Usually a few weeks before birth most babies will turn into delivery position, with their head moving near the birth canal. If this does not happen the baby's buttocks and/or feet will be in place to be delivered first. This is called the breech position. Until about 32 weeks about 16% of babies lie this way but by the time you are 37 weeks the number is down to about 3-4%. Many breech babies spontaneuously turn around before or even during labour without any assistance.

Different types of breech birth:-

• Frank breech - the babies buttocks are aimed toward the birth canal and the legs stick straight up in front of the body. the feet are near the head.
• Complete breach - The buttocks are down, with th elegs folded at the kneees and the feet near the buttocks
• Footling breach - one or both of the babies feet are pointing down and will come out first

Possibly cause of breech presentation:-

• subsequent pregnancies
• pregnancies of multiples
• history of premature delivery
• when the uterus has too much or too little amniotic fluid
• abnormal shaped uterus or uterus has abnormal growths (such as fibroids)
• women with placenta previa

While the common practice for many years was to deliver breech babies vaginally and obstetricians in the 1960's and 1970's were trained with the appropriate skills for this (sometimes) more complicated delivery, it is becoming a lost skill as obstetricians focus more on surgery and performing cesareans instead. However, the truth is that there are several options for breech babies.

1. Turn the baby head down and proceed with vaginal birth
2. vaginal breech birth
3. cesarean

If your baby is breech and you want to avoid having a cesarean there are many ways to learn how to turn a breech baby into the head down position, all have varying levels of success. The best time to try and turn a breech baby is between 32-37 weeks of pregnancy.

Be sure to check with your midwife or doctor before trying the positions for turning a breech baby to make sure there are not any reasons why you should not use them

1. Visualising the baby moving down with the head very deep into your pelvis, several times a day, especially in conjuction with positions and exercises below
2. Swimming as often as possible. this keeps your body and pelvis loose and relaxed
3. CD/iPod headphones - place them inside your clothes and towards the pubic bone and play relaxing or classical music for 10 minutes, 6-8 times per day
4. Flashlight - try moving slowly down from the top of the uterus toward your pubic bone while you are in a breech tilt position
5. Massage - Put your left hand near the pubic bone and your right hand on top of the uterus. Move your hands clockwise around your abdomen. Do this for at least 10 minutes everyday.
6. Clothespin - place on the small toe of each foot at the outside corner of the toenail,sideways, so that the toenail and toepad are stimulated for 30 minutes per day. This is an acupressure point that is a "moving down" point. You can also do this with just finger pressure whenever you remember.
7. Pelvic Tilt (fully supported Bridge pose) - lie on your back with knees bent and feet on the floor
   
   about hip width apart. Place three large pillows underneath your buttocks so it is about 30cm off the ground. This is best done on an empty stomach and when baby is active. Concentrate on your baby and not tensing your body, especially in the abdominal area. Try this 3 times per day for 10-15minutes. You can also combine this with headphones, visualisation and an icepack at the top of the abdomen.
8. Cold at the top of the uterus, this can encourage your baby to move away from it. Babies like to be warm and snuggled but be sure to do this with at least a thin layer between you and the cold pack.
   
9. Childs pose - kneeling on the floor, toes together and knees wide (so your thighs don't press against your belly), come forward bringing your head, shoulders and chest to rest as close to the ground as psossible with your bottom in the air. Maintain this position for 15 minutes every 2 waking hours for 5 consecutive days. In one study of 71 breech babies, 65 turned when their mother adopted this posiiton.
10. Homeopathic remedies - contact your local health practioner about Pulsatilla, Arnica and/or Traumeel.
    
11. Acupuncture (moxibustion) - find an acupuncturist who is familiar with pregnancy and knows the points to stimulate for turning a breech baby.
    
12. Websters breech tecnique - see a chiropractor who is experienced in this technique.
13. External Cephalic Version (ECV) - this can be done at any point from 36 weeks of pregnancy, sometimes it can even be carried out at the beginning of labour if the waters haven't already broken. Contact your pregnancy healthcare providor for assistance and more information. ECV is more likely to be successful if
    
1. you've had a baby before
2. there is plenty of fluid around your baby
3. your baby is high up or has yet to engage in your pelvis
4. the muscles of the uterus are relaxed

At the end of the day it might be that your baby prefers to lie in the breech position, about 5% of babies turn back to the breech position after a successful ECV.  Always discuss the possibility of having a vaginal birth with your midwife and/or obstetrician if that is your desire. Most health care providors will recommend a cesarean delivery for all babies who are in the breech position, especially those that are premature. Premature babies are small and fragile and because the head is relatively larger, their bodies don't stretch the cervix as wide as full-term babies do during birth. This means that there may be less room for the head to emerge.

Above all, stay calm & relaxed while attempting these techniques, unneccessary expectations and/or anxiety will only inhibit your progress. Trust yourself, your body and your baby to know what is best for you!