Originally published (5/24/2017) update (9/26/2024)
In your third trimester hearing that your baby is breech, meaning not in a head down position, can create some real anxiety, especially if you’re nearing your estimated due date. Most babies will move into a head-down position before it’s time for baby to be born. Approximately 1 in 25 babies are carried breech in the final stages of pregnancy in the United States. By 32-33 weeks most babies will move into a head-down position. Prenatal Yoga at Full Circle Yoga KC can offer support in getting little bambino to move into the more ideal head-down position through prenatal yoga poses and movements.
Why might a baby be in a breech position?
There are many reasons why baby might be in a breech position:
*Imbalance in the pelvis
*Soft tissue issues
*Imbalance with loose or tight muscles, facia, and/or ligaments
*multiple pregnancies
*uterine shape
*placenta position
*baby conditions
*too much or too little amniotic fluid
Prenatal Yoga Can Help Flip a Breech Baby
“This baby feels like she’s going to drop of out me” -FCYKC Mama
“It feels like my baby is kicking my butthole” – FCYKC Mama
“My baby is breech” -FCYKC Mama
Here are some poses that are specific to helping baby get into optimal head-down position for birth. These poses can also help relieve pelvic pressure. These poses will open up space in pelvis to give baby room to move so he/she rotate into head-down position. Lengthening muscles and increasing range of motion in your own body will create more room for baby to move. Be patient and hold poses for 30-45 seconds a day (if you can tolerate, and if not come out of the pose), up to three times a day, to give baby time to move. Do these poses during times when baby is active, which will increase chances of baby moving into the desired position.
Inversion Poses
Inversion poses relaxes lower uterine ligaments, creates space, restores balance, gives the pelvic floor rest and relieves pressure.
Supported bridge pose– place several blankets, firm cushions, or yoga blocks under lower back and get hips as high as you can.
Forward leaning inversion-allows ligaments to lengthen and untwist. This can be done from a firm couch or stacked blankets as shown here
Additional yoga poses we would encourage to help baby flip:
* Juicy hip circles and cat cow. You can see a video here
*Standing and moving the hips into figure 8’s
Poses to avoid when baby is breech after 30 weeks:
*deep squats
*deep goddess pose
Side-line release is also a wonderful addition to add into your practice to help baby flip. Here’s a video to see how your partner can assist with this technique.
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What else can I do to help baby go head-down?
When a baby is in a breech position later in pregnancy at Full Circle Yoga KC we will educate about the many posture and movements that can aid in aligning the body, release ligaments and create space for baby to move into a head-down position. We believe in integrative care and will also encourage complimentary holistic care such as:
*Chiropractic work with someone that specializes in prenatal care and a bonus if they are Webster Technique Certified.
*Acupuncture- a treatment that involves inserting very small needles into the skin to stimulate nerve channels.
*Therapeutic Massage
*External Cephalic Version (ECV)- a procedure done by a medical practitioner with hands on your belly to attempt to turn baby.
*moxibustion- a Chinese Medicine heat treatment that burns medicinal herbs near acupuncture points on the feet.
*place an ice pack where you believe baby’s head to be, he/she will want to move away from the cold! (not evidenced based)
*Have your partner read/sing/talk towards the lower part of the pelvis (not evidenced based)
If you want to experience the mental health benefits of prenatal yoga, join us at Full Circle Yoga KC! Explore our prenatal yoga classes and reserve on our class calendar. Check out all of our workshops and special events we offer to support your growing family too!
Click to sign up for prenatal yoga
