What You Should Do If You Position the Breech Baby

Medical Video: Vaginal breech delivery and symphysiotomy

In the womb, the baby continues to move and the movement brings the baby to the head position when the time is near birth. However, sometimes the baby is in a breech baby's position which makes it difficult for the baby to be born and has to undergo a caesarean section to be born into the world. When approaching birth, the baby needs a normal position, where the baby's head is below the mother's cervix. This position is needed because the baby's head helps to give encouragement and opens the way at normal birth. Then, what if the baby's position is breech?

What is a breech position?

At 36 weeks' gestation, the baby's head is usually below, indicating that the baby is ready for birth. The head position below is the safest position at birth. The baby's head is the body part that first appears at birth and also opens the birth path.

However, sometimes the baby is in a breech position, where the baby's head is not under but above the womb. There are three types of breech positions, namely:

Frank Breech. The baby's bottom is in position and the baby's feet are straight in front of the baby's body close to the baby's head.
Complete breech. The baby's bottom is in position and the baby's legs bend close to the baby's bottom.
Incomplete breech. One foot is under and the baby's head is above.

Please note that 4 out of 100 babies are breeched like this. When the baby is in a breech position, the baby often has to be born by caesarean section.

What should I do if the baby is in a breech position?

No one knows for sure what is the reason why the baby is in a breech position. Some cases associate breech positions with premature babies, multiple pregnancies, too much or too little amniotic fluid, uterine problems, and problems in infants.

Babies who are in a breech position do not show signs before birth. However, if you want to know the position of your baby at times close to birth, you should consult a doctor and do an ultrasound to find out for sure.

If you have a baby in a breech position, the doctor will recommend you to give birth by caesarean section. However, before you decide you are willing to have a caesarean section, there may be ways you can do so that the baby is in a normal position and you can give birth normally.

1. Doing external cephalic version (ECV)

The doctor will advise you to do an external cephalic version (ECV) in an effort to change the position of the baby's head to below, if you are at 36-38 weeks' gestation. However, if you have a condition, such as multiple pregnancies, reproductive system abnormalities, or placental problems, your doctor may not advise you to do an ECV.

ECV is done by putting strong pressure on your stomach with your hands, so the baby changes his position to the head below. Ultrasound can be used to guide the course of this ECV. The ECV will be done near the time of birth, so that if something unwanted happens, the ECV will be stopped and the baby can be born by caesarean section.

ECV will be more likely to succeed if you have given birth before or you have a lot of amniotic fluid. Sometimes, ECV is also unsuccessful and can cause complications, such as the membranes rupture too quickly, changes in the baby's heart rate, placental abruption, and preterm birth.

2. Do sports

You can do several sports movements to help change the position of your breech baby. Some of the sports movements you can do are:

Breech tilt. Do this by lying on the floor and putting your feet on the chair. Then keep the pillow under your buttocks, so that your position forms a 45 degree angle to the floor. Stay in this position for a maximum of 15 minutes or until you feel uncomfortable.
Walk. Walking is the sport that is easiest for you to do during pregnancy. Walking can also help your baby to move to find the right position. Try to walk for 30 minutes every day during pregnancy.
Knee-chest position. Do it by kneeling on the floor, then place your head or forehead on the floor (facing the floor, like a prostration position). You may need to place a pillow on your knees and head to make it more comfortable. Maintain this position for 15 minutes and do this movement 3 times a day.

If you have done various businesses like the one above, but your baby's position is still breech, you should give birth to the baby by caesarean section. Caesarean section when a baby is in a breech position is strongly recommended. This is the safest way. If you still want to give birth normally in a breech baby's position, it is feared this will cause a risk of complications in your baby.

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