When is breech position

The birth process , however, is often more challenging when babies are still breech at the start of labour. Some breech babies turn themselves naturally in the last month of pregnancy. If this is your first baby and they are breech at 36 weeks, the chance of the baby turning itself naturally before you go into labour is about 1 in 8.

If your baby is in a breech position at 36 weeks, your doctor or midwife might suggest you think about an ECV, or external cephalic version , after 37 weeks. This will increase your chances of your baby turning to a head-down position. Some people think that you might be able to encourage your baby to turn by holding yourself in certain positions, such as kneeling with your bottom in the air and your head and shoulders flat to the ground.

Other options you might hear include acupuncture, a Chinese herb called moxibustion and chiropractic treatment. There is no good evidence that these work. Talk to your doctor or midwife before trying any techniques to be sure they do not harm you or your baby. Women are often encouraged to have a caesarean birth if their baby is breech. But a breech vaginal birth might be possible, depending on your individual circumstances, the type of breech position your baby is in, and the skills of the doctors and midwives available to you.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Malpresentation is when your baby is in an unusual position as the birth approaches.

An episiotomy is a procedure performed during labour to assist with the delivery of your baby. The cut is usually made low and around the level of the bikini line. Advice on choosing where to give birth, including a midwifery unit or birth centre, hospital or at home, and what to expect from private and public care.

These may include placental problems, difficulty with repeat caesarean section surgery and a small increase in stillbirth in subsequent pregnancies. If you choose to have a caesarean section but then go into labour before your planned operation, your healthcare professional will examine you to assess whether it is safe to go ahead.

If the baby is close to being born, it may be safer for you to have a vaginal breech birth. If you choose this option, you will need to be cared for by a team trained in helping women to have breech babies vaginally. Induction of labour is not usually recommended. While a successful vaginal birth carries the least risks for you, it carries a small increased risk of your baby dying around the time of delivery.

A vaginal breech birth may also cause serious short-term complications for your baby. However, these complications do not seem to have any long-term effects on your baby. Your individual risks should be discussed with you by your healthcare team. Before choosing a vaginal breech birth, it is advised that you and your baby are assessed by your healthcare professional. They may advise against a vaginal birth if:. With a breech baby you have the same choices for pain relief as with a baby who is in the head-first position.

If you choose to have an epidural, there is an increased chance of a caesarean section. However, whatever you choose, a calm atmosphere with continuous support should be provided. A paediatrician a doctor who specialises in the care of babies, children and teenagers will attend the birth to check your baby is doing well. If you go into labour before 37 weeks of pregnancy, the balance of the benefits and risks of having a caesarean section or vaginal birth changes and will be discussed with you.

If you are having twins and the first baby is breech, your healthcare professional will usually recommend a planned caesarean section. If, however, the first baby is head-first, the position of the second baby is less important.

This is because, after the birth of the first baby, the second baby has lots more room to move. It may turn naturally into a head-first position or a doctor may be able to help the baby to turn. If you would like further information on breech babies and breech birth, you should speak with your healthcare professional.

If you are asked to make a choice, you may have lots of questions that you want to ask. You may also want to talk over your options with your family or friends.

It can help to write a list of the questions you want answered and take it to your appointment. There's no proof that any of them work — or that all of them are safe. Consult your practitioner before trying them. There's no conclusive proof that the mother's position has any effect on the baby's position, but the idea is to employ gravity to help your baby somersault into a head-down position. A few tips:. Position 1: Lie flat on your back and raise your pelvis so that it's 9 to 12 inches off the floor.

Support your hips with a pillow and stay in this position for five to 15 minutes. Position 2: Kneel down, with your forearms on the floor in front of you, so that your bottom sticks up in the air. Stay in this position for five to 15 minutes. Sleeping position. Many women wonder if there are sleeping positions to turn a breech baby. But the positions you use to try to coax your baby head down for a short time shouldn't be used while you're sleeping.

It's not safe to sleep flat on your back in late pregnancy, for example, because the weight of your baby may compress the blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to them.

The best position for sleeping during pregnancy is on your side. Placing a pillow between your legs in this position may help open your pelvis, giving your baby room to move more easily. Support your back with plenty of pillows, too. Again, there's no proof that this works, but since it's the best sleeping position for you and your baby, you may as well give it a try. This ancient Chinese technique burns herbs to stimulate key acupressure points.

To help turn a breech baby, an acupuncturist or other practitioner burns mugwort near the acupressure point of your pinky toes. According to Chinese medicine, this should stimulate your baby's activity enough that they may change position on their own.

Others show moxibustion to provide no help in coaxing a baby into cephalic position. If you've discussed it with your caregiver and want to give it a try, contact your state acupuncture or Chinese medicine association and ask for the names of licensed practitioners.

One small study found that women who are regularly hypnotized into a state of deep relaxation at 37 to 40 weeks are more likely to have their baby turn than other women. If you're willing to try this technique, look for a licensed hypnotherapist with experience working with pregnant women.

There's a technique — called The Webster Breech Technique — that aims to reduce stress on the pelvis by relaxing the uterus and surrounding ligaments. The idea is that a breech baby can turn more naturally in a relaxed uterus, but research is limited as to the risks and benefits of this technique.

If you're interested, talk with your provider about working with a chiropractor who's experienced with the technique. This is a safe — and again, unproven — method based on the fact that your baby can hear sounds outside the womb.

Simply play music close to the lower part of your abdomen some women use headphones to encourage your baby to move in the direction of the sound. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing.

Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. If your baby is breech. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Mode of term singleton breech delivery. The medicine may be given as a shot or through a vein IV. It is very safe, with no risk to your baby. During the ECV, you will lie down and the doctor will place his or her hands on your stomach.

Your chance of having a normal vaginal delivery is high. However, there is a chance that the baby can turn back around to the breech position. The success rate of ECV depends on several factors:. If the procedure is not successful, your doctor will talk to you about delivery. He or she will discuss the pros and cons of having a vaginal delivery or a C- section. The doctor may suggest repeating the ECV.

Some people look to natural ways to try and turn their baby. These methods include exercise positions, certain stimulants, and alternative medicine.

They may help but there is no scientific evidence that they work. It is not always possible to turn your baby from being breech. Some breech babies can be safely delivered through the vagina, but usually doctors deliver them by C-section. Risks involved with a C-section include bleeding and infection.

There also can be a longer hospital stay for both the mother and her baby. Last Updated: March 13, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. Pregnancy screenings can provide valuable information before your baby is born about the risks for common birth defects.

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