21/09/2021
MY BABY IS BREECH!???
Your baby's position is mentioned from VERY early on, as early as 20 weeks you may be told the position of your baby. At this gestation, your baby is likely not in the position for birth. Your baby is likely in position for birth at around 36 weeks, this is when they generally stop moving as space becomes pretty limited!
But what do these positions mean and should you be concerned??
"Usual position for birth"
This is where your baby is head down, facing left or right, with their back to either side. Their head will be as engaged as possible with the cervix and is the most usual position for birth.
"Back to back"
This is where your baby is still head down, however, their back and spine is against your spine. The baby's head still has great engagement with the cervix, not as powerful as the usual position but still very good, especially with upright, forward, and open positions.
This does not have any impact on the way you birth your baby. The big difference however is that you may feel "surges" exclusively in your back. When your birth begins it may be felt in your back, not in your uterus. Tens machine and birth partner applying pressure to your back can really help. So can water - so a shower, or bath, or birthing pool can alleviate any discomfort.
"Breech"
Breech is where your baby is head up, feet, or bum down.
Breech babies are pretty rare with only 4% of baby's born breech. When a baby is breech they are encouraged to turn. At 37 weeks you will be offered an ECV where the doctor will try and manipulate your baby from the outside. It can be uncomfortable for both you and baby and is successful 60% of the time. You can also try acupuncture or reflexology (successful 70%) or hypnosis (successful 80% of the time)!!!
You can also make sure you are in upright forward and open positions - bouncing on your birthing ball is great to encourage good positioning, pregnancy yoga has fantastic positions to help and try not to sit back with your pelvis tipped backwards too much - so limit the slouching, and sit upright!
If your baby is breech it does not mean you have to follow a certain birth plan, you can still birth vaginally. Take a look at breech baby births on youtube! Another fantastic resource for encouraging your baby to turn is
So any position you can still have the birth you want, don't fear it. In some cases baby knows best and you need to trust in your body and your baby.
You Got This!!
