However, not every fetus makes this turn to head south in the womb. But if your full-term baby stays in breech position come delivery day, a vaginal birth can be difficult and maybe impossible.
Fortunately, there are steps you and your doctor can take to change direction before you go into labor. For some help understanding what breech means, including each type of breech position and whether turning your baby is possible before you deliver, read on.
This is instead of the coveted vertex presentation, which means positioned vertically in utero with her bottom up so she can exit your vagina head first. You baby on board could be in a number of different breech positions, such as the following:. As your due date nears, your doctor or midwife will determine your baby's position by feeling the outside of your abdomen and uterus.
If your baby is breech, her firm, round head will be toward the top of your uterus and her softer, less round bottom will be lower. If breech position is suspected, an ultrasound can confirm it. An ECV typically is done in a hospital. ECV is usually attempted around the week mark before labor begins, though sometimes a version is tried during labor before your water has broken. If it works, an ECV allows women to try for a vaginal birth. Turning a baby with an external cephalic version involves your practitioner placing his or her hands on your stomach and pushing the baby into the head-down position using firm but gentle pressure.
ECV tends to be uncomfortable but not painful, and more than half of all attempts are successful. Sometimes, however, babies flip back into the breech position after being successfully inverted.
You may have heard of other alternative ways to try to get a baby to turn, including chiropractic techniques, relaxation techniques like professional hypnosis or moxibustion, where an acupuncturist burns mugwort herb near your smallest toe to stimulate an acupuncture point.
Some say moxibustion increases fetal activity, making your baby more likely to wriggle her way to a head-down position. Sometimes, it's possible to manually turn the baby to a head-down position, and you may be offered this.
But, if your baby is still in the transverse position when you approach your due date or by the time labour begins, you'll most likely be advised to have a caesarean section.
In this video, a midwife describes what a breech position is and what can be done if your baby is breech. Page last reviewed: 12 November Next review due: 12 November Home Pregnancy Labour and birth What happens in labour and birth Back to What happens in labour and birth.
What happens if your baby is breech? However, that does not always happen, and a baby may be: bottom first or feet first breech position lying sideways transverse position Bottom first or feet first breech baby If your baby is lying bottom or feet first, they are in the breech position.
Turning a breech baby If your baby is in a breech position at 36 weeks, you'll usually be offered an external cephalic version ECV. Giving birth to a breech baby If an ECV does not work, you'll need to discuss your options for a vaginal birth or caesarean section with your midwife and obstetrician. The RCOG advises against a vaginal breech delivery if: your baby's feet are below its bottom — known as a "footling breech" your baby is larger or smaller than average — your healthcare team will discuss this with you your baby is in a certain position — for example, their neck is very tilted back, which can make delivery of the head more difficult you have a low-lying placenta placenta praevia you have pre-eclampsia Lying sideways transverse baby If your baby is lying sideways across the womb, they are in the transverse position.
If not successful, there is virtually no chance that the baby will turn around on its own. Some babies will shift back into a breech presentation after successful version.
If that happens, your doctor may try again, but version tends to be harder to perform as the time for delivery grows closer. The risk of version is very low. The main risk is pain. Pressure on the abdomen can be uncomfortable. If it is too uncomfortable the procedure will be stopped. A risk for the baby is distress. Another risk is rupture of membranes.
This is unlikely but is one of the reasons this is done in the hospital. Rarely patients will have bleeding. Any problems that arise can be dealt with because the patient can be observed on the monitor or undergo Cesarean section. There is a chance that the body could deliver but the head would get stuck.
For this reason most couples do not want to take any chance and C-section is the delivery route of choice if version is not attempted or unsuccessful. Breech babies who are premature are nearly always delivered by cesarean birth. Another problem is called cord prolapse. This means that the umbilical cord slips to the bottom of the uterus, towards the birth canal. This is a risk for patients with a baby in the breech position and a dilated cervix, who go into labor or break their membranes.
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