Footling Breech Baby

Hello K.-
My last two babies were in breech positions. One would float upward during the day, but she was always down in the morning. The doctor advised me to try to "hold her there" when I felt her float up, but in the end, we induced labor one morning when she was down, but her head was so big I had to have a C-section anyway.
The next one was breech and stayed that way. The dr put me in the hospital at some point and tried to turn her, but I can tell you that this is very dangerous and should be done in a hospital with the dr right there. The amniotic sac can burst, which would require immediate C-section delivery of the baby. My dr couldn't get her to budge. So she was delivered via scheduled C-section.
I learned later that I had a septum in my uterus and this is what was preventing the babies from turning like they should.
My first was born without a C-section and for me, the C-sections went much more smoothly. I didn't lose nearly as much blood, and I healed much faster, and felt much better sooner than I did with the vaginal delivery.

Whatever happens, good luck with your delivery. I hope everything goes well for you and your baby-dm

Hi K.

Have you tried chiropractic? There is a specific and safe adjustment of the lower back that helps turn breech babies. My husband has done it successfully for women with breech babies... and gotten amazing results within days.

If you would like to speak to him, you can reach him at
Natural Life Chiropractic
Dr. Steve Feinzig
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I wish you the best of health and safe and easy delivery!
D.

http://www.spinningbabies.com/

Spinning babies is often recommended to help women avoid unnecessary c-sections. C-sections increase recovery time, increase breastfeeding difficulties and can even impact mother-baby bonding, plus, since you have a child already, recovery will make your adjustment to multiple child duties even harder. C-sections are major surgery!

I encourage you to try the spinning and perhaps a chiro so you can avoid further trauma to your body and will be better able to enjoy the early weeks with your new daughter.

God bless and good luck!

Hi K.,
I also had a breech baby (ours was Frank Breech Meaning her feet were next to her ears). At about the same length in my pregnancy my OB recommended we try an aversion where they attempted to turn her. I was taken to the hospital and admitted to the OB floor and was not given any medication or anes. the docotor using ultrasound found the baby's head and bottom and using his hand attempted to turn her. Although we tried it did not turn the baby, and was very painful. Keep in mind that having this procedure done can cause stress to the baby and also enduce labor. I went into labor 3 days after this. Alanna was delivered c-section with no problems and I have since had 2 more girls through c-section. i would really think about your choices i personally would never try that again it was just to painful and I feel it is what made me go into labor and deliver early. I wish you the best o luck!!!!!

I did not have a footling breech baby (not heard of that distinction before your post), but our 2nd child was carrying breech. My doctor gave us a week for her to turn on her own, but she did not. For that week I spoke to everyone I could about the process of turning her if she didn't turn on her own. I heard horror stories from some ladies... but what I found later was that most of them had waited until LATE to attempt the procedure.

My doc did the procedure about a week and a half prior to my going into labor (she was a week early, so about 2 1/2 weeks before due date?). I had in my head it was going to be extremely painful, etc. I was admitted to the hospital, where the doctor gave me an IV and some medication to stop the very small (I was unaware of them, but they were happening) contractions. Once that kicked in, he gelled up my stomach with the ultrasound gel REALLY heavily, and used his hands to push on my stomach area and manipulate the baby. It was a little uncomfortable, but nothing that took my breath away. My husband was there and held my hand throughout. At its "worst" he stopped and asked how I was doing... I told him it was REALLY REALLY uncomfortable but wasn't too painful as long as it didn't go on forever. He responded by getting the ultrasound back on my stomach and showing me on the screen that she was already turned! It was done, in about 2 minutes or less. He said sometimes it takes a bit longer or is more painful for the mom, but that is more likely when the doctor waits longer. My daughter was only 7'6" at birth so that probably helped. (Already had a son who was 8'12" at birth!). Obviously if anything had gone wrong, we would have done an immediate C-section, but my thoughts were... if we DIDN'T do it, we would DEFINITELY be doing a C-section. My delivery a week or so later was a piece of cake. 2 pushes and she was out.

It was the best decision for us and I am so glad that I didn't refuse the procedure from listening to other people's horror stories. My doctor later told me that a very small percentage of physicians will even attempt the procedure (due to potential law suits IF something should go awry) but that it can be an excellent choice and avoid thousands of unnecessary C-sections. The actual procedure, the turning process itself, literally took about 2 MINUTES. They monitored me for another 2 hours to be sure that the procedure did not cause me to go into early labor (during which I had a fantastic fruit salad from the cafeteria for dinner) and then let me go home.
We had my mom come down to stay with us for the procedure (in case I went into early labor or needed a C-section), to stay with our almost 3 yr old at home.

I'm sure that my daughter's size came into play in my doc's decision to consider the procedure. Do a little research and ask plenty of questions so that you are comfortable with everything and ask for your physician's recommendation (and why he recommends it). Again, my daughter didn't have a leg out, so what happened with me may not apply to your situation.

Also, I was told that in SOME cases the baby can turn back around the other way.. but I don't think that is common. It didn't happen with mine.

Good luck whatever you decide. Blessings to you and your family!

Hi K., Try to find a chiropractor who is certified in the Webster Technique. The one I know in Brevard County has over a 90% success rate in turning breeches if he has the opportunity to do multiple adjustments, i.e. don't wait until you're 38 weeks. Another technique that has been successful for many of my clients is inverted postures with hips higher than the chest and head. Try to lay that way for 15-20 minutes, 3 times/day, while using deep breathing for relaxation and visualize the baby turning into the head down position. Sometimes at this stage in the pregnancy it's difficult to lay on your back for that long without feeling lightheaded, so just do what you can. The idea is to bring the baby up out of the pelvis and then allow the rotation to head down. I've also heard the suggestion to do handstands in a pool. Hope one of these works for you and your baby. Kudos to you for trying everything you can to avoid a c-section. T. M

My Chiropractor did the Webster Technique on me and my baby turned. It took about two weeks but she finally turned.

35 weeks is still early. You still have 5 weeks until the baby is born which is about a month. My daughter was footling until 38 weeks. I even went into labor and had it stall at 38 weeks. After that labor which lasted 3 days, she finally flipped and stayed in until 1 day before my due date. I took the advice of spinning babies on how to position myself. I did a lot of butt in the air head down time. I had a schedule of getting into that position for 10-15 minutes at a time at least 3 times a day from the point of 36 weeks. She had been right side up and for some reason flipped breech at 36 weeks. She was a lot smaller than the ultrasound indicated and when doctors said she couldn't flip on her own, I ignored them as she'd already proven them wrong by flipping once. I'll never forget the day she flipped for real. She immediately sunk head way down into my pelvis and my bell dropped from a basketball all out in front to this low lying beach ball. I would recommend that if this doesn't work having an external version closer to your due date or even finding a doctor that delivers breech. Depending on where you are in Florida these two doctors will deliver breech babies if you basically say, "If you don't, I will, at home, unassisted." Simion Tsinker, MD
6710 West Sunrise Boulevard
Plantation, Florida
###-###-####

Delisa Skeete, M.D.
VBAC friendly
HypnoBirthing supportive
4100 SW Hospital DR.
Plantation, FL
###-###-####

Unfortunately midwives are barred by Florida law from delivering breech babies. Good luck. Just remember you still have a month to go and that is a long time for a baby in-utero.

K., have you tried getting in a swimming pool and standing on your hands? You need to do this many times, but I have known it to work for some people. I'm 34 weeks, expecting with my second also. I had a c-section the first time and will have another this time. If you have to have one, its not so bad. Good luck!

Hi there.. I have heard of doing flips softly in a pool.. helps.. ask your dr..

I have a few friends who had their babies turned using different procedures. One was standing in the pool under water on her head with her husbandusing a flash light to encourage the baby to turn I also had a friend who had a footling breach baby naturallywith no epedeural with no problem. I don't know how far you are, but call Amazing Births in Boca. They do a lot of procedures and know doctors who are willing to help in such situations . good luck and do not worry