Hi and thanks for using the forum.
Congratulations on your pregnancy. Generally speaking, if your baby has not turned head down by the time you are 37 weeks, he or she will probably not turn on their own. Your doctor can try turning the baby using ECV (external cephalic version). Some women are not candidates for ECV, for instance if your amniotic fluid level is low or if you are having multiples. If you are a candidate, your doctor should offer this option to you. This can help you avoid having a c-section if you do not want to have one. ECV is not without risk though. There is a chance that while performing ECV, the placenta can tear from the uterine wall and the baby would have to be delivered by emergency c-section, ECV can cause your water to break, and it also can cause fetal distress (a decrease in your babies heart rate). So, be sure if you are considering this option, that your doctor is experienced in performing this procedure. Not all doctors (or midwives for that matter) have experience with this. I hope this info helps. Good luck.
Bridget
There are some informative articles on the internet concerning the rising c-section rate. Correction to my first entry. There are a couple of European countries with high c-section rates.
There is 33 per cent c-section rate in the U.S. I believe this is the highest in the world. In most countries they only perform this when the life of the mother or baby is in danger - not for convenience sake. I don't know if that is why the U.S. has one of the highest maternal death rates in the developed world - eight times that of Greece and almost three times that of the United Arab Emirates.
Because my first baby was posterior I searched for a doctor who only used c-sections as a last resort. I delivered naturally, although it was a difficult labor. My second also started out posterior. The last two did not.
Well my doctor said if he dont turn by the time of delivery she would turn him or do a c section . This will be my 2nd baby my first one was normal and natural.
My daughters only use nurse midwives. If the baby is not in a suitable position, the nurse midwife turns it. Most MD's have not been taught these techniques. If the baby does not turn of its own accord, would your doctor be amenable to the aid of a qualified midwife?