Breech at 30 Weeks - Big deal?

Emerald27 · August 2014

So I have always heard (and even parroted to folks on here!) that LOs turn head down any time during third tri, and that they can even turn the day of labor. Not to worry about when they'll turn, etc.

But I had a really rattling midwife appt today, and wonder what some of your practitioners have had to say on the matter (aka - is it just this midwife or should I really be concerned?).

So I mentioned to the MW that as of last week's ultrasound, LO is still head up. She said "ohhh. That's not good" and proceeded to feel my tummy to see if he has turned head down. She couldn't tell if it was a head or a butt in my pelvis, so she had me move to another room for an ultrasound!

He's still head up, so she gave me a handout of exercises to do for 45 minutes every day to help him turn. She said that at the next appt, if he's still head up I'll need to start seeing a chiropractor. AND even though I get monthly ultrasounds already, she ordered an ultrasound for my next appt just to check position.

I'm 30 weeks this week.

So for those of you with breech babies, is your doctor having you do pelvic tilts and other exercises to encourage turning? Are you seeing a chiropractor? Has your doctor expressed any concern over baby's position? Just wondering if I'm crazy for giving this midwife the side-eye (this was my first appt with HER. There are lots of midwives in my practice) about this!

Aarg · August 2014

I know my OB starts to get "concerned" at the 36 & 38 week appt. But not sure on the office protocol what happens after that.

But when I talked to my OB last, he said there are plenty of exercises like pelvic tilts, kegels, ect that can help aid in flipping baby.

If you do have to go to a Chiropractor, see if someone is specialized in the Webster Technique. That is suppose to flip baby from beech to the head down position. Sometimes the chiro will even come to the hospital while you're in labor and do the Webster technique! I've heard almost all babies flip!

pnwlover12 · August 2014

My MW has said there is still LOTS of time for the baby to turn. I'll be 30 weeks on Sunday. She hasn't seemed concerned at all, and at my last appointment baby was transverse.

Syllessa · August 2014

My OB doesn't get worried about it until 36+ weeks, and even then there's still time to turn. My first was head up until 39 weeks, but he turned at the last minute.

heathera1979 · August 2014

At my 28 week ultrasound my OB said "breech, what is she thinking?" I fully intend to ask at my appt next week when she starts to get concerned about it.

persephonerose · August 2014

With DS1 he was breech until 38w5d. We had already scheduled my c-section (for breech and other health reasons) and he decided to turn a few days before the scheduled c-section.

I've had friends who were going in every few days to see their OB's at 40+ weeks and they have had their babies turn a day or two before labor started naturally. Then I've known a few who did exercises to get the babies to turn only to end up breech when the mom went into labor.

It seems that babies just do whatever they want, regardless of what we want. Dang complicated babies!

stephweldon21 · August 2014

At my 31 week appt Monday, I was told baby girl was breech but we still had plenty of time. Dr didn't seemed worried about it. DD was breech until 34 weeks.

MorganWP · August 2014

Today was my 30 week appointment. Baby boy is head down and the doc seemed happy about it. (Right now, I'm more worried about the fact that I measured 4(!) weeks ahead) But like PPs said, I don't think its anything to worry about quite yet. The exercises she gave you wont hurt to try but I also think seeing a chiropractor this early is a bit extreme. Maybe hold off until 34+ weeks?

vrj0522 · August 2014

My MW group with DS wouldn't even check baby's position until 34 weeks. I even asked them earlier than that and they said baby could switch positions anytime and they didn't want to worry anyone so they wouldn't check until later on. This baby is currently head down (we know from u/s) so I don't know how my current practitioner feels about checking early.

LightBright515 · August 2014

Nicb13 said:
I haven't had any ultrasounds or discussions about this yet. At my appointments, my OB feels my stomach, listens to the heartbeat then sends me on my way. I have no idea how big DD is or her position. I think there's still plenty of time...right?!

This is me exactly lol

I have a growth scan and a dr appt next week. And although the scan will tell me her position, I'm going to get my doc to show me what her head and butt feels like.

onelilroo · August 2014

I will be 30 weeks on Sunday, and my baby is laying transverse (sideways across my belly with her head by my belly button and her butt on my left side), my OB said they don't get worked up about positioning until 34-36 weeks. He said until then they can still be all over the place, and not to worry.

MrsSarahRenee · August 2014

Mine wasn't even particularly happy that baby was in the right position. She said there is time and space to flip into the wrong position!!

staryb · August 2014

Nicb13 said:

I haven't had any ultrasounds or discussions about this yet. At my appointments, my OB feels my stomach, listens to the heartbeat then sends me on my way. I have no idea how big DD is or her position. I think there's still plenty of time...right?!

Same here. Every time someone starts talking about their baby's size or if they're breech I wonder, why don't I know this stuff? At my last appointment (at 29 weeks) we were talking about my weight gain and my doctor told me to watch it but that LO was still measuring just fine so I guess everything's ok.

melszum · August 2014

FYI my ob said babies tend to flip later in second pregnancies

MissMandyD · August 2014

My OB said she wants me to start doing the exercises and maybe getting acupuncture after the next appointment. The only reason she doesn't have me doing these things now is because I still have partial placenta previa so until that has cleared (if it does) there is no point.

AmandaJean12 · August 2014

I brought it up Thursday at my 30 week and my OB said it doesn't even pay to think about it until 36 because she could flip and flip back before then. He said if he couldn't tell at 36 weeks we would do an u/s and if she's still breech talk about options.

amstevens78 · August 2014

My LO had been breech just about the whole entire pregnancy until 2 months ago. Then she was transverse for about 2 weeks. At my checkup last week ( I was 31 weeks) I had my 4D U/S and she was head down. My MW didn't seemed concerned at all. With my first pregnancy my son was head down just about the whole entire time. I think I probably wouldn't worry too much until around 36-37 weeks. Good luck to everyone and I hope all your LO get in their positions soon!

Starfish17 · August 2014

DS was breech at 33 weeks - found during ultrasound. My OB was not concerned at all - they repeated the u/s at 35 weeks and he was head down (I know that he turned around 34 weeks because I saw/ felt him do it). I didn't do anything special to make him turn - nothing was recommended and he did it on his own. My OB had said that if DS remained breech, they would schedule an elective c/s at 39 weeks. There is still a lot of time and room in there for baby to turn.

atraveller · August 2014

Nicb13 said:

I haven't had any ultrasounds or discussions about this yet. At my appointments, my OB feels my stomach, listens to the heartbeat then sends me on my way. I have no idea how big DD is or her position. I think there's still plenty of time...right?!

Same here - Everyone keeps talking about this and they discussed it in my childbirth class but my OB and/or the midwives have said nothing. They just do the same - feel my stomach, measure it, check the heartbeat and say all is well. I have my 32 week appt on Mon and am going to ask about it.

savicke2009 · August 2014

Im not sure.. im going to ask my doc next week when I go again.. im pretty sure this baby girl is transverse right now.. both of my boys were just always head down so I never had a concern

hopefully all the babies flip around like they're supposed to!

themiss · August 2014

Honestly, I feel like baby moves all over the place; sometimes side to side, sometimes up and down. I have NO clue where his head is, but my OB doesn't seem concerned at all.

Because of where I live, we only get 1 ultrasound for the pregnancy unless something is wrong, so I know she'll just be feeling my tummy to find out where the baby is. She has never been concerned, and even told me at my last appointment that the baby is taking advantage of the space he has and will continue to move all over the place until closer to the end of pregnancy.

Glas43 · August 2014

Yup basically what others have said. My OB just measures me and listens to HR. His standard practice is to do an US at 35 weeks to check positioning and then we will discuss options if need be. Plus im kind of excited to see LO one more time before delivery! Only 3 more weeks til that US!

MsMacual · August 2014

My MW group doesn't worry about position until 36+ weeks. I just got back from an appointment and at this point we just are measuring and listening to the heart beat. I seem to remember that my MW checked the positioning with my first once I started going every week (so 38 weeks until I delivered).

I agree that spinning babies is a good resource and has some different exercises to try. The cat/cow pose can help. I'd also try to find a Webster certified chiro and start going- the chiro will help with more than turning a breech baby. Good luck!

Want a personalized experience?

Breech at 30 Weeks - Big deal?

Re: Breech at 30 Weeks - Big deal?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards