Turning a breech or sideways baby
5. Gently but firmly move the baby in the
direction he is facing. If he does not move
easily, try moving him in the other direction.
Try to keep the baby’s chin tucked into his
chest.
6. Each time the baby moves — even a
little — stop and listen to his heartbeat.
If the heartbeat is not normal, stop.
7. Keep turning
the baby until
his head is down.
WAR NING! Never force a baby to turn. If the baby feels stuck, or
the mother is in pain, stop.
Turning a sideways baby
Turning a sideways baby is the same as turning a breech baby. Turn the baby in
the direction he is facing. If he cannot turn in that direction, you may need to turn
him the other way so that
he is in a breech position.
Breech is not as safe as
head-down for birth, but
he will be able to be born
vaginally this way.
If a sideways baby does
not turn easily, you must
stop and the baby must be
born in a medical center
by cesarean surgery.
371
A Book for Midwives (2010)