Breech Babies: Can Osteopaths help?
Can Osteopaths help when a baby is diagnosed breech?
A breech diagnosis (baby’s head is up, bottom down in the pelvis - the opposite of what is ideal for birth) is concerning for any expectant mother when nearing the end of pregnancy, although NHS statistics state that after week 36 only 3-4% of babies are in such undesirable positioning.
However uncommon, having a breech baby in the late stages of pregnancy can be alarming and worrying. I write this as principal Osteopath of The Waterside Practice, after being diagnosed at 36 weeks with a breech baby last week, so I thought a great opportunity to share the experience so far from both patient and as a therapist’s viewpoint.
First reaction to sonographer’s surprise of a head near my ribcage: surprise! Then sadness knowing how late we are to be turning almost full term babies and the likelihood of any chance of it happening by itself. I had had a very straight-forward home water birth with my first daughter 6 years ago with no pain relief and was planning to do the same again this time round.
Second reaction: read the NHS handout: Breech baby at the end of pregnancy.
For clarification there are three types of breech - Extended (legs straight up near baby’s face), Flexed (baby's legs in crossed arrangement) and Footling (least ideal, one of baby’s feet are below its bottom).
You have two options if you have a breech baby that hasn’t turned - attempt a natural birth in hospital or plan an elective C-Section.
Third reaction: book in with Osteopath colleague who has experience with Breech pregnancies Jenna Dockerill who also recommended I tried acupuncture moxibustion. I also took at look at Spinning Babies’ website and YouTube for any inspiration I can do for home exercise.
First treatment: Moxibustion - claims to increase movement of baby inside the womb increasing chances of turning.
The Acupuncturist lights two herbal cigar like sticks that are held near the outside of the little toes for around 20mins, and you are to repeat at home twice daily. I must be honest with the extra smell sensitivity, smelling of a fireplace afterwards and being an asthmatic and lacking evidence I just couldn’t bring myself to do anymore at home. I didn’t find baby moved much more at all during the session however, the Chinese needling did help me relax.
Interestingly the NHS booklet mentions the use of Moxibustion, however in my opinion when reading further than it can cause fetal distress as a side effect and filling one of my rooms with smoke twice a day I didn’t feel comfortable continuing. But perhaps for some, worth the try.
Second treatment: Osteopath - a manual therapist trained to work with balancing both soft tissues, bones and joints for body function. Always interesting to be the patient rather than the practitioner, and Jenna was very thorough.
Essentially as an Osteopath our aim when treating pregnant mothers with a breech presentation is to find what may be contributing to the baby going into this position in the first place. Such as pelvic dysfunctions, tensions within soft tissues (including the uterus) and overall body biomechanics.
Releasing these tensions and restrictions create space within the pelvis, correct any off-gait habits and soften the tissues to allow baby more freedom of movement so that they can move into a head down position more easily. If breech is diagnosed in the late stages of pregnancy, an ECV (External cephalic version) procedure is offered. This is where an obstetrician manually attempts to turn the baby, not comfortable but drugs are used to relax the mothers muscles to aid an easier transition.
Jenna (Osteopath) found the right side of my pelvis restricted which has been a recurrent issue of mine episodically over the years, and baby had firmly planted her bottom in this space!
Additional methods:
Stretching through the hips and lower back
Pilates ball bounce and hip rolls
Bridge exercises and walking feet higher than hips using a wall
Warm baths in the evening during baby’s active time to relax bump with self massage and gentle stretching to area.
Swimming: daily with stretching within the water
…I did have a curry out, although I think that only helped my mental well-being!
Timeframe & Progress: As an Osteopath I would say a gradual turning of a breech baby is safest and more likely for baby to then stay in the correct position rather than a quick flip (although its all you want to happen as the patient!). Much like dieting, better to do it gradually than shock the system.
5 days ago was when the Ultrasound Scan revealed the breech position (turns out my first born daughter was kissing our baby’s head and not her bottom like we had thought!), head was in my left side ribcage lying oblique with baby’s bottom sitting within the right side of my pelvis.
Today, baby has gradually now moved (on palpation diagnosis so not 100% accurate) so that she is more transverse across my abdomen with her head now on the right side. Now I call that progress!
The ECV turning procedure is booked for 3 days time, if she’s not fully turned I would hope that what has been done to help will ensure that last rotation will be easier for the body and baby.
Update 4th Oct 2024..!
Well, what a few weeks it has been! On Thursday 12th sept the ECV breech turn procedure took place and Dr Pathak successfully managed to turn the baby back into a head down positioning. However, baby was unable to turn head first as there was a resistance within the uterus just under my right ribcage. Interestingly with all the swimming, stretches, exercises and self release of the uterus and surrounding tissues (perks of being an Osteopath!) baby had managed to move to this point herself but just couldn’t flip the whole way. So Dr Pathak, a very experienced consultant with a good success rate (so the midwives told me) suggested we ‘back-flipped’ the baby. And that is exactly what she did, within minutes baby had turned and to be quite honest I was so relieved I burst into tears - all I could do was to refrain from hugging the woman!
2 days later we threw a house birthday party for our first-born and labour began in the early hours of the following morning. We got the pool home-birth we desired no analgesia and little Zoe arrived safe and sound. I type frantically as she is starting to wake from her morning nap, starving hungry no doubt!
Here’s the little dot, weighing in at 7lb 1oz and has still been sporting the folded up breech legs!