When a woman is pregnant, the bothersome aspects such as nausea and weight gain are generally overshadowed by the joys of expecting a new life. However, sometimes complications arise that need be dealt with in order for the happy couple to continue their blissful journey.
What is Breech?
Already in the first few weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is able to use its limbs to kick and turn. As it grows it is able to perform numerous acrobatics, flipping and somersaulting around in its fluid, amniotic home. Through the first two trimesters of pregnancy, the baby can be in many different positions and is often changing them around.
Toward the third trimester, the baby often settles into a head-down position, preparing for the birth. By the 32nd week, the vast majority of babies are in the head down, or vertex, position, and between the 30 second and 36th week, most of the rest go down as well.
The remaining babies are known as "breech." There are several positions that are called breech -a "frank breech" is when the head is up and the bottom is down (with the legs flexed upwards,) a "transverse" is when the baby is sideways, and a footling breech is when the head is up and a foot is sticking down.
What's the Difference?
The preferred position for the baby to be in for delivery is vertex. This makes it easy for the baby to get out, as the head is the largest part, and once it is out the rest of the body shouldn't have any trouble following. A breech delivery can be more difficult, and it often not possible without a cesarean section.
If the baby remains breech at delivery time, which only happens in about 3-4% of pregnancies, many doctors will perform a C-section. A few, skilled doctors will attempt a vaginal delivery, often with a large episiotomy to make room for the head to emerge. This is most successful with a frank breech. A transverse will almost always result in a c-section.
How to Turn the Baby
In order to avoid a c-section or a potentially complicated delivery, the mom can try to turn her baby into a vertex position. Most of these methods have very high success rates, and at least one of them should be helpful for get the baby to turn around. Some women try a few at the same time.
1. Lie down with the pelvic area elevated above the level of the head. This can encourage the baby to move upwards. One way to do this is to lay an ironing board diagonally across a sofa, and lie with your head at the bottom. Or the mother can lie with her pelvis atop several pillows.
2. Go swimming! Immersing in water increases the amniotic area for the baby and gives her more room to turn.
3. Play music at the bottom of the uterus. The baby may head down to hear better.
4. Shine a bright flashlight at the bottom of the uterus. The baby will want to face the light.
If the above methods do not work, there is a non-invasive medical procedure known as external cephalic version, or ECV, where the doctor can manually turn the baby by applying pressure to your abdomen. This is successful about 50% of the time.
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