Your Options If Your Baby is Breech or Transverse

You might have found this article because you've discovered your child is in the breech position or is transverse (laying parallel across the stomach) and you want to know what your options are. In many cases today, doctors recommend a cesarean section. But is this your only option? Cesarean sections are the most common way to deliver a breech baby in multiple countries.

If you are looking to avoid a c-section, you do have some options. You can still birth vaginally with a breech presentation.
One of the first thing I'd recommend is to start seeing a chiropractor. While I don't believe chiropractors can solve all problems, but when it comes to pregnancy, research confirms that adjustments can assist mom in pregnancy, labor, and in this case, in turning a baby. A chiropractor will help adjust the alignment of your bones and muscles to help encourage the baby to turn into the downward position

Turning the baby, or External Version is another option. An ultrasound is done to visually place where the baby is located and the doc or midwife will perform a non-stress test to confirm that the baby can handle that stress of the version. Often a drug is given to relax the mom's muscles, specifically the muscles of the uterine walls, to help the turn go smoother. The nurse and doctor will then push on the mom's abdomen to attempt to physically turn the baby into the correct position. Sometimes mom's even are given an epidural to help cope with the pain. It can be painful (some moms report its more painful than childbirth).

Hypnotherapy has been researched at the University of Vermont as an option to turn the baby. You'd meet with the hypnotherapist who will lead you through visualization techniques. Clinical hypnotherapy has previously been shown to help with weight loss, to stop smoking, reduce anxiety, and reduce pain in childbirth. Statistics report that hypnotherapy has turned babies 85% of the time.

Some other options used by midwives, but with less research include: