Baby Bumps: Having A Breech Baby
You have a lot to look forward to when expecting. You expect your stomach to grow with your baby bump, but you won’t always anticipate bumps in the road, such as your baby being breech. During most pregnancies, babies turn their heads down and position themselves for birth. However, 3 to 5 percent of babies won’t turn during late preterm. If your baby presents him or herself with the body facing upward, they are considered breech. Untreated, this poses health risks to both the mother and child by making birth especially difficult.
Learning that your baby is breech can be scary, but there are solutions to reposition your baby for safe delivery. Here are some tips to use when you’re told your baby is breech.
Take A Deep Breath
You may be asking a lot of questions or worrying about outcomes. The first step is to take time for yourself. Deep breathing exercises can be beneficial. One exercise is the 4-7-8 method. Breathe in deeply for four seconds, filling your lungs with air. Then, hold your breath for seven counts — either in seconds or heartbeats. Let yourself be in the moment, focusing on the counts. Finally, exhale, heavily pushing the air out. While this won’t take away the stress completely, it may help ground yourself and lower your blood pressure.
Work With Your OB/GYN
Check up regularly with your doctor. He or she will create a treatment plan for you and your baby to determine the best route of several options. If the baby is breech at an early stage, speak to your doctor about natural remedies to turn your baby.
Your physician may recommend External Version (EV). During this procedure, your physician will use their hands to press the stomach, gently guiding the baby into the correct position.
Consider Birth Options
For breech babies, physicians recommend delivery through Cesarean section — the procedure in which the birth is conducted through abdominal incisions. In some cases, vaginal deliveries may be considered, though this can pose risks.
Dr. Kimberly Muhlenkamp-Wermert provides personalized support and treatment for expectant mothers using the Webster Technique, a non-invasive method, which can help your baby assume the appropriate birthing position.
Webster Technique is used to identify and remove intrauterine constraint caused by the malposition of the sacroiliac joints. This technique has been shown effective in reducing intrauterine constraint in expectant mothers who are presenting breech, allowing the fetus to be able to move into vertex position for labor. Basically, this technique aligns the pelvis properly to ease ligament stretching, calm discomfort, and allow the baby the freedom to move around and assume the appropriate position for birth.
Professionally trained in this field, she is one of the few female chiropractors trained in our area certified by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Dr. Kim listens to your needs and creates a treatment plan to support you every step of the way.
Having your baby become breech can be a concerning experience but remember you’re not alone. At Live Well Chiropractic Center, we’ll be your champions through every stage of your pregnancy from preconception to post-delivery and family care. Reach out to Dr. Kim and schedule a consultation today! Be sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for our latest updates and tips!
