So I found out this morning that the baby is breech, which didn't strike me as a big deal until the doctor started talking about external versions & C-sections. I guess it just hasn't hit me yet that 35 weeks is pretty darned close to having a baby.
I asked the doc the appropriate medical questions, so I feel like I know the "official" risks/benefits of all the options, but I was wondering if any of you have personal experience. Was your baby breech? When did it turn (if it did)? Did they try to turn it? Did that hurt? Anything else you'd like to share would be nice to know, too. And some ***turn, baby, turn*** dust wouldn't hurt, if you happen to have some to spare.
Re: Who can tell me about breech babies & external versions?
There are supposedly different things you can do to "encourage" the baby to turn. Check out spinningbabies.com or breechbabies.com.
Other things I've heard that can help: accupuncture and chiropractic (webster technique). Playing music to your vag. DH talks to vag. Spending a lot of time in downward-dog (but on your knees, not your feet) to. Putting cold things where you don't want baby's head and warm things where you do want baby's head. And burning some kind of herb (?) called mugwort next to your pinky toe. I kid you not.
GL!
Mugwort sounds like something out of Harry Potter. In fact, it probably does appear in Harry Potter somewhere... I should pull out one of the books when I try that one.
DH comes home from a business trip tonight. I'll tell him he has to start singing to my vag as soon as he's unpacked.
Seriously, thanks for all the suggestions. I'll give 'em a try. The midwife I saw today already suggested lying head-down on a slanted ironing board several times a day, which I'm going to try, but somehow I don't see it happening as regularly as she recommended with a two-year-old running around the house...
I know there's still plenty of time, and I know it's not a huge deal if the baby doesn't turn. Our hospital rocks, and I'd totally trust them to do a C if it becomes necessary. But I really enjoyed labor last time. ::sniff:: I was looking forward to doing it again. Truly.
Exactly. If it comes to that, then it does, but I'm really not into the idea of a major invasive procedure if it can be avoided somehow.
Thanks for sharing your post!
My baby was breech for a very long time. We talked about having a c-sect if he did not turn. He did finally turn on his own...at 36 weeks we went in and had an ultra that let us know. We didn't try anything to try and turn it. My doc said if he didn't turn, she could try and turn him, but it was up to me.
In the end I did end up having a c-section, but that was because he then did not face the correct way (even though he was no longer breech).
I would not stress about it. Chances are your baby will turn on his own. And I personally did not find the c-sect to be that bad.