Breech or posterior positioning

Let's talk about research

External cephalic version (ECV)
Planned C-section
Breech vaginal delivery through a trained breech team

All options from 37 weeks gestation.

What about before all of that?

Is there an option to trial alternative care before 37 weeks gestation?

What are your options?

So, you're getting towards the end of your pregnancy and you've found out your baby is sitting in the less optimal position.

What are your options?

- ECV is an option from 37 weeks gestation that your birth provider will talk to you about.

- There is a planned caesarean delivery.

- There is also a breech vaginal delivery through the breech team at Westmead Hospital in Sydney (or another breech trained provider - which can be extremely hard to find!).

All of which may come with their own risks.

But what can we do before all of that?

Why is baby sitting in this less optimal position?

That's where chiro comes in. From a research point of view we don't have any strong levels of research to support we can help turn a breech baby. What we do have is lot's of supportive lower level evidence (case series and retrospective data) and practitioners working in the field getting results. What we don't have yet is data to suggest who we can and who we can't help.

With the evidence of harm being so low, a trial of Chiropractic care may be an option for mothers seeking alternative therapy prior to ECV at 37 weeks gestation.

The chiropractor's role is to balance the pelvis and corresponding muscles and ligaments to remove the constraint to the patient's uterus. At no time does the chiropractor attempt to change the position of the fetus, as is done with ECV; the chiropractor only attempts to correct a potential cause of intrauterine constraint through the surrounding tissues. There is no pressure from the Chiropractor's hands to physically force your baby to turn, as in ECV.

While we need a large clinical trial to definitively state Chiropractic can turn a breech baby, with the evidence of harm being so low, could Chiropractic care serve as early intervention and an alternative care model for you and your breech baby prior to ECV at 37 weeks gestation? Low level observational data has shown some success and a necessity for further research in this area.

Belly Mapping

Dr. Bec (Chiropractor) is confident in Belly Mapping and palpating foetal position. When we palpate your baby has turned head down, we will call your midwife for immediate ultrasound referral to confirm baby's position.

ONLINE BOOKINGS >

Ramasubramaniam, S., Muliira, R. S., Seshan, V., Noronha, J., & Raman, S. (2012). Chiropractic care in women's health: a midwifery perspective. African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, 6(2), 98-101.

Pistolese, R. A. (2002). The Webster Technique: a chiropractic technique with obstetric implications. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 25(6), 1-9.

Mulcahy, R., & Mayo, E. (2019). Resolution of breech presentations confirmed by ultrasound following chiropractic care using Webster Technique in five women: A case series. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic, 2019(1), 19–27.

Dashtkian, H., & Whittle-Davis, H. (2011). Resolution of breech presentation following application of Webster Technique: A case report. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic, 2011(2), 40–42

Poirier, N., & Loranger, C. (2022). Resolution of breech presentation confirmed by ultrasound following the use of Webster Technique: A case report. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic, 2022(2), 51–56

Drobbin, D., & McClain, B. (2014). Resolution of breech presentation and successful VBAC in a patient undergoing Webster Technique: A case study & selective review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic, 2014(1), 1–6

Edwards, J., & Alcantara, J. (2013). Successful clinical outcomes confirmed via ultrasound in a patient with placenta previa and breech fetal presentation with chiropractic care: A case study. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic, 2013(3), 1–6

Webster, J. (2008). The Webster Technique in a 28-year-old woman with breech presentation: A case report. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, 2008(1), 1–5.

Holmes, R. (2012). Resolution of breech presentation with chiropractic care. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, 2008(1), 1–5.

Breech Resources

Finding this Information

If you aren't a practitioner you might not know how to access this information. You can go to google scholar and search for these full text studies yourself. If you are having trouble accessing these titles and would like to read more, please let us know and we may be able to access these articles for you.

Information supporting the safety of Chiropractic can be found under the Practitioners tab in the above menu list.

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Breech or posterior positioning

Let's talk about research

Breech Resources

Finding this Information