Cephalic Aversion

You should go to a chiropractor. He/She can do what is called the Websters Technique. In midwifery we use this all the time and it works the majority of the time. Also, in Texas midwives deliver breech babies. If all else fails, get in with a good midwife and deliver at home. This is still safer than having a c-section.

Lisa

Ditto to Lisa's suggestion to find a chiropractor who does Webster's Technique. It's simple, safe and very effective--no pain, no torsion. I, myself have turned babies within 2 or 3 days of the onset of labor--even mothers who were scheduled for c-sections that went on to deliver vaginally. The presentation you describe is potentially problematic, but can be easily corrected in the right hands. Good luck.

An External Cephalic Version is done to rotate baby into a head down position. There is a whole lot of info (too much for me to post) on WebMd. There are other things you can do to turn baby. You can do what's called chasing. Use a frozen bag of veggies on your tummy to "chase" baby to a head down position. I am curious though as to why your doc won't try to deliver a breech baby. Midwives have done it for years.

My sister did and she said that it hurt tremendously. However, when faced with a bit if pain to try and turn a baby vs. a c-section, the decision is yours. Good luck!

Hi, My 4th baby was breech all the way up to the end. My doctor wanted to try to turn him. I had had 3 previous vaginal deliveries and absolutely did not want to have a c-section, but my husband and I never felt good about trying the cephalic version. We opted to do a c-section. It turned out that the umbilical cord had been wrapped around his neck twice. The doctor said we would have lost the baby if we had tried to turn him because he would have been strangled by the cord. We could not see any of this in the ultrasounds they did (they even did one right before the c-section just to check on him). The c-section was not a pleasant experience, but it was so worth it to have a safe, healthy baby. Good luck--I hope everything goes well for you!

My 2nd and 3rd (both girls) were both breech. The dr turned both of them manually and it was no big deal. I did try some natural methods to turn the 2nd- sitting in a warm tub and putting ice on her head to make her turn to the warmth. Also rocking on your hands and knees. Neither "trick" budged her. Turning them was not really comfortable but not painful at all. Both babies were pretty large- 8.5 and 8.15- and a week from term when they were turned. I was determined not to have a C section and this was the perfect solution for me. Both times the dr had me in the hospital w/ the delivery room booked- just in case any complications arose. After he turned them he gave me the option of inducing and delivering that day or waiting until I went into labor. For both I chose to wait and they both stayed turned. One was born a week later, the other was born two weeks later- after being induced twice! (I was turned on one Monday, induced the following Monday because of my "advanced maternal age" and then - when that didn't work- I waited til the third Monday where I was induced again and finally the dr gave up, broke my water and out she popped!) Whatever you choose to do -as long as the baby is born and both of you are fine- that is the right choice. Don't beat yourself up if this delivery is not what you imagined- the end result is what you need to focus on. Good luck!

My first two babies were breach and I had to have csections.
I would not recommend turning the baby because there are a lot of risks to the baby and my friend who had it done said it was more painful than labor.......and then the baby turned back within hours. I just said a prayer for you:)
My csections went great so it is not the end of the world if that is what you have to do.

I had a version done with my first child. The woman (back in Minneapolis) was very experienced, and told me she'd try 4 times, 2x in each direction. If it didn't work after that, she would stop trying. This was all done in the hospital. It worked on the 3rd try. It wasn't painful...actually, I tensed up the first few times she did it because it kind of tickled, and I think that relaxing on her third attempt actually helped. I was a little sore afterward (felt a bit bruised), but for me, it was well worth it to avoid the C-section. The woman was forceful, but no more so than necessary. I would highly recommend it and would do it again if faced with the same issue. For us, it was the perfect alternative to a scheduled abdominal surgery! Feel free to email if you want more details.

The same thing happened to my mother 36 years ago when she was pregnant with me and my twin brother. The doctor tried to turn my brother (after I was delivered), and in the process he aspirated (sp?), got fluid in his lungs and ended up in the NICU with pneumonia. He only lived for 6 days. If I were in your shoes, I'd opt for the c-section and not risk it. I know my brother would still be with us today if the doctor had not done the cepahlic aversion. I've had 2 c-sections (one just 11 weeks ago!) and I've healed tremendously fast----it really isn't as scary or hard as some people make it out to be. Good luck & God bless!

I thought doctors stopped doing that. I personally would not feel comfortable having that done. wait & see if the baby turns. good luck. c-section would be better.

I had that procedure done at about the same point in my pregnancy. For us it didn't work and I ended up having a c-section. I think you're right that it only works about 50% of the time. Some babies are ready to turn and so this procedures works easily and sometimes they are just determined to stay put.

The procedure wasn't too bad; but they did give you some medicine that was supposed to relax those utereus muscles to make the baby easier to turn. For me this medicine was like drinking espresso in that it just made me feel jittery. The procedure was just the doctor pushing on the baby on the outside so a little uncomfortable esp. since my guy wouldn't move. I think it does have to be done at the hospital instead of at the doctor's office just because of the nature of the procedure.

Have you tried laying down with your hips higher than your shoulders, twice a day 20 minutes each time. That worked for me, the baby turned.

Hello,

My baby is now 11months old and when I was pregnant with her she would not turn either. I tried several things but what seemed to work best was playing music in my pants. I put my ipod headphones in my underwear at night before I would go to bed. I would play soft music for about half an hour. I would also put my hips up on pillows so they were higher than my chest to give the baby some room to move. She ended up turning and delivery was fine.

Good luck,

L.

My daughter had this process with her daughter, and it went well. Her water broke during the process, so they went ahead with a vaginal delivery. It all went well, and my granddaughter is 3 1/2 now.
My 3rd child was breech for quite a while, then turned naturally in the last month, and I did a natural vaginal delivery.
I hope this helps.

My doctor tried this on my daughter and it did not work, all it did was start contractions. I ended up in the hosptial overnight with them giving me medication to stop the contractions. This was on a Thursday....my water broke and she came the next Monday. She came 2 1/2 weeks early. I ended up having a C-Setion which I had no problem with. The procedure was uncomfortable and a little painful. I would recommend not doing it and just seeing what happens.

Hi M.,

I have had the cephalic aversion forty some years ago when I was pregnant. It wasn't called that term to me at the time. It was no big deal at all. I think I may have had it done twice our of three births. If there was a risk, I wasn't aware of it. I was in the labor room and the doctor did it like it was a routine thing to do. Being apprehensive about it, you can look this term up on the net and find out more about it. J. (old mom)

Hi M.,

Sorry I'm so late posting. I had the same situation as you, about 38 weeks my baby was breech. I had the procedure done. They had warned me that it could be very painful. There's also the chance, if there's a problem they would have to deliver at that moment. I have to tell you it was the easiest thing. Even the doctors were surprised at how fast and easy it was. There were two doctors. One with her hands at the top of my belly, one with her hands at the bottom and they started to push in opposite directions. Immediately she flipped in to the correct position. I didn't feel a thing. The medication they give you to relax was harder for me than the procedure itself. Fortunately she stayed put until delivery and I was able to have a vaginal delivery.

If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me.

I hope things go as well for you.

I had an external version done when my baby was frank breech. It worked out fine and I had a normal vaginal delivery. I hear that the procedure works better if you have a frank breech baby rather than a footling breech. (not sure if that's true) The procedure was very quick. It took about 30 min. for the medicine they administered to kick in to help relax the uterus. After that my doctor used both of his fists and pressed down on my stomach in a circular moment. He did this twice and the baby moved to the correct position. I do remember feeling pain for a split second when he was pressing down but he did it so fast I didn't even have time to complain.

You have had lots of good exercises offered here. Another I may have missed is acupuncture to turn the baby. There are clinics that specialize in prenatal acupuncture. You might consider having a midwife turn your baby, too, if your are not comfortable with your doctors way of doing things.
Good Luck!

Just my experience: I had two natural deliveries with my two oldest sons and then my 3rd son decided to be breech. I was really nervous about having a c-section and tried the exercise where you rock on your knees for as long as you can stand it and he'd move like crazy afterwards but always end up back in the same position. I considered going to a chiropractor and my doctor said she was fine with it if I wanted to (she didn't offer the procedure you are talking about but I did read about it at the time). Long story short...I had to have a c-section and it turned out my baby's umbilical cord was in a complete knot. I realized then that it was probably a blessing that we let him stay as he was because I imagine if the cord had been compressed he would have gone into some type of stress and I would have ended up with a c-section anyway. Just have faith that whatever happens may be for a reason whether you can or can't see why. Congratulations on your upcoming arrival!!!
D.

I also had an external cephalic version done. My daughter was breach my entire pregnancy and was turned just fine. It is usually lass successful if it is your first pregnancy. Since this is your second I would definitely try it, I think it is worth it. Good luck!

I would recommend some of the non-interventative methods as someone else suggested. Check out www.breechbabies.com (or maybe .org) as they have lots of suggestions. The most successful method to turn a breech baby has been acupuncture so if you are open to that, I would quickly get to an acupuncturist as it may take 3 or 4 sessions.

Good luck

I must state first that I am biased. I had my first with c-section and HATED it! I wanted to avoid it the second time at all costs! I had a hard time finding someone who would help me after already having a c-section. Well, after that battle, my second baby was also breech. I looked into a lot of things to do natural flipping. Doing anything to get your head lower than your hips is a way to help. You can go swimming and try doing a headstand in the water. (Yeah, it sounds silly, but I would just swim towards the bottom of the water.) You can also lie on your back and lift your hips. (Just google "flip breech baby) But, I do agree with most everyone, try a chiropractor. I didn't want to deal with the expense, but I decided it would be less expensive than paying for another c-section. The end result? I had a 100% natural second childbirth and he was not breech!

I've had 4 breeches and c-sections. I'm planning a VBAC with this one and have already turned the baby several times. I'm only 33 weeks right now, though. Do check out a chiropractor that does the Webster. But if you want to have any more children I highly recommend trying the version if the baby hasn't turned.

I know several women who said the baby turned days or a week before they went into labor. My OB told me that he often has women go into labor with a breech baby and the baby turns. He and my midwife suggest waiting until you go into labor if you're stuck on the idea of avoiding a c-section (and I am.) Then if the baby is still breech you can decide if you want to try a natural delivery (which is entirely possible, I know people who have) or have that c-section. I've had two c-sections WHILE in labor and suffered no problems waiting until then. It's also better for the baby!

I was 18 when I had my first son, and he was breech. My doctor was awsome. I had my children in Midland, but he was even going to attempt that. I was scheduled for a C-section. It was no problem at all, and I was awake the whole time. My other two boys were natural. It just sounds so scary and painful for them to try and turn a baby that doesn't want to turn on their own. My sons are 15, 13, and 11 now and I wouldn't change a thing about any of the three deliveries. I also wonder if they can be sure the cord won't wrap around the baby in that procedure. Not to mention if it doesn't work you still have to have a C-section. I wouldn't want to take the chances.

I would try a chiropractor. Dr. Cindy Tovar off of NASA Rd 1 is great. I saw her throughout my pregnancy and her waiting room was always PACKED with pregnant women.

There are also a number of "natural" ways aside from the version which I hear can be quite uncomfortable.

http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/turni...

Doctors today will rarely accept the elevated risk of a breech delivery. Most are not trained to deal with these challenges by anything other than C-Section. Many will atleast allow you to go into labor, but with the medical model, you are likely facing a section if your little one doesn't right himself.

I delivered with a midwife, but honestly can't say what I would have done faced with your situation. Do what you feel is best for your and your family.

Good luck and let us know what happens.