manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

hey.. my baby is breech, i have a scheduled c-section date but decided today that i was going in to try to hve her turned.. i'll'have the procedure sometimes in the next two weeks, and if that doesn't work i'll have her by c-section two weeks later..

has anyone experienced this with a previous pregnancy? or scheduled to try it with this baby? or have any info to share about it?

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

My baby is breech too. I will find out in 2 weeks if I need to have the baby manually turned. I have heard that there is a high risk of the umbilical cord getting caught around the baby's neck. I asked the dr. about this and he actually said that there is a very SMALL chance of the cord getting wrapped around the baby's neck. He said that in his 20+ years of being an OBGYN, he has only seen it happen 1 time.

I asked him about the "pain" factor cause i've heard its painful as well. He said that its no "walk in the park" but they "stop before it gets to the level of pain." I imagine its not comfortbale, but not horrible.

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

I don't know anything about it but I did read of a technique using visualization that turned 80% of babies in the study..
Heres one link:

Link

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

yes, my doc has given me pretty much the same info.. my only concern is that she may turn back.. she was breech at about 31 weeks but by 33 weeks she had turned.. then as of this last appointment on the 8th,at 35 weeks she had turned back and was breech again..

so i can see this ECV workingand me getting home and this little hard headed noggin turning herself back around again! I'm now on weekly appts so I go again next Tuesday and we'll seeif she's turned herself by then.. in the meantime i'm drinking loads of water and hoping my AF will go up and maybe float her around.. i'm also going to try some of the other treatments I've read about.. like the light therapy and frozen peas..

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

My baby is breech too and I will not have her manually turned if she doesnt turn on her own. From what I have seen and heard, it is rather unpleasant. If she hasn't turned by 36 weeks, we will schedule a c-section for week 39. That is the agreement that DH and I came with each other.

Though tonight, I actually saw and felt her head moving way up high. It was quite a sight.

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

One of my pregnancy yoga tapes shows exercises that help the baby to turn. I think there is a book out there too that speaks to ways to naturally entice the baby to turn, not sure the name though.

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

I chose not to have it done with my first. He was breech the whole time. My OB said it was only 50-50 that it would actually work, and there was a good possibility they could turn breech again. My son was also big (he was born at 9 lbs 7 oz at 37 weeks), and I heard it was very un-comfy and labor was something that might result.

He did not turn and he came early. I had a c/s and it was a wonderful experience.

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

I don't know much about it, but when I asked my dr about if I would need a c-section at my first appointment, he told me if baby A is head down and baby B is not, then yes I would because they used to turn the second baby but found that caused more problems and they don't like to do it anymore.

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

I have a very good friend who used accupuncture and chinese herbs to help her baby turn- both are considered "safe" in the medical community (her OB actually recommended giving it a try).

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

is breach also... im 38 weeks now and scheduled for a c-section next week... we decided against trying to have the manual turn for a few reasons. First, i have be told throughout the entire pregnancy that I might have to have a section because i had a low-lying placenta, so the possibility of a c-section doesnt freak me out too much, since i have had to grow with the idea for so many months... but i just have a feeling that is happy where she is and would turn right back around if we moved her- especially if she is anything like DH or myself... the dr. also said it could cause distress and put you into an emergency c-section- which i would rather have my planned one next week... and my placenta is also currently in a front position, so the possibility for distress is on the higher side... he also said the procedure is not the most comfortable thing...

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

My friend just had this done.

It didn't work and it was very unpleasant for her...she said she would have chosen not to have it done if she knew what it would be like.

That really isn't to scare anybody, just giving honest feedback. If it had been successful, I'm sure she would have been OK with it, but her doctor told her its pretty much 50/50. And for some reason when a baby is breech there is typically a reason for it, hence why many peoples go back to breech after being turned.

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

Found this on a pregancy website:

Here are 17 Ways to Turn Your Breech Baby!
Be sure to check with your provider before trying the positions for turning a breech baby to see if there is any reason why you should not use them.

1. Visualizing the baby moving down with the head very deep in your pelvis, several times a day; especially in conjunction with positions and exercises below.

2. Swimming as often as possible. This keeps your body and pelvis loose and relaxed. Do in conjunction with headstand below if you have help.

3. Headstand - with assistance and in a pool frequently as possible.

4. Breech Tilt - begin at 32-35 weeks gestation. Do 3 times daily for 10-15 minutes each time, when you have an empty stomach, and the baby is active. Prop one end of an ironing board securely on a sofa or chair 12 to 18 inches high (or may use slant board). Lie down, bend knees but keep feet flat on board. Relax, breathe deeply, avoid tensing. May also use pillows on a flat surface to raise hips 12-18" above shoulders. Gravity pushes the baby's head into the fundus, tucks it, and baby can then do a somersault to a vertex position.

5. CD/iPod headphones - place them inside mom's pants toward her pubic bone and play classical music for 10 minutes 6-8 times a day.

6. Flashlight - try moving slowly down from the top of the uterus toward your pubic bone while you are in a breech tilt position.

7. Massage - start with your left hand at the bottom of the abdomen and your right hand just above it. Move move your hands clockwise around the right side of your tummy. As your right hand reaches the top of your abdomen, slide the left one over your right and move it down the left side of your tummy. Your left hand leads as you you come full circle, continuing clockwise. Massage gently as you would to apply lotion. Massage for ten minutes or more up to several times each day.

8. Clothespin - place on the small toe of each foot at the outside corner of the toenail; sideways so that the toenail and toepad are stimulated for 30 minutes per day, this is an acupressure point that is a "moving down" point. You can also do this with just finger pressure as you remember to do it.

9. Motion Sickness band - place with the bead four fingerwidths above the inner ankle bone - another acupressure point that is used for stimulation of the uterus. Do not use this point if you are experiencing any pre-term labor.

10. Glass of orange or other juice - follow this with a side-lying position with your hips positioned higher than your feet. Babies move more after a sugar high!

11. Pelvic Tilt- with an ice pack on the top of your tummy on an empty stomach, 10 minutes twice a day. Do this while lying on your back on the floor with knees flexed and feet on the floor with three large pillows placed under your buttocks. Try this in conjunction with headphones and visualization.

12. Cat stretch - start with all fours, then lay your head and chest flat on the floor with your buttocks in the air, as you round your back and return to all fours.

13. Knee-chest position - by kneeling with hips flexed slightly more than 90 degree, but with thighs not pressing against your tummy and your head, shoulders and upper chest are flat on a mattress for 15 minutes every two waking hours for five days.

14. Belly Relaxing followed by Inversion - Partner places a shawl, sheet, towel or rebozo under mom's hips as she lays on the floor. Lift up on the corners of the cloth and shimmy her from side to side moving your hands up and down to wiggle her belly from side to side. These should be very small movements which mom should find very relaxing. Do this for about 5 minutes. Then mother kneels on the stairway landing. Walk your hands down 2 or 3 stairs into an all fours position; have your partner support your shoulders to balance you. Remain in this position for about 5-10 minutes or as long as comfortable. Also do this on an empty stomach.

The following techniques to turn breech babies to vertex involve the assistance of a specialist or medical professional:
15. Acupuncture - find a acupuncturist who is familiar with pregnancy and knows the points to stimulate for turning a breech baby.

16. Webster's Breech Technique - see a Chiropractor who is experienced in this technique.

17. External Version - this can be done in the hospital at about 37 weeks; see an Ob-Gyn for assistance and more information.

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

I tried having my dd turned, it was very uncomfortable. It didn't work for me, but I was glad I tried it. I know there are many techniques to turn a baby. I tried most of them. I even tried accupuncture, they said there was an 80% chance she would turn with it. My doctors were very supportive of trying accupuncture, exercises, etc. There is a lot of great information out there on getting your baby to turn. It does work for many people, but I realized there must of been a reason my dd was not turning and ended up with a c-section. If you try I hope it works for you, good luck with your decision!

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

thank you ladies all for the input.. i'm reading up now and trying to get an idea of what i'm going to do.. i reallydidn't want a c-section and it was never discussed before this past tuesday so i geuss i'm just trying to wrap my head around it. i have a strong STRONG feeling that if I did turn her, she'd turn back around.. being as how she was breech, turned, and then turned back.. (WHO DOES THAT!!!!grr)..
she does seem pretty comfortable in there.. she kicks at all the same times each day, stretches at the same time..

ugh.. i guess a scheduled c-section is better than an emergency c-section..i wonder if she'd come on her own if i don't schedule a c-section.. they do that right? like if my c is scheduled for week 39, it's highly possible she could still come week 38 or 37 right?

sigh.. i don't know what to do..

i do know one thing.. lol. i better go buy some baby furniture.and clothing or this little girl will be sleeping in a dresser drawer and wearing her birthday suit for real.. i have practically nothing.. lol. well we do have the crib. but no mattress..

sigh.. thanks a bunch!

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

I chose to have one at 37 weeks for the same reason and very much regret it. It was unbelievably painful, caused me to panic a bit while they were doing it, and I had pain and bruises for a week. AND it didn't work. Two large male OBs tried three times. It was NOT a good experience for me. I ended up getting the scheduled c-section at 39 weeks. I was very happy with the c-section experience overall and wish I had avoided the version. Sorry, wish I had a better report! Good luck!

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

no please don't apologize annie!! i appreciate all views and experiences.. that's what i need to hear!

although my doc said it wasn't comfortable, i didn't realize it was painful..there is a huge difference between uncomfortable and painful.. i've been uncomfortable for weeks.. but pain? i don't know if i want to go through that.. especially if they tend to turn back afterwards..

stubborn babies.. lol.

thanks!!

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

porruss, and all of the other wonderful ladies who took time to find information and weblinks for me..

THANK YOU!!!

i am reading everything I can and looking it up and putting together a list of things I can discuss with my doc on Tues when I go back..

I really REALLY appreciate it!!

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

Message edited 5/22/2010 9:50:53 AM.

Re: manually turning baby-external cephalic version...

Message edited 5/22/2010 9:51:12 AM.