How many babies stay transverse

Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. In situations when a fetus cannot be turned into a head-down position by the time a person goes into labor, a cesarean section C-section will likely be required. Vaginal birth with a transverse position poses risks to the baby and the person giving birth.

There are both physiological features that can cause a fetus to be in a transverse position, as well as certain risk factors that could increase the chances of that happening. These include having:. Other common risk factors include:. It is usually confirmed by an ultrasound. If it indicates that a fetus is still in a transverse lie position, the medical team will formulate a plan for delivering the baby as safely as possible. In these cases, there are two options:.

In addition, there are a few things a pregnant person can do at home to help the fetus get into a preferable position—though again, there are no guarantees these will work. The methods include:. Even if the baby does change positions, it is possible that it could return to a transverse position prior to delivery. Whether the baby is born via C-section or had been moved to the point of allowing a vaginal delivery, other potential complications remain.

While C-sections are generally safe for both the baby and the person delivering it, there are some inherent risks associated with the procedure, as there are with any surgery. For the pregnant person, these can include:. C-sections can also result in potential—though rare— complications for the baby , including:. If the umbilical cord is compressed during birth, it could potentially deprive the baby of oxygen, and the baby may appear to be in distress on the fetal monitor, which could necessitate a C-section.

As with any birth, the pregnant person should work with their healthcare provider to develop a delivery plan. If the fetus has been in a transverse position throughout the pregnancy, the medical team will evaluate the position at about 36 weeks and make plans accordingly. Pregnancy comes with so many unknowns, and the surprises can continue up until and including during labor and delivery.

Your baby can also turn round when you're pushing. Around 1 in 5 babies are in the breech position at 30 weeks of pregnancy. By the end of pregnancy only about 3 in are breech. Your doctor will usually try turning your baby by external cephalic version ECV. Up to half of babies in a breech position can be turned like this and you can try to have a vaginal delivery. ECV means gently massaging your tummy to encourage your baby to turn by doing either a forward or backward flip in the womb.

You may be given some medication to relax the muscles in your womb before you have this. When the ECV is being carried out, your baby will be monitored all the time. If you need ECV your obstetrician will explain what will happen and answer any questions you have.

Your obstetrician will talk to you about your choices and make a plan for the birth with you. Some babies lie across your womb from side to side — you might hear this called a transverse lie. If your baby's still in this position when your labour starts or you get to full term, you'll either need:.

But if your baby is transverse in the last few weeks before delivery, your doctor may be concerned about delivery complications and — if not caught soon enough — stillbirth or uterine rupture. A cord prolapse can potentially cut off oxygen to the baby and be a contributing factor to stillbirth. Related: What is abnormal labor? If you are beyond week 37 of your pregnancy and your baby is transverse, your doctor may want to do an external cephalic version to coax your baby into a more optimal position.

External cephalic version involves your doctor placing their hands on your tummy and applying pressure to help your baby rotate into a head-down position. For example, with breech babies, it works only around 50 percent of the time to allow for vaginal delivery. There are some instances in which your doctor may choose not to try to move your baby this way, such as if your placenta is in a tricky location.

You may have heard you can encourage your baby into a better position from the comfort of your home. Inversions are movements that put your head below your pelvis. Then slowly lower your hands to the floor below and rest on your forearms.

Do not rest your head on the floor. Do 7 repetitions for 30 to 45 seconds, separated by minute breaks. Prop the board at an angle, so the center of it is resting on the seat of a sofa and the bottom is supported by the pillow. Then position yourself onto the board with your head resting on the pillow get additional pillows if you want more support and your pelvis is toward the center of the board.

Let your legs hang on either side. Do 2 to 3 repetitions for 5 to 10 minutes a repetition. Yoga practice also involves positions that invert the body.

Instructor Susan Dayal suggests trying mild inversions, like Puppy Pose, to encourage good positioning with transverse babies. In particular, you may want to seek out chiropractors who are trained in the Webster technique, as it means they have specific knowledge of pregnancy and pelvic issues.

Related: Chiropractor while pregnant: What are the benefits? Whether these methods help with positioning is a bit of a grey area. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider plenty of questions and voice your concerns with a change in your birth plan. A safe mom and healthy baby are important beyond all else, but your doctor may be able to help alleviate some of your worries or demystify the process to make you feel more comfortable. If your lower twin is head down during labor, you may be able to deliver your twins vaginally — even if one is breech or transverse.