Natural Ways to Encourage a Breech Baby to Flip: A Naturopathic Doula’s Guide
1. Optimal Fetal Positioning: Start with Posture
Your daily posture and movements can influence your baby’s position. The goal is to create more space in your pelvis and encourage your baby to tuck their chin and move into a head-down position.
Avoid slouching: Sit upright with your pelvis tilted slightly forward. Use a birth ball or cushion to support your lower back.
Knees below hips: When sitting, ensure your knees are lower than your hips. This opens up the pelvis and gives your baby room to maneuver.
Forward-leaning positions: Spend time on your hands and knees or lean over a birth ball to encourage your baby to move away from your spine and into an optimal position.
2. Chiropractic Care: The Webster Technique
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic adjustment designed to balance the pelvis and reduce tension on the ligaments and muscles surrounding the uterus. This can create an environment that allows the baby to move more freely. Many chiropractors trained in prenatal care are skilled in this technique, and it’s a safe, non-invasive option to consider.
3. Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Acupuncture and moxibustion (a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves burning mugwort near specific acupuncture points) have been shown to help encourage breech babies to flip. The most commonly targeted point is BL-67, located near the outer corner of the little toenail. Studies suggest that moxibustion can stimulate fetal movement and increase the likelihood of the baby turning head-down. Always consult a licensed acupuncturist or TCM practitioner for this treatment.
4. Spinning Babies® Techniques
Spinning Babies® is a fantastic resource for parents and birth workers alike. Their techniques focus on balancing the body and creating space for the baby to move. Two of their most popular methods for breech babies are:
Forward-Leaning Inversion: Kneel on a couch or bed, lower your hands to the floor, and let your hips rise above your shoulders. This gentle inversion can help release tension in the lower uterus and encourage the baby to move.
Side-Lying Release: Lie on your side with your lower leg straight and your upper leg bent, supported by pillows. This can help relax the round ligaments and create more room for the baby to turn.
5. Pelvic Tilts and Breech Tilt Exercises
Pelvic tilts are simple exercises that can help create space in the pelvis and encourage your baby to move. Here’s how to do them:
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Lift your hips slightly off the ground and hold for a few seconds, then lower back down.
Repeat this motion for 5-10 minutes, 2-3 times a day.
For a more intense version, try the breech tilt: Place a firm pillow or cushion under your hips to elevate them about 9-12 inches off the ground. Stay in this position for 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a day.
6. Swimming and Water Exercises
The buoyancy of water can help relieve pressure on your body and give your baby more room to move. Swimming or simply floating in a pool can encourage your baby to shift positions. Try gentle movements like pelvic circles or flips in the water to promote relaxation and mobility.
7. Visualization and Relaxation
Your mental and emotional state can have a powerful impact on your body and your baby. Take time each day to relax, breathe deeply, and visualize your baby turning head-down. You might even try talking to your baby, gently encouraging them to move into the optimal position for birth.
8. Music and Sound
Some mothers have found success with playing music or sounds near the lower part of their abdomen. The theory is that the baby may move toward the sound. Try placing headphones or a speaker near your pelvis and playing calming music or your own voice.
9. Warm and Cold Compresses
Using temperature to encourage movement can be surprisingly effective. Place a cold compress (like a bag of frozen peas) at the top of your uterus where your baby’s head is, and a warm compress (like a heating pad) at the bottom of your uterus. The idea is that your baby will move away from the cold and toward the warmth.
10. External Cephalic Version (ECV)
If your baby remains breech as you near your due date, your healthcare provider may suggest an ECV—a procedure where they manually attempt to turn the baby from the outside. ECV has a mean success rate of 50-60% , and it tends to be more successful if a mother have already been pregnant once and delivered a baby before.
Final Thoughts: Trust Your Body and Your Baby
While these techniques can be helpful, it’s important to remember that sometimes babies have their own plans. If your baby remains breech despite your efforts, know that you’ve done everything you can to create the best possible environment for them. Whether your baby flips or not, you are strong, capable, and supported. As your doula, I’m here to help you navigate this journey with confidence and peace of mind.
If Your Baby Stays Breech: There’s Probably a Reason
Sometimes, despite all your efforts, your baby may choose to stay in a breech position. And that’s okay—there’s likely a reason for it. Babies are intuitive, and their position can be influenced by a variety of factors. Here are a few possible reasons why your baby might be staying breech:
Uterine Shape or Structure: Some women have a uterus that is shaped slightly differently (such as a bicornuate uterus or a septum), which can make it more comfortable for the baby to stay breech.
Placenta Placement: If the placenta is positioned in a way that limits space in the lower uterus (such as a low-lying placenta or placenta previa), your baby may find it easier to stay breech.
Cord Length or Position: A shorter umbilical cord or a cord that’s wrapped in a specific way might limit your baby’s ability to turn.
Baby’s Size or Position: Some babies are larger or have their legs or feet positioned in a way that makes it harder to flip. Others may have their head tucked in a way that makes it less likely for them to engage in the pelvis.
Pelvic Shape or Tension: If your pelvis is shaped in a way that makes it harder for the baby to engage, or if there’s tension in the ligaments or muscles around your uterus, your baby might stay breech.
Baby’s Preference: Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of your baby finding a position that feels most comfortable to them. Just like we have our favorite sleeping positions, babies do too!
Honoring Your Journey
If your baby stays breech, it’s important to honor your journey and trust that your body and your baby know what’s best. While a breech birth may come with its own set of challenges, it’s still a natural variation of birth. Many babies are born breech without complications, and there are skilled providers who specialize in supporting breech deliveries.
If a cesarean birth becomes necessary, know that it is still a beautiful and valid way to bring your baby into the world. Your strength and love as a mother are what truly matter, no matter how your baby arrives.