breech birth - your options
Having now educated yourself on the mechanisms of breech birth and the risk comparison between physiological breech birth and cesarean, let’s have a brief discussion about why your baby might be in a breech position.
Do not rule out the possibility that your baby knows the best way to fit through your particular pelvis. Unborn and newborn babies are a lot smarter than we often give them credit for. That being said, it could be due to asymmetry in your ligaments or a twist in your pelvis. These can be caused by things like frequent long car rides, posture, injuries, or carrying an older child around on your hip. Some of these things can be corrected simply by adjusting your car seat or work chair. Other solutions will be discussed below.
TURN YOUR BABY
If your hope is to avoid a cesarean but you’re not sold on the idea of a vaginal breech birth, first try and coax your baby into a head-down (cephalic) position. Here are a few suggestions, ranging from gentle DIY methods to more aggressive physical maneuvers.
Gentle, do-at-home options. Things you can easily do at home are as simple as putting an ice pack on your abdomen, at the top of your bump near baby’s head. The theory is that they will move towards warmth, so you may try using an ice pack while you sit with a warm compress lower on your belly. You can also rub a few drops of peppermint essential oil on your belly in place of the ice pack.
Spinning Babies. This program has made a name for itself by promoting optimal fetal positioning. There are many exercises and positions you can work through to try and turn your baby.
Chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, or reiki. I highly recommend seeing a chiropractor throughout pregnancy. Keeping your spine and pelvis aligned means your baby is more likely to snuggle into your pelvis, becoming what we call “engaged.” Getting a massage regularly can also help relax overworked muscles, also providing room for your baby to settle into your pelvis at the end of pregnancy.
External Cephalic Version (ECV). ECV is a physically demanding procedure that entails a trained provider manually repositioning your baby from the outside. Here is a training video if you’re curious about the mechanics. This procedure is not comfortable and comes with a few risks. There is a slightly increased risk of temporary abnormal fetal heart tones, vaginal bleeding, or bag of waters opening. It has a 40-60% success rate.
FIND A VBB-SUPPORTIVE PROVIDER
Let’s say you’ve tried all these things and your baby either remains breech or flips right back. You decide you are comfortable and confident in a vaginal breech birth. When you discuss this with your provider, they may not be supportive of your decision or even trained to support a breech birth. Remember that you are the one hiring them. If you prefer a vaginal birth for your breech baby and your provider isn’t comfortable with that, find a new one. You may have to look out of state. Breech Without Borders has a directory of providers who will attend vaginal breech births. Make a few calls and then interview them before making a final decision.
CESAREAN
If you have tried to turn your baby, have other risk factors, or just aren’t comfortable attempting vaginal breech birth, then scheduling a cesarean might be the right decision for you. If that’s your choice, you still have options. Research gentle or family-centered cesareans for ideas. I also encourage you to read these posts about C-sections from Expecting + Empowered (6 Things I Wish I knew, 10 Tips for Recovering, and 5 Things to Ask For) . They also have a C-section recovery kit available for purchase.
UNASSISTED BIRTH
If you do not want a cesarean and are having trouble finding a provider that will attend a vaginal breech birth, I want you to know that you can still have a vaginal breech birth. Listen to or read birth stories from Free Birth Society. If this is something that calls to you and feels right, I encourage you to look into the courses available from Breech Without Borders and educate yourself more on breech birth. Their YouTube channel is also a great place to find examples of both undisturbed breech birth and maneuvers.
My hope is that by providing you all of these options and information, you are able to make a confident, informed decision that works best for you and your family.
I am not a medical professional. The information in this post is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your intuition and your healthcare provider about what is right for you and your family.
