming and also getting someone to help you go upside down under water and then the baby will turn. I am sorry that idea cracks me up though. I do not think I could hold my breathe long enough and with a big belly getting upside down... but if it worked. Great! I hope your baby turns!!

Blessings!

There are a lot of risks with an external version (where they turn the baby from the outside) but there are also a lot of risks with a c-section. My first baby was breech and had to be turned as I was in early labor and I was NOT willing to just jump at a c-section. They turned her and it took two times, but she stayed head down. I'll be praying for you, gal!!!

Awww... I'm not very educated about breech babies but I just wanted to say I'm praying hard that he or she turns around before the "big arrival"!

Everytime you are sitting, sit leaning forward so that baby rests in your hammock (your belly) so that he/she can turn. Here's a good website that tells you natural things to do to get baby to turn....

www.spinningbabies.com

Great website, Eva! I forgot about "Spinning babies"!

sorry for you!
mine was breached at 32 or so weeks for like 2 or 3 weeks but then it turned...don't know how or why.

hope yours turns......

Yes there are lots of risks...and pain with external version. Your best bet are the rocking on all fours...etc. Some babies are stubborn and just won't turn, or flip back anyway.

Wow, really? Your's was painful? Mine was only light pressure, I grunted a big involuntarily, but it wasn't painful... I would definitely do THAT again rather than recover from a C-section... but you are right... some babies do flip back...

How are things, Mommywannabe?? Did your doctor turn your baby? How was your appointment? Hope I didn't miss your post about all that! Praying for you, gal!!

It may be too late for my response, but I would go to the chiropractor. They adjust you to get the baby to flip within 24 hours. also they say try putting cold packs of peas or whatever at the top to get the baby to move away and downward. Hope all went well.

Thanks for all the responses.

Here's a brief update:

I did not yet have the version. The doc scanned last week and yes, baby is still breech. I go in again tomorrow for another scan. If baby has not turned, I have to go to the hospital on Wednesday for the version. I know there is the risk of me going in to labor during or right after the version, but since the baby will be 37 weeks at that point...I'm ok with that. If I don't at least attempt the version, I will automatically be scheduled for a c-section around 39 weeks. I think it's worth the try, don't you?

I'll let you all know how it goes.

after a 36 week baby vs. a term baby for jaundice and lung development....I would personally take the C-section for my baby's sake and for all of the issues we had to deal with after delivery of the early bird we had....just my opinion from experience though....

I do not know very much about turning babies, but I have been reading like crazy about c-sections and vbacs. I would honestly try to avoid a c-section if you can. Would your doctor delay a little 37 1/2 or 38 weeks. I am so glad that if you need one they are available.

Will be praying for you and baby~
Kathaleen

Hi Gina! WOW you are so close! I can't wait! Josh was breach up until around 35 weeks with me and then turned on his own (I think) One really crazy thing but I Swear worked a couple times to flip him (he would flip over and over again between 32-35 weeks was to BD with your chest down and your butt up. The (more forceful) rocking motion in that position worked great and I could actually feel him flipping a few times we did it. It didn't always work but it is worth a try. Also spiningbabies has some other suggestions, defiantly avoid laying on a couch or in the reclining position (it makes them want to go breech) and as someone else mentioned lean forward to make a hammock. Praying your wee one flips.

Gina, I don't know how you feel about this, but in the right circumstances it is possible to have a safe vaginal breech birth. You have to have a care provider skilled in breech births, of course, and the baby has to generally be in frank breech (butt first) position.

My midwife has done a few breech births, although she screens women carefully before she takes them on. Here's an article I saw on the internet: http://www.birthinternational.com/articles/andrea13.html

Are there any midwives or OB's in your area who are skilled in vaginal breech births?

Good luck sweety! In the end, if C-Section will get the baby out safest, then go for it. But just wanted to mention this in case it was an option for you....

Hugs and prayers!

I second the chiropractor! Maybe even call and find one that knows how to adjust you to get the baby to turn. My chiropractor in FL could turn the baby.

Oh, you all are so awesome! Thanks for all the advice AND especially the prayers!

My version was canceled this past Wednesday because the baby turned!!!
As you can imagine, we were so excited to hear this. We had so many people praying for us this week so that I wouldn't have to experience the version and it worked! Isn't our God SO amazing?

So, as long as baby doesn't turn again, we will just be waiting for Labor Day!!

Oh, so happy for you!:-D Must be a big relief. I will pray that baby stays down for you!

Blessings!
Kathaleen

Yay!!!! So glad that little one was 'cooperative'! Praying for a safe, smooth delivery for you and a healthy new addition!

Praise the Lord! Praying for a wonderful labor and delivery and a healthy little baby!

That's so awesome! God is so good to us, isn't He? [clapping]