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The ideal position for the baby is that the head is at the back, Mother. In contrast to babies who are breech, the position of the legs or buttocks is in the out position.
If you want to give birth vaginally, can this position change? Don’t worry, Mom, there are various ways to improve the position of a breech baby naturally.
A baby is said to be breech if the feet or buttocks come out of the vagina first. This condition makes it difficult for pregnant women to have a normal birth. In fact, most babies can move naturally so that the head is positioned downwards.
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According to the Cleveland Clinic page, breech breech often occurs early in pregnancy and most will move to a head first position at 36 weeks gestation. The head first position is called vertex presentation and is the safest position for birth.
Breech babies account for about 3 to 4 percent of all full-term pregnancies. Before 37 weeks of gestation, it is unlikely that the baby will move into a head-first position.
How to correct the position of a breech baby naturally
There are several fetal positions that the baby may experience. A breech baby can be in several different positions, including:
Frank Breech: The baby’s bottom is pointing towards the vaginal canal with the legs sticking straight up in front of the body and the feet near the head. Complete breech: The baby’s bottom is pointing down and the hips and knees are bent (folded under him). Footling breech: One or both of the baby’s feet point downwards and will give birth before the rest of the body. Transverse lie: This is a form of breech presentation when the baby is positioned horizontally across the uterus, rather than vertically. This will make the baby’s shoulders enter the vagina first.
This breech position usually has no effect on pregnancy. Most breech babies are born healthy, although there is a slightly increased risk of certain birth defects.
When pregnant with a breech fetus, the movement feels a little different. You may feel the baby kick lower in the stomach. You may feel a hard lump near your ribs. This is the baby’s head.
If you are planning a vaginal birth, this breech position may change your plans. Vaginal delivery can be complicated and dangerous. In many cases doctors will recommend a cesarean birth (caesarean section) although some feel comfortable having a vaginal breech delivery.
In some cases, turning the baby to a head-down position while still in the womb is an option. The baby will be born head first.
If the baby is breech at 37 weeks gestation, the doctor or midwife may do this:
Try turning the baby in the womb to a head first position. Plan a birth by caesarean section. Plan a vaginal breech delivery.
The most common method used to change the position of a breech baby is called external cephalic version (ECV). The doctor or midwife does this around 37 weeks of pregnancy. This procedure is carried out in the hospital in case of an emergency.
The doctor or midwife will place a hand on the stomach and apply strong pressure to turn the baby into a head-down position while the baby is still in the womb. It is about 65 percent effective and is risky.
Turning the baby may be unsafe if the pregnant woman has any of the following conditions:
Bleeding from the vagina. Placenta previa. This is when the placenta covers all or part of the cervix. Abnormally small baby. Amniotic fluid levels are low. Low or high fetal heart rate. Premature rupture of membranes. Twins or multiples.
Natural ways to correct breech position
Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, said that if a baby is in a breech position, it doesn’t mean he will stay like that. Babies often change positions by themselves in the final weeks before giving birth. This is why interventions are often attempted to help babies acquire a head-down orientation.
There are several ways that mothers can try to encourage the baby to turn around. However, before practicing it, try to consult a doctor first.
1. Tilt exercise
Breech tilt exercises use gravity to encourage the baby to turn around. The method is simple, pregnant women can do it at home by lifting their hips higher than their heart.
Some women do this by piling pillows under their hips while lying on their backs on the floor or bed. Others prop one end of the board on a sofa at a 30 to 40 degree angle and lie on it with their head toward the floor.
Pregnant women can do this exercise three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes. Be careful, this pose can make pregnant women dizzy. If you feel dizzy, stop the exercise and talk to your doctor or midwife before trying it again.
2. Lie on your side
When in this position, mothers can use a pillow to support the body and between the legs to provide more space in the pelvis so that the baby can turn over.
3. Swimming
Swimming often feels good late in pregnancy because of the buoyancy provided by the water, which can also help relieve pressure on the body to make more room for the baby. Breaststroke and crawling can be very beneficial in moving the baby.
4. Warm and cold
The strategy for using warm and cold is to place the cold temperature near where the baby’s head is currently (at the top of the uterus) and warm where it wants to go (near the bottom of the uterus).
In the womb, babies want to stay warm and curled up, so any cold temperature near them will cause the baby to react and move away. A bag of frozen peas or ice works well for this technique.
For warmth, try a bath that only covers the lower abdomen or use a warm compress.
Alternate the placement of warm and cold as the baby begins to shift to pull him towards the pelvis. This method can be used as often as you like as long as it eliminates the feeling of cold and warmth when/if it feels uncomfortable.
5. Music and light
Playing music or shining a flashlight near the pubic bone will make the baby interested in the stimulation and correct himself. Mothers can do this technique in stages, starting from the side of the stomach and moving towards the pelvis when the baby starts to shift. This can also be used in conjunction with the cool trick above.
If you use music, you can use headphones and play the music loud enough so that you can hear it with the headphones near the pubic bone. This may encourage the baby to approach the sound.
Mothers can start by playing music on the side of the stomach, then move further down towards the pubic bone.
Lazada/ Photo: Lazada
6. Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses very thin, disposable needles inserted directly into the skin to release qi, prevent it from becoming blocked, or help it move.
This release of energy is intended to help the baby find a better position by allowing the pregnant woman’s body to move freely and the baby to have the space it needs to be positioned properly in the womb for birth.
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