How does bodywork help my breech baby?

A breech baby, or a baby who is presenting head up in the third trimester, is not an uncommon occurrence. Babies are able to move into many positions in the amniotic fluid. Only as they get bigger, does it become harder for them to move out of this position. Historically, this position still lead to vaginal delivery, when providers still have the skills and training to do this. Currently there are few providers with this knowledge, and even fewer hospitals that will allow those providers to deliver breech babies vaginally.

Very often providers do not pay much attention to this until week 36, because the primary medical intervention for breech is an ECV (external cephalic version - where provider manually applies pressure to turn baby), which is not typically done until week 37. There are things that can be done earlier to help babies turn cephalic (head down). For example there are spinning babies® techniques that help offer the baby the possibility of moving.

Another often overlooked technique is skilled massage therapy. This takes training and experience, and is not general prenatal massage. There are particular muscles and ligaments that may be tighter, causing a smaller space for the baby to move through, which make it harder for a baby to find a new position. There can also be tension in the connective tissue that once released can open space for the baby to move.

Acupuncture is also a popular modality used with breech babies, particularly with moxibustion. This can encourage baby to find a head-down position, and to open space in the body for the baby to make this movement.

In some cases Chinese herbs can also help support this movement, by working on imbalances in the mothers body in terms of fluid dynamics and blood and/or qi deficiency

Engaging these techniques earlier (as early as 30 weeks) can be really effective in helping the baby have enough space and encouragement to find a new position.

Some conditions that can impact breech that are not easily resolved with bodywork might include a short cord around the neck of the baby or an extreme decrease in the amniotic fluid level (both or which can be seen on ultrasound, but also may have other signs that can give clues). For the cord, the forward leaning inversion of Carol Phillips, is the most useful technique. For low fluids, it is more difficult. Hydration becomes important, as well as focusing on what nutrients might be missing to help support the placenta. With that, then including spinning babies® techniques, as well as seeking bodywork can help.

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If your baby is breech and you want to learn more, feel free to contact me here