Throughout your pregnancy, your baby is constantly moving, shifting, and growing. Ideally, as you approach your due date, your baby will settle into a "head-down" position (known clinically as the cephalic presentation) in preparation for birth.
However, sometimes a baby positions itself with its bottom or feet pointing down toward the birth canal. This is called a breech presentation.
Finding out your baby is breech can be surprising, but it's important to know that it is relatively common and usually harmless leading up to delivery. While a breech position can make labor and delivery more complicated, your MomDoc provider has the experience and tools to guide you through your options safely.
Types of Breech Positions
Not all breech presentations look the same. There are three main variations:
- Frank Breech: The baby’s bottom is aimed at the birth canal with its legs sticking straight up in front of its body, feet near the head. (This is the most common type).
- Complete Breech: The baby's bottom is aimed downward, but its knees are bent—much like sitting cross-legged.
- Footling Breech: One or both of the baby’s feet point downward, meaning a foot would emerge first during delivery.
What Can Be Done to Turn a Breech Baby?
If your baby is still in a breech position as you enter your third trimester, your healthcare provider will monitor the situation closely. If the baby hasn't turned by 36 or 37 weeks, we will discuss options to help encourage a head-down position before delivery.
External Cephalic Version (ECV)
ECV is a hands-on medical procedure where an obstetrician applies firm but gentle pressure to the outside of your abdomen, physically guiding the baby into a head-down position.
- When it happens: An ECV is usually performed after 37 weeks of pregnancy.
- The setting: It is done in an inpatient hospital setting under close fetal monitoring to ensure both you and the baby remain safe and stress-free.
- Success rates: While ECV is a highly effective, non-surgical intervention, it is not always successful, and not every patient is an appropriate candidate. Your MomDoc provider will determine if this is a safe option for your specific pregnancy.
Positional Techniques and Bodywork
There are several non-medical exercises and maternal positions that may naturally encourage a baby to flip. These are often recommended before attempting an ECV, or as an alternative if an ECV cannot be performed.
- Movements: Spending time on your hands and knees, or practicing deep pelvic tilts, uses gravity and movement to afford the baby more room to turn.
Physical and Massage Therapy
Specialized prenatal physical therapists (PTs) and massage therapists can be highly beneficial when you have a breech baby. These professionals focus on gently relieving tension in the pelvis, lower back, and the ligaments surrounding the uterus. By restoring balance to your pelvic alignment and relaxing tight muscles, this therapy aims to create optimal space—and less resistance—for the baby to naturally turn head-down on its own.
Planning Your Delivery
If positional techniques and ECV are either unsuccessful or not recommended, your MomDoc provider will help you plan the safest route for delivery. In the vast majority of cases, the safest method for delivering a breech baby at term is via a planned Cesarean delivery (C-section).
Your care team will walk you through every step of this process, ensuring you feel prepared, comfortable, and confident as you get ready to meet your baby.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your MomDoc provider regarding your specific situation and delivery plan.