Turning a Breeched Baby

 
Hello all! A friend of mine asked if there were some yogic methods for turning a breech baby and I thought I’d share with everyone in case someone else is in need of this information. I am a certified Prenatal Yoga Teacher and a Registered Hatha Yoga Teacher as well. Please feel free to message me any questions you may have! Please remember that it is always best to ask your doctor for information, I am not a healthcare provider.
 
First, What does “breech” mean?
 
If a baby is breech, it means that the head of the fetus is away from the cervix. Ideal position would mean that the babies head is down with the face facing the back. The way a baby lies could make delivery easier or more difficult.
 
Types of breech:
 
■ Frank breech- buttocks down at the cervix
■ Complete breech-knees are bent and feet and buttocks are down at the cervix
■ Footling breech-where one or both feet are down
 
*All methods will be most effective while baby is active*
 
Yoga asanas that may help turn a breeched baby:
 
■ Modified Supported Bridge Pose/ Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (photo below- I do not own this image): To be done if the baby hasn’t turned at 36 weeks. Lays on your back with knees bent and feet on the floor. Push into your feet and lift you pelvis above your head. Place a yoga block, bolster, pillow or rolled up blankets underneath for support, keeping the pelvis 10 or so inches above the head. Stay here for 10 minutes and repeat three times a day. The idea is that when the baby’s head hits the fundus (the top of the uterus), it will squirm and change positions. Avoid this asana if baby has just turned.
■ Wall supported forward fold: Stand facing a wall and take a few steps back. Inhale your hands up above your head, exhale begin to fold forward, letting your hands come to the wall. You may need to walk forward or back. Your body will be in a letter “L”. This encourages the heaviest parts of the baby (skull and spine) to move down
■ All fours: Come to hands and knees. This encourages the heaviest parts of the baby (skull and spine) to move down
Other methods:
 
■ Lean on a birthing ball
■ Entice the baby to move with sound (music)/heat (hot water bottle)
■ Get the baby to move AWAY from a place with cold (ice pack/frozen veggies)/light (flashlight)
■ If the baby is Occiput Posterior (OP/Sunny side up- head is down but face is towards belly) Mom can come to all fours and make big circles with the pelvis to encourage more space in the pelvis for the baby to move.
■ Acupuncture (see a specialist)
■ Sit on a cushion in the car so your pelvis is tilted forward (if baby is OP)
 
Please feel free to share this note with anyone it may help.
 
I hope you have found this information helpful. If you have more suggestions or comments, please feel free to leave a comment below.Thank you!
 
Ana Victoria (Vicky)