We had an ultrasound last week. We were thrilled to hear that the baby is growing and developing just as it should be. The technician said “looks great” and “we like to see that” enough times to get me giddy. The baby weighs approx. 2.2kg (4.5 lbs or so). It was so exciting to squint at that screen and make out a beating heart and little feet. I never knew the vertebral column could be so beautiful!
In all my efforts to be prepared for this journey of pregnancy, childbirth and delivery, one thing the ultrasound technician did say was something that had never crossed my mind. The baby is lying in a transverse position. Uh, that’s not a good thing is it? I hesitantly inquire. In his incredibly jaded, my-job-is-boring tone he says “we like to see them head down by now, talk to you doctor”.
Leaving the office, all I could think was that if this baby doesn’t do an olympic-worthy flip in the next seven weeks I will be looking at a c-section. And so begins Operation Flip This Baby!
A few google searches later and I have a plan.
- Step Two – Hands and Knees position. Although I’m not motivated enough to scrub the floor, that is what I have read kept our mothers from having transverse and breech babies. Our habits of reclining on the couch and working at computers may be a reason that it is more common to see non-optimal fetal positioning nowadays. So I now try to lean forward more often! I haven’t yet figured out how to watch tv on all fours, but I’m working on it:)
- Step Three – Hypnosis. I believe in the mind-body connection. I have been thinking happy thoughts and encouraging this baby to head south, but I’ve enlisted the help of an audio track from Hypnobabies.com. Boy, is it powerful! I have listened to it three times and have yet to stay awake through the whole thing. I don’t know if it will work to flip this baby but I am getting the best sleep in weeks!
It is difficult to find any concrete evidence that these tricks work. There are many more things like bouncing on a birthing ball, headstands in a pool, acupuncture and chiropractic work that are suggested, as well. It also seems that some babies just wait until they are in the mood and then turn all by themselves. I am 33 weeks pregnant. There is lots of time for turning, right??!
Did you try any techniques to help turn your baby head down? What worked and what didn’t?
Here are some resources:
Birthing Naturally
Spinning Babies
Hypnobabies
