Sometimes just doing one technique, such as the Breech Tilt, isn’t enough to flip a breech to head down. That’s why we start with the 1st Principle of Spinning Babies: Balance. Balance means to help the soft tissues of the pelvis and abdomen become symmetrical.

Using the Three Principles of Spinning Babies we begin with Balance.

The First Principle, Balance

To balance, we must release muscle and ligament tension and help the pelvic joints to be aligned.  The wrong twist in the wrong place can make the lower uterus less roomy and prevent a baby from being head down. Releasing the twist gives more room for the head to settle downward.

There are several things you can do at home. For some women these activites work quickly, for others, professional help may be needed.

• Release the Psoas (or better yet, come to a psoas resolution!)
• Release the Round Ligaments with Webster Maneuver and self massage
• Myofascial Standing Release (also called Sacral Release or Buckled Sacrum Maneuver).
• Rebozo Sifting or Jiggling to relax broad ligament and help the following techniques to work better
• Forward-leaning Inversion (this one is so good, I have it in both the 1st and the 2nd Principle. Do for 30 seconds just before the Breech Tilt or Open-Knee Chest)
• Breech Tilt Inversion three times a day for flipping a breech (or Open-Knee Chest)
• Prenatal yoga to help with psoas relaxation and hip openers (but not likely enough to flip the baby without the other activities listed here)
• Professional help such as:
• • Chiropractic, neck and pelvic adjustments, including sacrum and pubis symphasis
  • Webster maneuver
  • Craniosacral or myofascial releases including
    • Abdominal release (Diaphragmatic release)
    • Sacral Release (Buckled Sacrum maneuver)
  • Homeopathic remedies as prescribed by a trained and experienced Homeopath
  • Acupuncture, a licensed Acupuncturist typically has more training than a certified Acupuncturist and may be more effective, but this varies.

  Exercises can be used together. In fact, many women will only find the benefits from multiple activities to gain the balance needed.

The Second Principle, Gravity

Get into the position you want your baby to get in. The mother goes head-down. There are some ways to go upside down that are better than others. The “Breech Tilt” position is quite familiar.

I like doing the forward-leaning inversion first for 30 seconds and then do the Breech Tilt for 10 minutes. For breech repositioning, you actually can do the forward-leaning inversion longer than 30 seconds (the length of time you’d do an inversion for a head down baby). But it may be better to do it frequently during weeks 32-birth rather than longer. You can do the Breech Tilt for 20 minutes if you like, but that, too, is more effective if you do it 3x a day rather than once a day.

• Forward Leaning Inversion
• Breech Tilt
• Good Posture
• Rest Smart

Going upside down in the forward-leaning inversion helps the lower uterine segment become more symmetrical (helps it untwist if its got a little twist from crossing the legs or leaning your weight to one leg when you stand, etc).

Going up side down in the Breech Tilt helps the breech baby tuck his or her chin, the first step in flipping.

• Having good posture, including the Rest Smart positions, is not enough after 21-34 weeks. Of course some babies could turn head down even in labor, but chances are that the later in pregnancy you are, the more your baby needs you to balance your womb and use gravity to help with the flip.

The Third Principle, Movement

What would I say about movement to help a breech baby flip head down?

• Rebozo sifting
• Myofascial unwinding
• External Cephalic Version

Rebozo sifting

The small jiggling motions of the Rebozo Manteado, or sifting, increases flexibility in the broad ligament and abdominal muscles supporting the womb helping baby to flip on his or her own.

Myofascial unwinding

The muscles (myo) and fascia (dynamic membrane supporting the muscles, joints, organs, etc.) sometimes get “stuck” in a twist or stiffness. Myofascial unwinding helps overcome restrictions in the muscles and other soft tissues to create more room for the baby and more alignment in the body (when posture reenforces alignment).

External Cephalic Version 

In ECV, the doctor manipulates the baby into a head down position in late pregnancy, is also a type of movement, if you allow me to categorize broadly here. The baby is moved, rather than the mother.

The most uncomfortable and invasive technique is the external cephalic version technique done by obstetricians.  Even they will recommend some of these natural alternatives than put you through this procedure, however when all else fails, this is a possible option.

There are a host of options when looking to turn a baby that’s in the breech position.  Make sure you get to a family chiropractor able to care for special prenatal populations.  And you’ll be on your way to a healthy, safe delivery.

Tompkins Family Chiropractic Marana and Northwest Tucson, Call 520.572.2596 http://www.tompkinschropractic.com. From back pain to sciatica, neck pain to headaches, ADHD to Autism, Dr. Tompkins creates an individualized health program to suit your specific needs.  Come see why we were voted Best in the Northwest 3 years in a row.Whether you have back pain, headaches, sciatica or ADHD. Migraines, or just want to be healthier, Dr. Tompkins has a program that will work for you and your family.  Call us at 520.572.2596 and we’ll be happy to help your family grow healthier.

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