If your baby is in a breech position at 34 weeks, you may wish to investigate the possibility of encouraging your baby to turn into a head down position. Some women use exercises and / or natural therapies or consider the option of an
External Cephalic Version or ECV, sometimes referred to as a version. This is where the caregiver manipulates the baby from the outside of the belly to encourage the baby to move into a head down position. ECVs are not always successful (the baby can't be turned) and it is possible for some babies to turn back to a breech position after an ECV.
Likely success of an ECV
How an ECV is done
History of ECV
In the mid 1970's
Complications
Tocolytics
ECV - an acceptable practice
The history of ECV has been a controversial one. Before the 1970's the procedure was routinely performed on babies in a breech position after 30 weeks and before 36 weeks of pregnancy. At the time it was believed that turning a baby early and often was more beneficial because attempts to turn the baby closer to when they were due (after 36 weeks) would seldom be successful. The reasoning being the baby was larger, the amniotic fluid around the baby was less, often Braxton Hicks contractions of the uterus hindered the procedure and the baby's bottom may have already engaged, making the procedure more difficult.
In the mid 1970's a research paper was published that showed an increased risk of death for premature babies from the complications of ECV. At the time the procedure was often done with a
general anaesthetic - being made unconscious - to help relax the woman. Unfortunately, this also meant she was unable to give her caregiver guidance regarding the comfort level of the manoeuvre, sometimes resulting in the caregiver applying too much force to turn the baby, contributing to complications.