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Pregnancy

ECV - Positive stories

11 replies

boatrace30 · 13/05/2015 21:32

Hi, I had a scan today which confirmed my baby is frank breech. Its been breech throughout. Its my first baby. Size and fluid levels normal. I've said yes to an ECV on Friday when I'll be 36+5 and the doctor made me aware of possible risks. But mumsnet opinion seems quite anti-ECV so I'm having second thoughts.... Should I?

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MayfairMummy · 13/05/2015 21:41

Had an ecv about 2.5 weeks ago. Easy as pie, but baby didn't stay. Have a thread not long past. Personally, would do it again in a heartbeat. I suspect May have high pain tolerance tho - would rather try ecv than elcs which was my other option.

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Whatabout · 13/05/2015 21:43

My mum had an ECV 32 years ago, she said it was very uncomfortable but I'm fine :-)

They monitor you closely and any sign of distress they will act upon.

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EssexMummy123 · 13/05/2015 22:29

Did the doctor actually tell you how often they do it? (some hospitals don't do it at all) how often it's successful? how often it leads to either planned or emergency c-section?

Or did they just say it's an option here's the risks?

Reason being, if they said to me they do it x times a month but it has a low success rate or baby goes into distress / c-section happens x% of time, then i think that would influence how comfortable I was with having it done. I would want to know those figures.

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nspurrell56 · 13/05/2015 23:01

I am the same, am booked in for an ecv tomorrow when I'll be 37+2 but still not sure if this is the right decision. At my hospital they said the success rate is 60% but I don't know how often they do the procedure. They do monitor the baby before, throughout & after, and have said I can tell them to stop at any time which makes me feel a little better.

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boatrace30 · 14/05/2015 10:05

Thanks all - hospital didn't give me their figures, but did discuss nationwide ones. Think my chance of success is lower than 60% as it's my first baby and also it's always been breech. Risk of emergency c-section meant to be very low (1in200). They are also monitoring the baby via scan and heart rate throughout which gives me confidence.

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MayfairMummy · 14/05/2015 10:19

boatrace, whilst the figures are useful, it's usually down to the doctors who actually do the ECV, rather than the hospital, and it's also down to which cases the docs choose to try, or not. EG a 'hard case' may be considered a fail by one doctor who tried, yet another doctor just might not do it...

My doc had 100% hit rate. I was her 2nd ECV . To be fair, though, she did it under supervision of a very experienced consultant. they monitored beforehand, gave me gas and air should i need it (i didn't), scanned during and monitored afterwards. The risk of EmCS is low, but will be time critical if it does happen, so don't worry if they make you sign paperwork before they start!

Best of luck.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 14/05/2015 10:23

I had one with dd2. She wasn't breach but transverse so not sure if that makes a difference

the Dr did it without the muscle relaxant and it didn't hurt. wasn't the most pleasant experience but not painful

for the first time in months I could walk comfortably. (I could barely move before she must have been on a nerve or something it was so painful)

but rather than enjoy actually being able to move my water broke just a few hours later. so it kick started labour

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boatrace30 · 15/05/2015 22:33

Just to update you - I had an ECV today. It failed. Baby was firmly stuck in my pelvis and didn't budge at all. Pleased i tried though. It was very uncomfortable, but manageable (just!). Thanks for all the advice.

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Lewaney3 · 16/05/2015 01:15

Hi boat

Can I just ask what an ECV is? Apologies in advance for asking a silly question!

Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy

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plannedshock · 16/05/2015 02:30

I had an ecv 2years ago. I found it quite painful but doable. They couldn't turn her, glad I tried though and would definitely do it again. Never felt at risk and was monitored all the way through and for about an hour after

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boatrace30 · 16/05/2015 05:17

lewaney - its when your baby is breech and they try to turn it by manipulating it from the outside. All done by a doctor and carefully monitored. But it is fairly painful and my baby did not move at all! I'm now booked for a c section on 2nd June as didn't fancy a natural breech birth.