Pregnancy & Baby 

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Breech: attempts to try to turn baby?

I do understand your indicated hesitation and I know that external version can be quite uncomfortable. Looking at the statistics does demonstrate that the benefits of turning your baby do outweigh the risks for this procedure. If the baby is posterior, which means that he is really lying looking out to the world, this will, however, give a lower chance of success in turning the baby.

The manipulation, as you say, is usually performed at the 34th week of pregnancy. When an external version (turning) is attempted later it is more difficult, and is usually only necessary if the baby is lying straight across the abdomen or in an oblique position.

Usually, for the manipulation to succeed it is essential that you are as relaxed as possible, and usually you are given a pain-relieving injection about half an hour before the attempt.

General anaesthetic is not usually necessary and is only justified in selected cases. As many babies turn spontaneously after a failed version, this is another good reason why any anaesthetic is avoided.

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