If you are a new mother-to-be and worried about the breech baby and want to learn more about it then continue reading further. A breech baby is very common and every 3 in 4 mothers have one. It is not as scary as it sounds. If you have a breech baby then it means that your baby is placed butt-first and the head is upwards. Usually, if it is a normal pregnancy then the baby has its head towards the birth canal. There might be some complications with breech pregnancy that you need to know about. Firstly, some people are worried as to what causes a breech baby?
Generally, the fetus changes its position after 35-36 weeks, that is it turns its head towards the birth canal. While in the case of a breech baby it does not change and they remain in the same position which can either head pointed upwards and feet to the down or even be tilted sideways. There can be various reasons behind this like multiple pregnancies, little amniotic fluid in the uterus, an abnormally shaped uterus, or even if the mother had a past of premature pregnancy.
Types Of Breech Babies
There are three types of breech babies depending on their position
1. A Frank Breech
This is the most common kind where the legs of the baby are next to its abdomen and the knees are stretched straight and the feet of the baby is right next to the ears.
2. A Complete Breech
Also known as flexed breech it is the kind where the baby’s legs are crossed, appearing as if the baby is sitting cross-legged with their knees bent.
3. A Footling Breech
This is very common in babies that are born prematurely, they will have their feet out first instead of any other part of their body.
How To Know If You’ll Have A Breech Baby?
To know if you are having a breech baby or not can only be diagnosed by your doctor. It is not possible to tell for sure until after 35-36 months as it is only after that the baby turns in the womb. After the 36th month, the baby grows some more and it gets difficult for it to move around. If you have doubts about this then you have to wait until the 36th month for a doctor’s appointment where they will be able to check with the help of an ultrasound if you have a breech baby or not.
How To Know If You’ll Have A Breech BabyEven if you would be having a breech baby then it is nothing to worry about. It was only in the older times when we were not so technologically advanced to know about these things in advance and prepare for them but now there are a lot of ways that this can work. However, there are a few complications that can be a cause of worry and you should know about them.
Signs Of A Breech Baby
If you are worried about having a breech baby you can look for these possible signs before it is right for you to get an ultrasound and find out. You should also remember that this is only the suggestive way. This does not confirm that you have a breech baby. So you should probably wait for your doctor’s clinical diagnosis.
- You will feel tenderness in the subcostal area.
- Presence of softer and irregular mass in the pelvis region.
- You will feel the fetus’ loudest heartbeat near the naval.
- You can notice the head in that particular area.
These are the signs that you can look out for, however, these are not the only ways for you to tell and then start worrying about it.
Complications On having A Breech Baby?
Although having a breech baby is very common still there are a few complications that could arise or they want to know if there are any breach baby birth defects to worry about. There is nothing to worry about until it’s time for your delivery. The biggest question with a breech baby is the method of delivery to be used. In the older times, the doctors or midwives had their specific ways to deliver such a pregnancy. It is advised that vaginal delivery is not the safest option for you as it can raise a few complications such as:
The baby might not get enough oxygen due to the positioning of the umbilical cord through the birth canal. The baby may even get stuck which can be an issue. There are even possibilities of a head or skull injury as the baby is coming out and we have no clue about the head. This injury in the head can take a serious turn as it can cause some mental disabilities or even autism in the child. So it has been advised that a C-section delivery is the safest way to deliver a breech baby. If you have not decided the way then you should go with the doctor’s advice and go for the operation as this will ensure that you and your child are both safe through it.
Can You Turn The Breech Baby?
After you have been diagnosed with a breech baby then most mothers have the question regarding turning a breech baby or in other words if there is a way to turn a breech baby. There are a few ways to do that: Firstly, there is one method known as the EV or the external version, where your doctor tries to externally change the direction of the baby. This includes the baby being monitored all the time and any complication in it results in immediate delivery.
Some mothers have also reported that using essential oils and massaging with them helped in changing the direction of the baby. Using essential oils like peppermint encourages the baby to naturally change its position in the womb. Inversion is another method where the mothers try to change the baby’s direction to the right way by doing activities like standing on their hands in the pool, etc.
All these methods require great care, so be careful while trying them.
Also read- Next Possible Step If Your Baby Is In Breech Position
