When I was expecting my third child, an ultrasound revealed a surprise: baby was breech. As someone planning a natural home birth, flipping that little one became my top priority. Little did I know this would be the first of several breech pregnancies, each teaching me more about the body’s incredible adaptability—and the power of proactive, informed choices. If you’ve recently heard the words “breech presentation,” take heart: there are practical steps to encourage baby to turn, and you’re not alone in this journey.
Understanding Breech Presentation: What It Means for Your Pregnancy
In a typical birth, babies settle into a head-down “vertex” position. A breech baby, however, presents feet-first, bottom-first, or (rarely) sideways. The three main breech types are:
- Frank breech (most common): Buttocks first, legs straight up toward the head.
- Complete breech: Knees bent, feet near the bottom.
- Footling breech: One or both feet extending past the buttocks.
While 96% of babies turn head-down by full term, about 3–4% stay breech. Risk factors include multiple pregnancies, abnormal amniotic fluid levels, uterine fibroids, or a history of breech births. Personally, my Hashimoto’s thyroid condition may have played a role in my later breech pregnancies, highlighting how individual each journey can be.
Vaginal Delivery vs. C-Section: Weighing the Options
Conventional medicine often defaults to C-section for breech babies, but vaginal delivery is possible with the right preparation. Studies show that with a skilled provider, vaginal breech birth can be as safe as C-section—though risks like umbilical cord prolapse require careful monitoring. My third baby needed an emergency C-section due to undiagnosed placenta previa, but my fifth and sixth babies were successful vaginal breech deliveries. The key? Partnering with a provider experienced in breech births (midwives often have more training here) and creating a birth plan that aligns with your values.
7 Tried-and-True Methods to Encourage Baby to Flip
1. External Cephalic Version (ECV)
This medical procedure involves a provider manually turning the baby by applying pressure to the abdomen. It’s most effective between 36–38 weeks but carries risks like premature labor or emergency C-section. I opted to try natural methods first, but ECV can be a viable last resort.
2. Inversion Techniques
- Stair Inversion: Sit upside down on stairs, with head and arms 3–4 steps lower than the butt. This relaxes pelvic ligaments to create space for baby.
- Pool Handstands: Swimming and handstands in water (wearing a bathing suit in the third trimester? Yes, it’s as comical as it sounds!) helped me feel weightless and encourage baby to move.
3. Pelvic Tilts
Prop one end of an ironing board on a couch to create a slope, then lie with head low and butt elevated for 20 minutes, 3x daily. An inversion table works too—anything to tip the pelvis and invite baby to shift.
4. The Elephant Walk
Get on hands and knees, keeping the butt raised high in an acute angle. My toddlers thought this was a game (they’d chase me around the house!), but it’s surprisingly effective at opening the pelvic outlet.
5. Webster Chiropractic Technique
A certified chiropractor releases tension in the uterus and pelvic ligaments, allowing baby to turn naturally. One study showed an 82% success rate with this method, which also relieves back pain for moms. Find a provider at the ICPA website.
6. Spinning Babies Exercises
This resource offers positions like hands-and-knees “cat-cow” stretches and pelvic rocks to release tension. Their philosophy: create space for baby to move by relaxing tight muscles.
7. Acupuncture + Moxibustion
Burning the Artemesia herb near a toe trigger point (moxibustion) can stimulate baby to become active and flip. Combine with acupuncture for best results, ideally starting at 34 weeks.
My Personal Journey: When Methods Meet Reality
For my third baby, a mix of pelvic tilts and Webster adjustments worked—until a hemorrhage at 35 weeks revealed placenta previa, necessitating a C-section. With babies five and six, I focused on daily inversion and Spinning Babies exercises, and both flipped naturally. The key takeaway? Every pregnancy is unique. What matters is listening to your body and working with a team that respects your choices.
One tip from my vaginal breech deliveries: wait until full dilation to push. This reduces tearing and allows baby to navigate the birth canal naturally. My midwife’s “hands-off” approach—avoiding premature touching that might startle baby—was crucial too.
Community Insights: What Other Moms Have Tried
Readers have shared everything from moxibustion during inversion (yes, with some comical burns!) to homeopathic remedies like Pulsatilla. One mom credited Webster adjustments for turning her transverse baby at 37 weeks, while another found that propping her butt with pillows after each inversion helped “lock” baby in place. The common thread? Patience and a willingness to adapt.
Final Thoughts: Trusting the Process
Discovering a breech baby can feel overwhelming, but it’s not a dead end. Whether you pursue natural flipping methods, ECV, or plan for a breech delivery, remember that your intuition and provider’s expertise are your best allies. As a mom who’s walked this path multiple times, I can say: the journey may be unexpected, but the joy of holding your baby is worth every twist and turn.
Have you experienced a breech pregnancy? Share your tips or questions in the comments below—let’s support each other!
