TIPS FOR TURNING A BREECH BABY

VISUALISATION Imagine the baby moving down with the head very deep in your pelvis, several times a day, especially in conjunction with positions and exercises below.

SWIM AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE This keeps your body and pelvis loose and relaxed. If you have help, do headstands in the pool too!

BREECH TILT Prop one end of an ironing board securely on a sofa or chair about 30cm high. Lie down, bend knees, but keep feet flat on the board. You can also do this with your legs on a birth ball (see picture). Relax, breathe deeply, and avoid tensing. You can also use pillows on a flat surface to raise your hips above your shoulders. Gravity tucks the baby’s head, and he can then do a ”somersault” to a vertex (head-down) position. Begin at 32 to 35 weeks of pregnancy, and do it three times daily for 10 to 15 minutes each time, when you have an empty stomach, and the baby is active.

TORCH Try moving a light slowly down from the top of the uterus toward your pubic bone while you are in the breech tilt position above. Use an amber or red light. MASSAGE Start with your left hand at the bottom of the stomach and your right hand just above it. Move your hands clockwise around the right side of your tummy. As your right hand reaches the top, slide the left one over your right and move it down the left side of your tummy. Your left hand leads as you

come full circle, continuing clockwise. Massage gently as you would to apply lotion. Massage for 10 minutes or more up to several times each day. PEG Place a peg on the small toe of each foot at the outside corner of the toenail – sideways, so that the toenail and toe pad are stimulated for 30 minutes per day. This is an acupressure point, a “moving down” point. You can also do this with your finger.

SUGAR HIGH Drink a glass of orange or other fruit juice, and then lie down on your side with your hips higher than your feet. Babies move more after a sugar high!

PELVIC TILT When your stomach is empty, lie on your back, and place three large pillows under your bum. Flex your knees, and place your feet on the floor. Place an ice pack on top of your tummy, for 10 minutes twice a day.

CAT STRETCH Start on all fours, then lay your head and chest flat on the floor with your bum in the air, as you round your back and return to all fours. KNEE-CHEST POSITION Kneel with your hips flexed slightly more than 90 degrees – your thighs mustn’t press against your tummy. Place your head, shoulders and upper chest flat on a mattress. Do this every 15 minutes, every two (waking) hours, for five days. WEBSTER’S BREECH TECHNIQUE

See a chiropractor who’s experienced in this technique.