The baby is frank breech

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Aug 17, 2005

She could do pelvic tilts, or an external conversion

Here are some sites

http://www.allaboutmoms.com/breech.htm

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/breechcl.html

http://www.wearsthebaby.com/askce/cebreech.html

My daughter is 27 weeks pregnant with our first grandchild. The baby was frank breech in the ultrasound done today. What are your thoughts as to whether or not he will still turn vertex? My daughter was frank breech. I know it's not heriditary, just interesting if he stays breech. Thanks!

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 17, 2005

My daughter is 27 weeks pregnant with our first grandchild. The baby was frank breech in the ultrasound done today. What are your thoughts as to whether or not he will still turn vertex? My daughter was frank breech. I know it's not heriditary, just interesting if he stays breech. Thanks!

There is plenty of time for the baby to turn around. Some do not turn until close to the very end of gestation. Now, that being said, some will turn and then turn BACK to breech.

Good luck with that grandbaby!!!!!!!!!!!

BabyRN2Be · Aug 17, 2005

There's plenty of time for the baby to turn. As someone said above, she can do pelvic tilts. Another good exercise to get the baby into an OA position is for the mom to get on all fours for 10 minutes 4x a day. Also, with the aid of a "birth ball" (one of those big therapy balls, 65cm for those under 5'6", 75cm for taller women), have her sit on the birth ball and lean forward, resting her arms on the end of a couch, anyplace steady. This is good because it allows the mom time to relax, and it's a good exercise she can do while watching TV.

Also, she might try to lay on a tilt board, head at the low end, feet on the high end. Just be careful getting up if she has trouble with orthostatic hypotension.

If you need any more help, please feel to PM me. If baby is still breech say at 35-36 wks (depending on practitioner), an external version might be tried. In my time as a doula (8 years), I've seen the above exercises work with turning babies.

I hope this helps, and hopefully baby will behave and get into a head down, OA position.

Katherine

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 17, 2005

also remember, anywhere from 95-98% WILL turn on their own by the time they need to. Try not to worry THIS soon.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 17, 2005

Hey, congratulations, grandma-to-be!! I'm a brand-new grandmother myself, and let me tell you, no matter HOW that child comes into the world you will be absolutely thrilled..........there's nothing like it.

To answer your question, many babies don't go head down until the last few weeks of pregnancy, so you've got a while to wait and see what happens. My grandson never did turn; he was still transverse at 41 weeks, and stayed that way right up until he was delivered by C-section. I had one like that too; don't know if the tendency runs in families, but I do know there've been a lot of cesarean deliveries in my family (my mother had me that way, my sister had both of her children via "section", and I had three of my five kids surgically).

Don't worry about it, especially not this soon. Before you know it, you'll be holding that precious little life in your own arms regardless of how he or she arrives. Best of luck to you and your daughter.........this is a very special time for your family!

BETSRN · Aug 17, 2005

My daughter is 27 weeks pregnant with our first grandchild. The baby was frank breech in the ultrasound done today. What are your thoughts as to whether or not he will still turn vertex? My daughter was frank breech. I know it's not heriditary, just interesting if he stays breech. Thanks!

This child has plenty of time to turn. If he does not, a decision will be made to attempt to turn him or not (at about 36 weeks). Sometimes a baby is in a particular position for a reason. The physician may elect NOT to attempt a version. Sometimes things are better left alone.

DidiRN · Aug 17, 2005

Not to hijack the thread, but wondered if some OB nurses would mind telling me...I am a twin, born 40 years ago. My brother came out normally, I was delivered breech. Would they allow this kind of birth today? Just curious.

fergus51 · Aug 17, 2005

Few doctors will willingly perform breech deliveries anymore. I can understand why.

BabyRN2Be · Aug 17, 2005

Not to hijack the thread, but wondered if some OB nurses would mind telling me...I am a twin, born 40 years ago. My brother came out normally, I was delivered breech. Would they allow this kind of birth today? Just curious.

It really depends on the doctor and the type of facility. A teaching facility would be more likely to do it that a private hospital. And it all depends on the doctor/midwife and the facility, whether the hospital's policy allows for it.

Some will, others would prefer to do a C-section.

LydiaNN · Aug 17, 2005

My son was frank breech. I went to see a perinatalogist to discuss an external version, but this guy reminded both me and my husband of a used car salesman. That, taken with my OB's (of whom I thought very highly) feeling that "babies are breech for a reason" led to our decision not to turn our son and to deliver him by planned C. As it turns out, that was the best decision for us. Our son was wedged in there so tight that it took 25 minutes to get him out! It is so funny, he sure exerted his personality early, the OB would keep getting hold of him and he'd keep squirming away, lol. I have always felt that a trip through the lady partsl canal would have been really traumatic for him.

suebird3 · Aug 17, 2005

No matter how baby comes into this world, as long as he/she is health.

My dad was positioned breech, but family is unsure as to whether he would of turned. Gran was sick, the doctor nearly lost her, so dad was a section.

According to my MIL, my sister in law was a "double ramrod footling breech". I have never seen anything mentioned in my OB books about this.....anyone out there ever see it?