Just curious to hear from moms whose babies were in the transverse position during their pregnancies. Did your baby stay in this position the whole time, thus requiring a c-section? Did your baby stay in this position up until the end and then flip into a head-down position? What I'm really looking for is feedback on people who have actually experienced this.
I'm only 23 weeks and I know a whole lot can happen between now and then (again, let's all read that part closely...I'm not on the ledge yet people!). Due to the nature of my pregnancy, I have bi-weekly visits with my physician and am closely monitored, and with each ultrasound (I get one every time) the baby has presented in the exact same position. I'm not terribly worried about this, but quite honestly it is nice to know so I can mentally prepare for a c-section if need be (which, personally, I have no problem doing...my goal is to delivery my baby safely while preserving my health and if that means c-section I'm okay with that). If the baby stays in the position, I will definitely not be pursuing means/methods to turn him.
To those of you who have actually physically experienced this situation, I'm grateful that you took the time to share your story! I had expected that while for most moms things would 'turn out' (all pun intended!) they way they should, for others things stayed the same. I have two friends who have gone through the same thing as I have - one baby turned and the delivery was vaginal and the other baby stayed the same and the delivery was c-section. It was nice to hear great things about both situations and I'm happy that you had safe deliveries and healthy babies, whether they were vaginal or c-section.
I am glad that my OB mentioned the position and the possibility of the baby staying transverse as opposed to just blowing it off as a "position for the moment" because it really does help me weigh my options. I'd rather go into the delivery knowing and mentally preparing for the delivery that is best for my body and my baby (either vaginal or c-sect are fine by me), as opposed to being totally surprised. With my high risk pregnancy - I face many challenges that the average pregnant woman does not - and with labor being an 'event' for anyone (either with or without challenges), the last thing I need is a total curve ball thrown into the mix. While I fully understand that a c-section is major medical surgery, I'm also well aware of the risks of attempting to vaginally deliver a baby in the transverse position. I trust my physician 100% and together we will make the best decision for my situation. I'm not big into the chiropractic or hypnobirthing approaches and plan on managing a potential labor with pain medication as my body and my physician will allow (I did with my first and he and I were just fine), nor am I interested in trying funky stuff to try and move the baby. Attempting to convince me to do otherwise would be like trying to convince an attachment parenting advocate to let their baby cry it out at 4 months or an extended breastfeeder that they have to quit nursing their child at 12 months- in other words, it just isn't going to happen!
Again, thanks for the insight. It was really helpful hearing different experiences as, to this date, I'd only heard of two others who went through this.
When I was pregnant with my twins, Baby A moved around so much that in my 35th week he was transverse on top of Baby B (that explained the two "butts" I felt, one was a head, one was a butt in my ribcage!). The next week he was vertical, head down. I had a scheduled c-section because it was twins, but I wanted to let you know that my baby did move back into the "right" position.
The baby will not get into position until you are close to delivery. No need to worry about position until you are 34+ weeks.
Hi - maybe this is relevant:
I had twins...my son was head down, on top of him was his sister, transverse at 35 weeks. I was seeing (fabulous) chiropractors who use a very gentle approach (no cracking or machines involved), also using acupuncture, and, what I attribute most to my success in turning my girl, swimming and standing on my hands in the pool. I turned her (felt it and confirmed with ultrasound). BUT she turned back. I turned her again, she turned back. then it all happened again! I delivered during week 38, the boy vaginally, the girl via c-section. Neither delivery was particularly horrible. My biggest worry was nursing twins while recovering from c-section but it was truly not that big of a deal (still nursing at 11 months).
My advice, try all the funky stuff - it seems weird perhaps but much of it has a longer history than "traditional" medicine. Also, just a reminder of something you must already know as a mom...the best preparation is to plan to be flexible because the curveball will usually come.
Take care & I hope all goes well for you!
MR... first off I must applaud your attitude about your goal of just delivering the baby safely and preserving your health! Great attitude and with that no matter what curve ball is thrown your way you will be able to do it!
My daughter was all the way through... she was delivered just short of 6 weeks early via c-section. A few weeks prior the Dr did try to turn her and OMG I have never felt such excruciating pain! Turned out that her butt was literally stuck in my pelvis and they had to pry her out when I did deliver. Poor Princess had bruises like she was sitting on a toilet for days! lol
I always say hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Make sure you have a seperate birthing plan incase you do need to have a c-section. One of the big things I wanted to do was skin to skin contact when I had my daughter. Unfortunately I was not able to do it myself so the nurses helped my hubby to do it... he was a bit embarrassed but the health benefits outweighed his feelings! In the end he was so glad he did do it... bonding time for them and it was something he could do that Mommy couldnt! lol
I wish you lots of luck and joy in bringing this new little one into your lives! Many blessings to you and yours!
My daughter was transverse at 21 weeks. I went into the hospital to have her turned the morning after I discussed this with my doctor. My daughter had already flipped by then.
Just curious, why would you not pursue any methods to change this? C-section would be an absolute last option for me.
But, a lot can happen between 23 weeks and 40+ so....I hope baby turns for you.
Hi M R, I know you've gotten a lot of responses, but I wanted to add my two cents. My first child was breach & I had a c-section. They tried to turn her, but it didn't work. That was horribly painful & I would never do that again. I had more pain & bruising from that than I did from the c-section. My second child was a vaginal birth (30 hours of hard labor + 3 more hours of pushing=33 hours). I have to say that I had a harder recovery from my v-back than I did my c-section. They also don't give you any pain meds after a vaginal birth. They just tell you to take some Motrin. Well I'm here to tell you sister that Motrin doesn't cut it. When I went back to my OBGYN for my follow-up visit after my v-back my Dr. asked me which delivery & recovery was better (she knew how badly I wanted to do a v-back). I told her that the c-section had been easier. She laughed & said she felt the same way, but didn't want to influence me in my decision to go with the v-back. She herself had the same experience (1st c-section & 2nd v-back) & felt that recovery was more difficult with a vaginal birth. I just wanted to say that the recovery from a c-section is not so horrible & to not let people freak you out about it. Child birth by any method is hard on your body & there will be pain & discomfort with both. I'm impressed that your goal is to have a safe delivery for both you & your baby.
Dear MR,
My first child was in transverse breach during my entire pregnancy and never changed positions. I tried numerous methods in the hope that she would change but she did not. I ended up with a c-section and a healthy baby, so in the end everything was fine.
Good luck,
C.
Hello- I have 3 children. My first was tranverse and I think it was because I had placenta previa- my placenta was implanted right in front of the "os" not sure the name but basically in the way of any natural delivery and it never moved. In hindsight, I am pretty sure the baby was unable to go head down because the placenta was in the way and there is only so much space in there! I delivered him c section because of the placenta. My second child was breach- had a c section because after you have on c section, they don't like to have to turn the baby due to possible problems having just had a c secition 20 months prior. My 3rd was another transerve baby- planned c section because of the position and because I had already had 2 other sections. I have no experience with labor (thank god) and natural birth. c section was nerve racking the first time because I wasn't too informed and you can not find that much info about them in preg. books etc. It's quick and you won't feel anything - or should not feel anything except pulling and a wierd senstion of someone pulling around in your midsection. but no pain,until recovery from stitches etc in the days to come. for me, my first was the most painful because I thought I did not need the pain med once I got home, big mistake. I should have kept taking them since I could not even sit up in bed to nurse. It did hurt like hell to be honest.I learned the next two times, I took the pain meds for about a week after, and it helped me heal quicker. ALso took motrin to help with swelling etc. People think, it's quick and in and out, but the recovery is difficult- at least it was for me. good luck to you- I recommend, ask a lot of questions, that is what I did, it helped calm my nerves during the procedure.
I'm also pregnant with my second, and she's transverse - except that I'm at 36 weeks. I'm interested to read the other's responses on their experiences with this. I'm doing the hands and knees position, seeing my chiro at least twice per week, using the cat-cow yoga positions, etc. So far, no luck. She'll get her head all the way down into my left hip, but no farther. But, I have a friend who is a labor and delivery nurse, and she told me that she sometimes sees babies in this position. Moms have a longer labor in the early stage, and then once baby decides to turn, it goes pretty quickly. I've had other people tell me that their babies were transverse until labor began. My midwife tells me that they've usually picked their position by 30-32 weeks, but no one in my camp is talking C-section yet. I'm trying not to worry - and hoping for as natural a delivery as possible!
My breech baby turned after being prepped for a c\section. She was US'd at 6am her head was by my stomach. At 620am, I was in pain and the doctor US'd again for position and she was heads down and was induced. So it can happen, don't do version though as the risk is high for such a small success rate.
My daughter is going to have twins with a due date of 11-10. The boy was in the transverse position but we just found out yesterday that he has flipped into the correct position. My daughter will be 30 weeks on tuesday so you have plenty of time. Don't worry yourself about it too much nature will take it's course. The baby will start doing sommersaults soon and get into position.
Hello i am a midwife and have delivered at least 700 babies in the last 35 yrs. What i have my mothers do is get on hands and knees with the but in the air and rest the chest on forearms. Do this for about half hour daily until the baby turns. It has never failed me. I pray for your sucess.
If the baby does not turn that means c-section.
Both of my kids came out face up! :) It was kind of fun to see both my kids facing me when they came out...one even waved to me (with the doctor's help of course!). I did push a bit longer for each (2 hrs. & 1 hr. 20 min.) and it was much harder pushing out a baby who was face up. I had horrible back pain. The last option was a c, but I got both out okay. My doctor did try to turn them while in labor, but it did not work. I was determined not to have a c...I'm not a very good patient and for me the thought of a c made me sooo sick to my stomach! Good Luck...all will be fine! :)
Hi
With my last pregnancy (my daughter is 10 months now) she was transverse until about 37 weeks, then turned on her own. I had an easy uncomplicated vaginal birth. I worried about it at the time because I really didn't want a c-section but everyone told me it is too soon to tell anything until 37 weeks+ but as she got bigger it was very uncomfortable and not so easy on the ribs.
Good luck and don't waste your time worrying about it!
MR,
My first child was breech during pregnancy but the doctors said not to worry until the last month because they usually turn head down. It seemed like every other appointment the baby would be breech, (they were manually checking most times).
My 37 week appointment the Dr. said he was certain the baby had turned when he felt it manually and he turned on the ultrasound to reveal it was still breech--he was quite surprised he was wrong. I think the other doctors were in error when they said it had turned since all ultrasounds had shown him to be breech.
I did not try to turn the baby because odds were only 25% it would work and I had borderline high blood pressure so the Dr. didn't recommend it.
The c-section went well and I have no regrets.
A.
A little about me: charming 3 yr old son and sweet, happy 9 mo. old daughter
My oldest was transverse until I was 7 1/2 months - then he turned - it was very weird - I felt him turning. He actually turned the wrong way though, and went head up. He never went back and I got a c-section. I was offered the opportunity to try to turn him, but I did not. It turns out he would not have turned as his cord was short. My second baby was also breech and I had a c-section for her. My sister's second baby was breech - but she had him turned and it worked for her. He stayed head-down. She said it was physically hard to turn him but she was happy with the results.
I don't think you have to mentally prepare for a c-section because of position this early, although by being open to the possibility it seems like you already have!
My kids didn't turn until the last week - all 4 of them - I had planned c-sections anyway because of other issues except for the 1st which ended up in a c-section - but I think the difference here is that you are hearing about it twice a week this early in your pregnancy whereas most women don't even find out if their baby is upside down until probably about week 35 or so. Some don't even find out until they are in labor. It is just being magnified for you because of the bi-weekly ultrasounds.
So I would say that it is great for any mom to mentally prepare for a c-section because it can happen, but don't overly worry about the position right now. I would guess that a lot of babies are upside down in the 20 week range but most moms don't even know it. Even if the baby turns, I would still recommend mentally preparing for a c-section.
There is absolutely no concern about position at this point. Right now your baby is turning somersaults and is not in the same position for five minutes during the day.
I am assuming you found out about this at an ultrasound, since baby is so small at this point no one would be able to determine position by exam. As a provider I start paying attention at about 32 weeks. At 34 weeks I might mention to my patient what position baby is in and suggest breech turning exercises. At 36 weeks we consider other options like external version. 96% of babies are head down by 40 weeks. Best wishes!
My second baby was breach (head up) through most of my pregnancy but none of my doctors was at all concerned. We did discuss possible options for trying to flip the baby right before labor (it was over 19 months ago so I don't remember what those options were). However, she flipped all by herself in my last month. I really did not want a c-section because my first labor and delivery was super easy and fast so I wanted to avoid a c-section if possible. That being said, I think that the most important thing is to deliver a healthy baby so I wouldn't freak out about a hypothetical c-section this early. Good luck! You and your baby will do just fine :)
My first baby was breech from around 30 weeks onward, and despite our best attempts and an ECV at 37 weeks, he remained breech and was born via c-section. With my second I *made* myself not worry - or even think - about position until 28 weeks, at which point it's time for your baby to start settling into firing position (she was a VBAC, incidentally). You can check www.spinningbabies.com for some tips on good posture and encouraging good positioning through posture. If another 5-6 weeks go by and baby is still transverse you can also gently do some circular massages to try and encourage baby to rotate downwards. Obviously if baby is is truly transverse at term, try an ECV and if that doesn't work you will be stuck with a c-section. Best of luck.
I suggest getting into a childbirth class that supports a positive frame of mind and education of your body and baby. I used HypnoBirthing and had the most wonderful experience. C-section is major surgery and should not be taken lightly. The baby can turn at anytime in pregnancy, but a lot has to do with your comfort level and if you are harboring any fears or anxieties. As long as you and the baby are healthy you should have a fantastic labor and delivery!!!
you should go to ao chiropractor. Sometimes your pelvis is out of line preventing baby from turning, it will also help with your general aches and pains of pregnancy. Insurance doesnt usually cover them but most chiros will work with you!
