Oh man… don’t even. I can’t bring myself to look at how long it’s been since my last post, but what can I say? It’s TIFF season (aka the Toronto International Film Festival), which is the most insane time of year for me as an arts reporter, and it means I have barely a second to shove an occasional wad of street meat in my mouth, let alone blog. As a side note, if any of you have pressing questions for Mr. Harry Potter, I’m interviewing him in a few days, so pass those along. Also speaking with Dexter, and that hot guy from True Blood (Ryan whatever-his-name-is), and haven’t yet organized my notes on their upcoming films, so will gladly use my allotted 20 minutes with each for random subjects of conversation like, say, how they feel about breech deliveries.
Last time I had an ultrasound, it showed the little guy as being the kind of breech where his butt is down by my cervix—apparently any breech position leads to an automatic C-section in most U.S. hospitals because doctors want to avoid getting sued if anything goes wrong. But my mother was saying it’s likely for Canadian OBs to attempt a natural delivery if the baby starts coming out bum-first. Erm… this kind of freaks me out. I’d much rather try to turn him so his head is down where it should be, and at 33 weeks, I’m running out of time. I tried singing that “Turn, Turn, Turn” song repeatedly but then figured I may as well look up some other strategies online. This is where it gets hella weird, girls.
The first result that came up was 9 tips for turning your fetus. Among those tips? Applying an ice pack to the top of your stomach and a heating pack to your vajayjay; playing music through headphones positioned by your crotch, or “have Dad place his mouth on your lower abdomen [ed note: they really mean vagina] and talk to the baby, encouraging him or her to move towards the sound of his voice”; getting onto the floor on your hands and knees, then wiggling your butt around; or lying upside down, on a 45-degree angle — and note, “You can use large pillows or an ironing board to help you get into the slanted position.” Oh, can I? Great! So basically, if you want to find me, I’ll be here lying upside-down on a tilted ironing board with an ice pack on my stomach and a heating pad down below with my husband singing to my vagina. No probs. Seems SUPER scientific.
Anyone got any better ideas?
P.S. Bump pics page has been updated yet again, but don’t expect any major changes from 28 weeks to 32… same old tummy, basically.
Yeah, Science! 
No ideas here! I’ve got an ultrasound on Tuesday and I’m worried that Turkey is breech. Sometimes it feels like he’s head down but other times he feels like he’s kicking my cervix again. Good news is that there’s still time to turn! Some babies don’t turn until right before delivery. It happens!
Our boy just turned last week – 36 weeks – so you still have some time. :) Our doctor said the best exercise she knew of was getting on all fours and kinda wiggly your bottom around. I did this a few times and not sure if that’s what did it or not but he finally did turn around. Good luck!!
I read somewhere that something like 96% of babies turn on their own by 39 weeks, and most of the “tricks” are just to make you feel like you are doing something to help. FWIW, I just had a baby with a funny presentation – not breech, but his head was turned the wrong way – and he corrected himself during labor. Good luck and don’t worry too much!
Your bump pick looks different.. you look bigger!! And great!
Not sure you’re into all the crazy hippie hoohah (wait, did your husband actually speak into your vagina?) but my acupuncturist works on getting breach babies all the time. How? I don’t know. That’s why I pay her the big bucks.
Yes! Moxibustion on the pinky toe is supposed to be very effective. Check out Toronto Community Acupuncture (http://www.communityacupuncturetoronto.ca/). Ask for Brenna. She’ll sort you out (and is the loveliest person ever).
Ate they offering you an external version? I turned it down, but it was an option.
It’s Ryan Kwanten…and he’s Australian…
Tips from my yoga teacher…Sitting on a yoga/exercise/birth ball or any chair where your hips are higher than your knees. avoiding too much slouchy sofa time. sleeping on your left hand side. On knees leaning on yoga ball. there are also yoga moves you can do but you would need to look that up. But you still have plenty of time. I am doing hypno birthing and I think there are techniques there for turning too.
I took a doula training workshop recently, and supposedly some huge percentage of babies who are breech turn right near the end. Also, my acupuncturist told me to call her at 34 weeks if anyone breathed the words “breech” or “malposition” to me. So, acumagic to the rescue? GOOD LUCK!
Your bump def looks bigger. I vote vagina singing, that sounds like the most practical solution to this problem. And pshaw. I think American doctors jump to C-sections wayyyyy too easily. It pisses me off, actually.
My sister in law tried the ironing board thing and it didn’t work…. worth a try though!! good luck turning the baby :)
Most babes turn on their own, but they can attempt to manually turn them if they don’t, and if you’re intent on attempting a vag delivery. As someone who attends deliveries for a living, my personal thought would be to avoid a bum first delivery. I’ve seen waaay too much go wrong.
I am so jealous that you will be meeting Dexter. Like, really- SOOOOOOO jealous. I would have his babies. If I could have any more babies. Lol…
Hahaha, that’s the sexiest come-on line… “If I could have babies, which I can’t, I would totally have yours!”
Holy crap, you are 33 weeks??? Where does the time go? Enjoy TIFF-ing. When we lived in King West I was SURE I’d finally break my long streak of Toronto living with nary a celeb sighting, but alas, the best I’ve ever done is Jimmy Kimmel. Now that we’re out of the core, I’m pretty confident that I’m not going to catch Jake Gyllenhaal at my Loblaws. As for turning the baby…I dunno…wave some Nutella down by your vag? I’d come out face first for that.
I think you still have time, but I understand your anxiety. I thought for sure mine was transverse, but so far he’s always been head down. I’m sure you’ve been on spinningbabies.com? Who knows if any of it works. What about chiropractic? I go to a pregnancy chiropractic clinic and they do the Webster Technique. Their website says, “We are not obstetricians and we do not ‘turn babies’. That said, if your baby is in a breech position, we may be able to help.” Ha. So, um, it can’t hurt??
I have nothing to add, but want to thank you for making me laugh out loud in the Indianapolis subway, much to the suspicion of everyone else in here…
P.s. I mean a subway restaurant. I don’t think Indianapolis has an actual subway…
That picture is hilarious. I had heard that doing the yoga cat/cow pose could help (which is along the same lines as getting on all fours and wiggling your butt around). The weirdest one I heard recently was to get in a pool and do a handstand. I am not quite sure how that is supposed to work. By confusing the baby? Sounds like there are as many natural “remedies” for turning a baby as there are for bringing on labor. Who knows if any of them really work. I do hope something works or the little guy decides to turn on his own because delivering a baby butt first sounds especially difficult.
Being an arts reporter sounds like a pretty cool job… Wish mine was cooler. Sigh
I’m sure Mrs. Pomfrey has a spell for turning breech babies. Maybe Harry can find out for you?
Oh yeah. That’s hot! You look super cute, having your upside down vajay serenaded by your husband! Hope it works!
BTW-Please tell Ryan to stop rescuing Sookie, and tell Dexter to stop thinking with his “Dark Passenger.'” Thx