6 Ways to Turn a Breech Baby

A breech position means that your baby's head is positioned up away from your pelvis rather than toward it; a frank breech position is when the derriere presents nearest the pelvis. It can happen in around 3 to 4 percent of pregnancies and, while concerning, shouldn't cause undue alarm.

There are a number of techniques a mother can use to turn a breech baby prior to delivery. Some gently "compel" the baby into the correct position during the latter part of the pregnancy (from week 30 forward) while others are performed by the doctor or midwife at the time of delivery.

Techniques range from time-honored midwifery remedies to more contemporary medical interventions. Six of the more popular breech-turning techniques include: 

The breech tilt exercise is simply the routine lifting of your hips above your heart, using gravity to turn the baby. Some women do this by stacking pillows under their hips as they lie flat on their backs on the floor. Others find it easier to prop one end of an ironing board on the couch in a 30- to 40-degree angle. They can then lie on the ironing board with their heads pointed in the direction of the floor.

You can do this exercise three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes each. Yoga practitioners may also be able to explore the supported bridge pose, which has a similar effect, in a third-trimester prenatal yoga class.

Placing something cold on your belly near the fundus is a technique that encourages a baby into the correct position. Even in the womb, babies want to keep warm and snuggled, so any cold placed near them will cause them to react and move away. A bag of frozen peas works well for this technique. Do this as often as you feel comfortable, changing the placement as the baby starts to shift.

There are certain stimuli that babies will react to even within the womb; one is music and the other is light. By playing music or shining a flashlight near the pubic bone, the baby may gravitate toward the stimuli and right itself. Some mothers will perform this technique gradually, starting at the side of the abdomen and moving toward the pelvis as the baby starts to shift.

Moxibustion is a form of traditional Chinese medicine which involves burning a dried plant bundle called the "moxa stick" to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi. This is not a home remedy but one that is performed by a trained practitioner. There are many Western midwives who believe in the practice, particularly since it does not cause pain or have any adverse side effects. Although not empirical, some small studies have suggested that it may be as effective as physically turning the baby.

The Webster Technique is a chiropractic technique in which the body is adjusted to relax any tension that may be holding the pelvis in a rigid, unaccommodating position. By releasing the tension, the baby may be more able to maneuver itself around without resistance.

External cephalic version (ECV) is a procedure performed by a doctor or midwife at a hospital during labor. Medication is generally prescribed to help relax the uterus, while an ultrasound helps guide the practitioner physically turn the baby from the outside. The force it takes to do so can sometimes be uncomfortable or even painful. An epidural may be prescribed if the pain is especially unbearable.

The choice of turning technique is a highly individual one but one that should be made with the complete input of your doctor. It is important you understand the risks and benefits of whatever technique you choose and have a fall-back plan selected and ready to implement should a certain technique fail.

If a breech baby is unable to be turned, it may still be possible to deliver vaginally. More often than not, however, the doctor will recommend a cesarean, which generally offers a lower risk of complications and infant mortality.