I'm 33 Wks Pregnant and Baby in Frank Breech Position.

Hi A.,

I was in the same situation. I was very upset about the c-section but after the fact it was SO MUCH EASIER. It was scheduled for 12:00 and I was done by 12:30 and didn't feel a thing. If I had it to do again I would choose c-section although I would have never said that before the fact. My recovery was very fast and easy as well.

Good luck.

L.

You know, same thing happened to me (at 36 weeks).
I really didn't want the c-section, so my doctor offered to try to turn the baby (by pushing on my belly) - she gave me a week to think about it.
That whole week, I could feel the baby turning sideways and then she'd go back right side up.
So when I went back to my doctors the next week she asked if I wanted her to try and turn her and my gut told me NO. I knew the baby wasn't turning for a reason because she was trying to, but then would go back to breech position.
So we scheduled a C-section for the next week and when she was born we found out that she had the umbilical cord around her neck and she was REALLY tangled in it apparently. That's why she couldn't turn the whole way down- she kept getting stuck!
I know the C-Section sounds scary, but sometimes it's the safest way to go. If baby isn't turning there must be a reason, so whatever you do don't try and force it. Either way, just trust your gut!

Homeopathy-Use Pulsatilla 30c (can get in Whole Foods, never mind what label will say – homeopathic remedies are not single-action, and all actions are too numerous to be printed on the label) or 200c (need to get it from on-line or specialized pharmacy), ok to take straight in form of globules, under tongue, best to take diluted in the water bottle. Remember to rigorously shake the bottle before taking a sip. As with all homeopathic remedies, remember to keep it away from strong smells, light and sound exposure.
Homeopathic Pulsatilla causes the muscle fibers in the uterus to even out and may help to turn a breech baby. Homeopathic natrum muriaticum can help reduce swelling (odema) if this is a contributing factor. Consult an experienced homeopath for more advice.

You're ONLY 33 weeks. Don't stress. My grandma was born breech. My mom was born breech. I was born frank breech 0 unassisted, nonetheless. My son was breech 20 hours into labor (without drugs)...and he turned after my chirorpactor adjusted my sacrum. 9 hours later he was born head down.

You can find a chiropractor who does the Webster technique, which turns breech babies BEFORE labor, NOTHING like an ECV.

http://www.icpa4kids.org/
www.spinningbabies.com

Good luck.

Hi A.. Good for you for wanting the best for you and baby. I would look into external version (a doc or midwife attempts to turn the baby manually), a good chiropractor who knows how to do the Webster technique would be an especially good option. I am guessing you have already tried using a slant board without much success. I know a mom who recently had a successful version (at 37 weeks!), so it's not impossible. I would encourage you to call around and find support -- another O.B., a midwife, a doula in your area who can help you out. I don't know where you are geographically; I'm on the Central Coast in CA. Feel free to let me know if I can connect you with someone here.
Best Wishes,
C.
____@____.com

In my opinion, 33 weeks is still a little early and the baby could still turn on his/her own. That said, my son was breech that early and never turned. I was given the option of doing the torso version where they externally try to turn the baby, but I decided against it because I had heard it was very painful and could put the baby in early labor. Plus I thought if he was breech, maybe there was a reason for it. I REALLY didn't want a c-section, he was my first so I knew if I had a c-section with him, I would never have a vaginal delivery (my area doesn't do V-BAC's)

I did try some acupuncture and other methods recommended by an acupuncturist. I also heard swimming can rotate the baby and there are some exercises I found on the internet that were supposed to help. Nothing worked for me, but I ended up having a very healthy 8lb baby boy, which was my ultimate goal for delivery. Since then, I have had a healthy baby girl, also born via c-section.

Good luck with your decision, and congratulations!

Hi A., research something called moxabustion, or moxibustion. It is a chinese herb that you burn near your pinkie toes( I know it sounds crazy)burn it for 15 minutes close enough to your toes that you should feel the heat from it. It is easier to get your husband or someone else to do it. It has a 85% success rate and worked for me at 37 weeks. Also, your ob can turn the baby manually, it's called an external version. Good Luck,
K.

Sorry this is so late, but haven't checked my e-mails for a while. You must call Berlin Wellness Group at ###-###-#### right away! They are specialists in this. My baby was breach and the doctor only gave me one week to get him into position before he wanted to do a version and the wonderful people at Berlin Wellness did it! I went for accupuncture a few times with Jason Starr and Dr. Berlin did some stretching of my pelvis and the baby turned by himself!!! PLEASE try this before trying a version!!!

Hi A.,

My first baby was breech until days before he was born. He turned by himself!

Congratulations!

Hi A.! I hope that your baby turns and you have the birthing experience that you have always wanted. If that is not the case, I wanted to encourage you and let you know about my very positive c-section experience...

My baby too was breeched up until the appointment where they would have scheduled a c-section had hse still been breeched. I really just wanted a chance to experience labor, so that made me very happy that she had turned. I used to say that I had trained for so long, put in the work, I should get a chance at "running the marathon". Well, after my water breaking at home a week after my due date, 22+ hours of labor with very little progression- I wasn't dialating, the baby wasn't coming down the birth canal, me getting a high fever, I ended up having an emergency c-section. The cord was wrapped three times around her neck, explaining why things weren't progressing and both of our heart rates were high, but stagnant. That was not what I wanted, but I did want to tell you that it was not bad at all. I healed very quickly from it. The pain was difficult the first day and a half after, but the medication helped tremendously. Sounds silly, but I was just happy that I got an extra two weeks of maternity leave, when it didn't take me two weeks to heal! Best of luck to you! I will send baby turning prayers your way :)

Chiropractic is an option. My chiropractor is trained in the Webster technique for turning breech babies, which is described below. Her name is Michelle Binkowski and she's located in Encinitas ###-###-####. Best of luck to you!

Chiropractic Care: The late Larry Webster, D.C., of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, developed a technique which enabled chiropractors to release stress on the pregnant woman's pelvis and cause relaxation to the uterus and surrounding ligaments. The relaxed uterus would make it easier for a breech baby to turn naturally. The technique is known as the Webster Breech Technique.

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported in the July/August 2002 issue that 82% of doctors using the Webster Technique reported success. Further, the results from the study suggest that it may be beneficial to perform the Webster Technique in the 8th month of pregnancy.

Hi A.,
My little one was breech the last few weeks of my pregnancy and I was told the same thing. I was determined to have her naturally so read and did everything I could to help her turn. I put myself in all sorts of positions,used a flashlight and music w/headphones trying to help guide her down, had daddy talk to her.. you name it, I tried it! Unfortunatly I nothing worked for us. I was so saddened, especially when my midwife told me that our time was running out and we'd have to begin thinking of a c-section.

At the time I was taking classes for the Bradley Method and it turned out that my teacher was also a chiropractor. She had mentioned something that she does that can help the baby turn on it's own. It's called the 'Webster technique'.
It's a simple, painless adjustment. It doesn't move the baby at all, it's only an adjustment to YOU.
When I went in, I was very surprised at how quick it was. Within the hour, on my way home from the office my baby began turning! It was absolutely amazing!
I called my DR. the next morning to schedule an ultrasound to confirm what I knew had happened. It was pretty funny because when I went in the next morning the nurses and drs were pretty sure I didnt know what I was talking about and kept telling me that lots of mothers think their baby turned, but that because it was so late in my pregnancy the chance she really had really turned on her own were pretty slim and not to get my hopes up. You can imagine my satisfation and relief when they finally put the ultrasound on the top of my belly and first thing on the screen was her butt!
The doctor was flabbergasted and with a big smile, says 'Well, if you didnt know already, you're having a girl... and her head is definatly DOWN!"
Anyway, I've added a link to my old Bradley Teacher's website. She is a wonderful mother, teacher and gentle chiropractor. I hope this info is helpful for you.
Best of luck and don't give up!! :)

http://www.backtofunction.com/bradley.htm

A.- I basically just want to offer words of encouragement. My second daughter was Breech and I had all odds against me for a successful Version (I was 41 wks, very little fluid, and I was very tiny- not a lot of room to move) however, I knew that I was not a good candidate for a C-section in that I was not looking forward to that kind of recovery. It takes some focus, but it was not the craziest thing ever....it's quite fascinating. And, keep in mind that the Dr.'s who perform the Version are not forcing your baby so much as guiding him. There wasn't going to be any chance of my daughter turning on her own, so this was my best bet. It was successful and right afterwards they put a strap around my belly to insure that my baby wouldn't flip again. Literally, I immediatly went into labor. It was 14 hours from the time they began the Version until my little girl was in my arms. I would do it all over in a second!!!
Best of luck to you!

Dear A.,

Congrats on your pregnancy! My first was in the frank breech position. I tried many things to turn her. My daughter insisted on being butt down!! I did have a c-section and then although I attempted a vbac with my second 2.5 years later, I ended up with another c-section. I wanted natural births, but in the end I have no complaints. Both operations went great and the recovery for both went very well.

I'd recommend doing what you can to turn your baby, (I've heard accupuncture works) especially since you've birthed two already and know your body can do it. However, if you end up needing a c-section, don't worry, everything will be fine.

Best wishes,
M.

Look up Spinningbabies.com They have lots of ideas how to spin the baby naturaly. You can also do moxibustion, see a chiropractor, or go swimming. If you are in the LA area, see Dr. Berlin, if you are in the I.E. see Dr. Donahoe.

DO NOT LET THEM TRY AND TURN YOUR BABY!! A lot can go wrong and it hurts. I had a perfect belly and I still have marks from it and my daughter is almost 7 months. I didn't want to have it done but the doctors acted like I was a bad person for not atleast trying. Most of the time a baby is breech for a reason. Having a planned c section is better than an emergency one and that is a very stong possibility. A c section sounds scary but it really isn't bad at all. I was up walking as soon as I could feel my legs and doing household chorse the day after I was home. I also never needed any pain meds stronger than IBP; I was able to breast feed without any problems.

Trying to have her turned was the worst experience of my entire pregnancy I felt like I hurt my baby girl. I spent the next two days in bed crying. My husband was also up set and he stayed with me to hold me.

Hi A.,

Acupuncture with moxa has a great track record for turning breech babies...the earlier you start, the better the results. Ask around in your community for an acupuncturist who specializes in women's health and fertility...they will have lots of experience in this.

Best,
S. I.

Hi. My sister's baby was breech too. The first thing she did was go to an accupunturist like 2x a week until the baby moved. The accupuncturist also had her light this smelly candle at home to make the baby move. I guess the baby doesn't like the smell, so will move. She would light it for about 20 minutes a day. On the third day the baby moved. Also, she tried putting ice on her stomach so the baby would move and did, but ended up moving back. She also tried diving in a pool all the way to the bottom. She did this in an indoor pool at the YMCA. Good Luck. Believe me, it's worth trying all of these things. A c-section is a long recovery and painful.

Hi A.,

I am a yoga teacher and birth doula and have seen many breech babies turn after consistent practice. HEre is a link to a great website about turning breech babies http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/turni...

Also, I send my clients to go see Dr. Elliot Berlin ###-###-####. He has a pretty good success rate.

Good luck!

P.
Birth Doula and Yoga Teacher, South Bay

aloha... sorry that it has taken me so long to respond. i have been trying to get to the computer for the past several days and it has certainly been a challenge, since i am just getting back to work and taking my newborn with me. may baby was also breech up until week 37. i had two versions (one by the md and one by a midwife) the midwife was successful and the baby stayed in the vertex position. i also believe strongly that the accupuncture, herbal hypoxy stick (sp?)and positions (hips up in the air with support of pillows, as well as resting on my head at an angle. the version was really very tolerable. you just need someone with patience and gentle hands. so worth it... to avoid having a c-section. please let me know what happens... i wish you well!

A. C,

Check out this website http://spinningbabies.simplwebsite.com/
It is never too late to encourage your baby to turn. My son was in the perfect position until my water broke and he suddenly went posterior. During the last half of my 36 hour labor, he turned. I did what the knowledgable nurse asked me to do, i.e. labor on all fours and labor on my left side, massaging the baby around during contractions. He did it... he turned, Thank God and I didn't have to be cut. So learn what you can now and hopefully your doctor is as open minded as mine. As long and mother and baby were not in any distress, he let me labor and allowed my son to turn. Breech babies often do turn, so have faith and do all you can. I received chiropractic adjustments throughout my pregnancy and I believe it helped. If your efforts don't work, let go and have a healthy baby with a c-section. We are blessed in this country to have that option. I have lived/worked in countries where that is not the case. Get informed, do what you can and above all else, be kind and gentle to yourself.

Bless you and yours,

A. R.

Hi,
I see you have gotten a lot of information...but mine is just a bit different. My daughter was frank breech at 37 weeks and my ob wanted to schedule a c section. I was the same as you...not wanting one. I tried tons of the suggestions nade here...and nothing worked. I asked to at least try the version (turning her from the outside). The difference with me was that they scheduled a c section (for 38 weeks)...had everything ready at the hospital... when I got there they gave me an epidural THEN moved the baby from the outside. They had the sonogram machine right there...checked before they started...made sure the cord wasn't wrapped around her neck. The baby turned instantly...easily and with no problems. The Dr. said that if it did put me in labor that was fine...if the baby went into distress, the operating room was ready for me...and if she just turned, then they would induce me. So they turned her...induced me...and I had a regular labor and delivery!
My Dr. (the chief of staff) said that the best success she has is to do it with an epidural..it doesn't hurt the Mom, and it allows you to be totally relaxed (not tightening up your stomach) which allows the turn to happen easier. They only gave the push of the epidural so it wore off fast...so then I had labor...and had the epidural turned on again later.
Good luck!!

Same thing happened to me. I started playing classical type music at my pelvic bone and the baby turned to listen better. It could have been a coincidence too, because most babies will turn somewhere after the 34th week anyhow; but either way-he turned and that is all that matters. I refuse to let the docs manually turn him if he didn't turn around on his own. It looks and sounds very painful and stressful on the baby and usually ends up in an emergency C-section instead of a planned one anyhow. Good luck and try the music and/or a flashlight at the top then make it go down to your pelvic bone. Babies can hear and see light in the womb.

My daughter was frank breech. Thjis is what I tried hoping she would turn: Chiropractic, lying upside down daily on a slant board, yoga, accupuncture. I'm not sure if there was anything else. my doctor did not want to perform a version (manipulate the baby physically to turn, may be pretty painful)and said sometimes even if it works they flip right back. DD was planted firmly in my pelvis!! Finally I realized i was spending so much time trying to get her to turn and not enjoying life around me. She never did turm and we schedules the section. We brought our own music and i had a friend do my hair. It was a great birth. my father passed away at the moment they began the incision. His TOD was 9:33 and her TOB 9:43- So i guess it was really out of my hands from the get go!! Good Luck!!

get your hips higher than your head, lay on your side and rub your baby and tell him to move.

My friend's baby was breech and went to an accupuncturist. He uses ancient Chinese medicine -It worked (and it doesn't hurt).

Hi A.,

There is a chiropractor in Long Beach who specializes in pre-natal chiropractic and has had success with babys turning
from the breech position.

She is in Belmont Heights in Long Beach and her name is Dr. Betty Ciuchta. (everybody calls her Dr. Betty). Her phone number is ###-###-####.

Good luck and congrats!
R.

A.,
lots of great advice here...i wont repeat it all. I am a Webster trained (Pregnancy & Pediatric Chiropractor) in El Segundo and would be honored to assist you in helping your baby to turn. I have great success with this technique and some others too.
Blessings on your new life either way they choose to come through...D. Grob
###-###-####
1924B East Maple Ave.
El Segundo, CA 90245

My son was breech and did not turn. I actually didn't want him to turn and prefered the C-suction. There are things they say you can do; putting frozen veggies on your belly to turn the baby, etc. Look on-line for home remedies. In the end, I'm happy that my baby was born c-suction. I had a quick recovery and felt very little pain. Also, my son was born with a perfect shaped head. I was out of the hospital on Sunday morning after having surgery Friday afternoon. The way I look at it is let the baby be born the way they want. Best of luck, L.

hi A.,
i was in your exact position with my little one. the advice i got and followed was to get into downward dog position for about 30 minutes a day, and I saw and accupuncturist who worked her magic...in the end, lily was not turning so we went for the procedure where they try to turn her from the outside, can't remember what that was called as i blocked it out.... unless the doctor tells you that you are a VERY good candidate for that DO NOT TRY IT! it was painful and traumatic and she still did not turn. the moral of this story is that i now have a healthy beautiful baby that was born through c-section. in the end it does not make any difference how they arrive, only that they do and that they and you are healthy.
good luck!

acupuncture, acupuncture, acupuncture!

Hi A.,
I can understand your not wanting a c-section. I think if you can, try to be as informed as possible and try some of the advice you've already gotten from people on this site BUT also, keep an open mind just *in case* you have to have a c-section. It is VERY hard to do both!! That said, it is possible to turn a breech baby (as a lot of people told you). There is a chiropractic group The Berlin Group that might be able to help. www.doctorberlin.com
You can also call Birth & Beyond in Santa Monica and ask them about an herbalist or acupuncurist who specialises in breech. Keep in mind: these methods are not guaranteed and you can only control so much about giving birth but you can do them to try to have the birth you want.
All the best to you!!!!

This happened to my sister and a friend. In both cases, the baby turned on it's own. Good luck!

My pastors wife said she dove into a pool.
Massage might work as well. I've heard of massage therapists turning the babies.

Dear A.,
I feel for you- I was in the same position! Here are some methods to try.
1.Lying on the floor with your feet up on a couch, to give baby room to "slide out" of the pelvic area.
2.Cat/Cow yoga postures for the same reason.
3.Music on headphones played down low- to get baby to turn to hear!
4. Swimming on your stomach in a pool and also doing handstands in the pool.
5.Acupunture (moxibustion). Have an experienced practitioner do this- I think it would make a difference.
6.A more medical approach, but one that does work more than half of the time- an external version.
In the end- our little guy didn't move, but I must say that the moxibustion was the thing that seemed it would work if anything. I could feel him really try to move when we were at the acupuncturist's office- it felt like he was trying to scramble his way around, but just couldn't turn. Unfortunately, I ended up with a C-section. I cried for a couple days when I realized that was the way it was going to go after so much investment in a natural birth. In the end- we had a healthy baby and I was able to be grateful for that.
Blessings to you and baby! Let us know what happened!
S.

Try to lean/ bend on a counter with your elbows supporting you. This leaves your tummy free and gives your baby rooms. You can do it when you're brushing your teeth. It also helps your back.

if the baby is FRANK breech, there is next to nothing that you can do about it...i know, because my daughter was that way. in my opinion, you just have to pull yourself up by the bootstraps (as it were) and prepare for a c-section. i didn't want one, either, so i know how you are feeling. but you HAVE to remind yourself of the bigger picture ---- your job is to get that baby born as HEALTHY as possible. it's not about what YOU want (or don't want), ya know what i mean? i don't mean this to come off harsh...it's not intended that way at all. i just am trying to motivate you & give you the courage that you need to do this. it will be fine, A....you'll see. good luck to ya, & let us know how it all turns out! 8^)

It was mentioned already, but I'd like to reemphasize this website:
http://www.spinningbabies.com/
Try and stay calm and find peace through this experience, so as not to add extra stress to you and your baby. Best of luck to you!
~N.

My first daughter was breech until about 38 weeks. I know it's going to sound crazy, but this is what the senior OB at my clinic suggested: Find the hottest hot sauce you can and put a dob on the outsides of both of your pinky toes.

We used Dave's Insanity Sauce the night after this was suggested. My husband took a cotton ball and daubed a little onto both pinky toes, between the knuckle and the toenail on the outer sides. I left it on for probably 45 minutes before washing it off. The only side effect, other than it burning on my toes, was that those areas were very sun sensitive the next day. It was August in LA so I had to keep my feet in the shade.

I can't honestly say that it absolutely worked, but she did turn a couple of days later. That, in itself, was incredibly uncomfortable! Good luck though!

Don't worry yourself just yet. My babies were both huge and in the breach position until the last minute. The doctors told me the same thing but I guess the babies must have heard!

Hi A.,
Go to www.icpa4kids.org and look up a Webster trained chiropractor in your area.
The Webster technique is a chiropractic technique designed to balance the moms pelvis, uterus, ligaments, etc so that the baby can be in the proper position.
Good luck!
C. Tanaka, DC

My midwife was very focused on a mother's role in encouraging birthing positions. As many have said, babies change positions often. But how you rest and sit encourages positioning. Check out more info at:

http://www.spinningbabies.com/

And another common position that lends to dififiult birthing can be helped with this advice from Midwifery Today:

HOW TO DO A DIAPHRAGMATIC RELEASE FOR POSTERIOR BABY
MIDWIFERY TODAY E-NEWS (VOL 2 ISSUE 18 MAY 5, 2000)
Many readers responded to a letter in last week's issue regarding diaphragmatic release as a way to resolve persistent posterior. Following is midwife Judy Jones's explanation of how to do it:

It is easy to recognize a persistent posterior baby. You cannot feel the back on palpation, rather only little lumps and bumps of limbs. To do a diaphragmatic release, it is best to have the mother lie on her back. If she is in advanced pregnancy and this makes her very uncomfortable, you can have her lie in a recliner or semi-sitting position. If you use that position, place a small pillow or adequate support behind her lower back.

One hand will go horizontally across her lower back where the uterine ligaments attach. This is where you would put lower back pressure during labor. You do not need to press, as just the pressure of the mother lying on your hand will be sufficient. (Be sure you take off any rings you may be wearing, for your hand's sake!)

The top hand will go on top of the abdomen, horizontally just above the pubic bone with the thumb upward. Just rest it lightly on the abdomen, no pressure. Then all you have to do is wait. Things may start right away or it may take several minutes before you feel anything. What you will feel is a motion beneath your hands. For the hand in back it will feel much like it does when there is a contraction taking place during labor as you feel the muscles tighten and contract beneath your hand and release. For the top hand it will be either a waving motion or a circular motion under your hand. At first you will think you are just imagining it, but you are not. The best description I can give is that it feels as if the mother has a tennis ball in her abdomen that is being bounced back and forth between your hands. As it hits one hand it will roll across it or around underneath it and then bounce back to the other hand. Sometimes the motion is so great that it will actually make your hand wave on the abdomen. Sometimes the mother will feel things inside, sometimes not. What she feels may not be located where your hand is located. The movement under your top hand may stay all in one place or move around. If it moves, try to gently follow it with your top hand to keep it centrally located under your hand. Do not move the back hand. Sometimes it will move around in a circle, sometimes off to one side, or even clear down to a hip. It all depends on the muscles that are involved and the type of injury that precipitated all the spasm of abdominal muscles. Our muscles really only know how to contract and shorten, not how to relax and lengthen. They depend on another counter muscle to contract and pull the first one out of contraction. Abdominal muscles do not have as many counter muscles, so this technique allows the muscles to relax.

If you go back into the mother's history, you will almost always find a history of a car accident (especially with a seat belt on, where there has been a twisting of the abdominal muscles because we use only one-shoulder restraints) or severe fall. However, I have had a mother cause it simply by doing too much hoeing in the garden.

You continue the diaphragmatic release as long as you feel motion under your hand. Usually it will just fade away and you will no longer feel it. Sometimes, if you end up over a bony prominence, it will end with a vibration. The process takes some time, often at least 20-45 minutes. But if you consider the time you save in labor, it is well worth it. You may need to repeat the process over several visits. I usually start at about the 6th month unless I have a mother with a history of car accident or several prior posterior babies. This procedure has also been used this technique to turn breech babies. I use it for transverse but find it less effective for breech. I usually use a tilt board for breech and then do a diaphragmatic release after the baby turns. It works marvelously well for posteriors. I have never done one where the baby did not turn to anterior. However, on some occasions, after a few days the baby will turn back to posterior and you will need to repeat the process more than once. The more severe the history, the more likely you will need to do it several times before the baby will stay anterior.

Posterior babies use to be the worst problem I had in births. The long hard back labors wore us all out and occasionally ended in transfers for maternal exhaustion. I am thrilled not to have these any more. Now my biggest problem is cervical lips! But I am working on a solution for that also, using evening primrose oil!

I do believe every midwife should have this valuable tool, the diaphragmatic release, in her bag of tricks. It is so easy and non-interventive. It is much better than other suggestions I have seen of putting your fingers in the baby's suture lines and trying to turn the head!
--Judy Jones

Hi A.,
Congrats on the new baby! I am pregnant with my fourth and am 29weeks. I wouldn't even begin to worry until after 36 weeks. Until then make sure you are active and doing all those pre-labor exercises. I just purchased a chilbirth class DVD online from www.thebestbirth.com My husband and watched it together. The instructor explains there is plenty of time prior to 36 weeks to assume the postion, plus the more babies you've had the more room they have to twist at the end. The Hula (yes swaying your hips) is really good and the "bad dog" on all fours and hunch your back up then relax it flat 30 times a day. I am sending you this in the middle of the night 'cause I can't sleep...any suggestions for me?? Best of luck:)
S.

I haven't read all of your other posts, so I apologize if any of this is repeat.

I don't know what "frank breech" is, but I had success in getting my breech baby to turn, and I think it will work with any presentation. I think I was about 35 weeks along with my second baby when we found out that he was breech. We were planning a homebirth and I was REALLY devastated at the thought of having a c-section.

My midwife instructed me to lay in an inverted position for at least 15-20 minutes, several times a day, as much as I could possibly do it. I took my ironing board (with the legs closed up) and put one end of it against the couch with the other end on the floor, and I lay down on that with my hips higher than my head. Each time I did this, it was the longest 15 minutes of my life - it is incredibly uncomfortable. Everything goes up to your chest and it is terribly difficult to breathe, but I think that is the point. The idea is to use gravity to get the baby as far up from the pelvic area as possible so he will have more room to turn.

And during the rest of the day, you can do things to help the baby turn with all of that room he has!;) The things I remember are:

1) Pelvic rocks - you probably know what those are, but if not, respond to me and I will let you know,

2) Try to keep your belly below your back when you are not standing (ie. do not recline backward, but lean forward) this uses gravity to encourage your baby into the optimum position. This is not easy because there are times you just want to recline with your feet up. Try to resist that as much as possible (I still did it a little bit), instead, whenever you have time to rest and want to, lie down on your side (I believe the left side is preferable).

Check out this website

http://spinningbabies.simplwebsite.com/

I also read a great book (when I was pregnant with my first) called "Sit Up and Take Notice." You may not have time to find or read a copy of it with only 6 weeks left and 2 little boys to take care of, but it is all about getting your baby into the optimal position for birth, and a lot of it has to do with how you sit (no slouching or reclining backward) and your general posture. It's all about gravity, and you can position your body to let gravity work to get your baby into the best position for birth.

I cannot say that I know for sure when my baby turned, but I remember one night, a couple of weeks after starting the "inversion therapy" on the ironing board, I woke up in the middle of the night to my baby doing some kind of gymnastics in the womb. It didn't really feel like he was turning in the vertical position, it felt more like horizontal movements, but at my next visit a few days later he was head down!! And I don't think he could have had a whole lot of room to move in there because he was a big baby - born a couple of weeks later at 10 lbs. 6 oz. - and he came out in one push after only 2-1/2 hours of hard labor (that was a surprise to me, but I won't complain). He must have really been in the perfect position!

I hope this helps and I really hope that little baby finds his way to being head down. I know some people have good c-section experiences, but it is major abdominal surgery and I wouldn't want to have to recover from that while trying to take care of two little boys and a newborn. However, if that is what has to happen, I am sure you will get through it and the best part will be having your healthy newborn baby in your arms.

The best of the best when it comes to turning breech babies is: Dr. Elliott Berlin, DC. He is truly amazing!!!

Here's his contact data:

BERLIN WELLNESS GROUP
6221 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 518
Los Angeles, CA 90048

###-###-####
http://www.doctorberlin.com/

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SOON TO BE ARRIVAL, A.!!!

LOL,
L. (MAMA to 13 month old Dylan Orion.....29 September 2007). : )))

I just wanted to say ditto to Deanna S I was 3 weeks from delivery and my OB said the same thing about a C-section. and I went to my Chiropractor and she did that same adjust for about 6 times in the course of 10 days and one morning sitting on the couch he flipped and I had an appointment that morning and he was in position ready to go. Of course that last 2 weeks was the worst because he hadn't been head down the whole pregnancy and suddenly all the pressure was on my pelvis which I wasn't used to it so lots of laying down in the end!!! BUT I was so thrilled not to have to have a C-section and I know it was the Websters technique Plus I saw my chiropractor throughout my whole pregnancy and my ligaments and low back did really well through delivery.
Hope it helps

When my mom was pregnant with my brother, he was breech. My mom went swimming, and my brother turned into the right position. Try swimming! It may work for you too! S.

I did the following exercises everyday towards the end of my pregnancy to assure the baby would be in the correct birthing position:

CAT POSE: on all fours, hunch your back up and down. Do 50 repeats per day.

CHILD'S POSE: Rest with elbows and forearms on the floor BUT put your bum up in air. Your back should be at an angle. Do for 5 min. or more several times a day.

WHEN SITTING: always be upright, navel above hips. Never slump or lounge. Sit cross legged whenever possible.

SWIMMING: doing handstands in the water.

I've also heard that putting something warm (like a warm cloth or heating pad) on the bottom of your belly and something cold at the top might make the baby turn toward the warm object.

Good Luck!

My daughter was a frank breach, and they told me that if there was enough amniotic fluid, they could turn her with external manipulation. I was also told that it felt like you were being turned inside out. I didn't get to find out due to serious lack of fluid, but it may be an option for you if you really want to go natural.

I delivered my daughter at 36 weeks frank breech vaginally. She was 6 lbs 14 oz and was my second child. My first was 8 1/2 pounds. I have asthma and my doctors were afraid of giving me a c-section. They took a beating from other doctors for doing that but all was well. It just took a very long time (over 12 hours of discovering I was already fully dialated at my 4 week checkup) because her head wasn't pushing first. It depends on the size of the child. Good luck.