WeMoms
2 Apr 2024

Is Your Baby Head-Down Yet?

Is Your Baby Head-Down Yet?
With your due date just around the corner, you might be asking yourself: “Is my baby head-down yet?”
The orientation of your little one in the womb is called the fetal position, and it's super important for labor and delivery.
In the last trimester, especially the final month, most babies will transition to the cephalic position, which is just a fancy term for head-down.
  • Cephalic Position: Baby's head is down, facing your spine
  • Breech Position: Baby’s feet or butt are facing downward
  • Transverse Lie: Baby is lying horizontally across the uterus
Having your baby in the cephalic position is ideal for a smoother, safer vaginal birth. If your munchkin hasn't made the flip yet, don’t panic!
There's still time, and we're going to talk about some ways to encourage that move.
Techniques to Turn: From Pelvic Tilts to External Cephalic Version
You’re in the home stretch and it’s game time. If your baby hasn’t assumed the head-down position yet, there are a few medical and natural methods you can try to help them along.
Medical Methods:
  • External Cephalic Version (ECV): This is a procedure where your healthcare provider manually turns the baby from the outside. It has a success rate of about 58%, but should only be done by a skilled practitioner.
  • Amnioinfusion: This involves injecting fluid into the amniotic sac to give the baby more room to turn. It’s less common and usually reserved for specific situations.
Natural Methods:
  • Pelvic Tilts: Get on all fours and arch your back, then relax it. This creates more room in your pelvis for baby to turn.
  • Warm Bath: The warmth can help your muscles relax, making it easier for the baby to reposition.
  • Music and Light: Babies have been known to respond to stimuli. Playing music or shining a light near the lower part of your abdomen might pique your baby’s curiosity and encourage movement.
Consult your healthcare provider before trying any of these methods to ensure they are appropriate and safe for your specific situation.
When to Worry: Understanding the Timeline
Okay, let’s put those stress balls down!
🌈 Most babies will turn head-down by 36 weeks.
However, about 3-4% of babies will remain in a breech position or another non-cephalic orientation.
If you hit the 37-week mark and baby still hasn’t turned, it’s time to discuss options with your healthcare provider. They may suggest a scheduled C-section if an ECV doesn't work or isn’t advisable.
  • 36 Weeks: Ideal time for baby to be in cephalic position
  • 37 Weeks: Time to consult your healthcare provider if baby hasn’t turned
  • C-Section: Surgical birth may be advised if baby remains in breech or transverse position
Remember, some babies don’t turn until the very last moment, and that’s perfectly okay too!
The important thing is to stay informed and keep an open line of communication with your healthcare team. Your birth plan may need some adjustments, and that’s totally fine.
After all, flexibility is a virtue you’re going to need as a new parent. So keep your eyes on the prize: meeting your beautiful baby! 👶💖
S
Sara
19 Jan 2024

Just curious, when did you all know when baby started turning head down?? When I went to the hospital they said baby was not flipped yet but I feel movement all the time right above my area. It even moves so I thought he was head down, I guess not.

3 comments
A
Amber
At the ultrasound babe is always turned with head down. It's the number one way she starts moving , when I'm relaxing on couch or bed or at the ultrasound technician appointment 😂
27 Mar 2024

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Sylvia Maxine
They can flip back and forth. My LO was head down, then he went breach(second ultrasound )then his head went back down, at my 37 week ultrasound. I’ve heard they usually stay head down after 39 weeks preparing for delivery
27 Mar 2024

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Sana
22 Dec 2023

Hello I have my ultrasound yesterday and my Dr told me the baby head is not down yet. The head is right side and I am 36 week pregnant

2 comments
C
Chelsea
still time to turn! my baby just turned af 36.5 weeks
27 Mar 2024

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Madi Mae
25 Oct 2023

How do you know the baby is head down without an ultrasound? They’ve not done an ultrasound yet and I’m worried I’m gonna go into labor in a few weeks 😅 🙏

8 comments
K
Ki 💝
You feel more kicks under your ribs/boobs
27 Mar 2024

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Madi Mae
Do they usually stay in the same spot for weeks at a time but flip around every now and then? And also play with the umbilical cord more??
27 Mar 2024

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Karen
30 Sep 2023

Should I be worried that my baby girl is not upside down yet? Today in the ultrasound she was head up. :/

9 comments
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S&S Mommy🎀
Girl you got 16 more weeks for her to turn upside it’s great that she’s not tbh
27 Mar 2024

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Karen
First time mom here, can you please tell me why is a good thing she isn’t yet. 😅
27 Mar 2024

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Masie
21 Mar 2023

Everybody said when the baby is head down I would feel it and know but tbh I ain't feeling anything they said I would yet 🤔🤔

12 comments
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Janelle
I’m 29 weeks &’ baby boy is already head down.. it’s possible he can flip is what I was told but to respond to your comment , YES you feel the difference.. with my daughter I don’t remember feeling it but with my boy I feel it, it’s more pressure and weight down there
27 Mar 2024

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Masie
that's the part I'm not feeling lol apparently he flipped but I never felt a difference. I guess I will when he gets bigger idk
27 Mar 2024

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Quoyah
19 Dec 2022

I Just Wanna Know How Baby is Head Down Yet My side is aching Tremendously Like baby is completely on my right side

2 comments
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Sarah
It’s bc the baby still moves it’s feet n hands n body bc it happens to me my baby boy is head down n he still be all over
27 Mar 2024

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marie
I feel the same except my baby is breeched and i feel him on my ribs too 😢so painful
27 Mar 2024

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A
Angie
14 Dec 2022

Has anyone had a breech baby in their previous pregnancy? How did you get your baby to move head down?? Baby hasn't moved head down yet, and im stressing about it. I've always planned for a vaginal birth for my baby, but I'm not sure if that would happen.

4 comments
M
Misty
The dr can try to turn them..there's videos online if you look it up..they turn them from the outside of the belly. But baby might turn head down within the next few days.
27 Mar 2024

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Danielle 🦦🪷
Look up spinning babies online. They have some ways to get them to flip. Also I think the miles circuit which you can find on YouTube is to help baby engage in the pelvis so that might help baby flip around and get to where they’re going
27 Mar 2024

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Keaundra
8 Sep 2022

My baby 4lbs & 4oz and isn’t head down yet and I haven’t dilated when they checked my cervix and it hurt when they check 😭🥴😒

3 comments
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Mayra
How many weeks are u mama , I have a doctors appointment tomorrow means I may get my cervix checked 😬😬😬😬
27 Mar 2024

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Keaundra
I’m 32 weeks & good luck girly It hurts me and it’s uncomfortable but hopefully yours don’t be bad
27 Mar 2024

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sanaz
13 May 2022

Hi everyone, I am almost 34 weeks but the baby’s head hasn’t turned down yet. She’s at breech position, anybody else with the same issue?

1 comments
F
Faith
Baby has time to turn
27 Mar 2024

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Stella
12 Mar 2022

Hello Has anyone ever gone through a baby being turned since the baby head not down yet how does it feel.😭😭

7 comments
a
audiceli
Your stomach just gets hard and when they move your stomach gets tighter it's gonna feel uncomfortable
27 Mar 2024

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Stella
Ok thanks so much cause the might do that to me next week if he doesn’t go back he had turned but yesterday he moved thanks it truly means a lot 3rd baby and I have never had a c Section so I’m kind of thinking but I have faith God will do wonders🥰
27 Mar 2024

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