ECV???

[pickleandflux]

I'm 34+4 and just found out that the baby is still breech (midwives had thought baby was head down, but a scan to check my placenta showed the baby is breech). They said that the baby could still turn, but I want to think about my options if it doesn't. Have heard horror stories about ECV and having already had 2 miscarriages, I would be scared of harm to the baby. Will they let me refuse an ECV and choose an ELCS instead?

[Mamabear0717]

Of course you can refuse it, it's your choice, my second DD was breech and I chose to have the ECV however had I known the actual risks and what an unpleasant experience it would be I would of just gone for ELCS, p.s it didn't work anyway and the csection was fine, not half as bad as I expected, do whatever you feel is best and good luck!

[Serenity05]

I'm in a similar position to you - I'm 36+6 and my baby is breech. I have a scan on Tuesday to check his exact position and I'll probably be offered an ECV at that point but I'm pretty sure I don't want one. I've expressed my apprehension about the procedure to three different midwives and none of them have argued with me and all have said it's totally my choice. In fact one said she didn't like ECVs either and one said she doesn't think the baby will turn anyway cos he's too big! I'm going to see what the consultant says but I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up having an ELCS. No-one should try to persuade you to do something you don't want. Good luck!

[pickleandflux]

Thanks! I hope your scan goes well Serenity. Good luck!

[expatinscotland]

Yes, you can turn it down. Don't be pushed into anything you don't want.

[Finola1step]

Both my dc were breech. DS turned himself at 36 weeks. Middle of the night, intense pain, thought I was going into labour. Pain eased off after a few minutes and ds settled.

DD showed no signs of moving so I had her turned at 37 weeks. But I did so in the knowledge that I had already had one very straightforward delivery with no history of miscarriage. I was also in one of the best pregnancy /neo natal hospitals in the country.

Only you can make this decision. But FWIW, if it was my first baby, I think I would have gone for a planned c section.

[Snossidge]

I think I read a post on here not very long ago about a poster who lost her baby after an ECV, I think it damaged the placenta or cord. I'm sure that's very rare but it was still be enough for me to refuse.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Yes you would have done, Snossidge - a very sad story indeed. I think it was a partial placental abruption, iirc.

I needed an ECV if I wanted a VB, because DS2 was transverse oblique unstable lie (basically he went from one diagonal to the other, head up under my ribs, in the swimming pool that I had due to polyhydramnios). BUT (and I would only have agreed to it under these circs) it was done the same day that DS2 was born. I would not under any circs have agreed to it several days/weeks prior to due date/birth, because of the MNer's experience, and when I mentioned that to someone I knew, she said a friend of hers had had the same traumatic outcome :(

So - I was induced (to be honest, if I'd gone into spontaneous labour and my water had broken I'd have needed an emCS) and after the cervidil to "ripen" my cervix, the next thing they did was the ECV - bloody hurt! - and then I had the syntocinon drip to start contractions to push his head onto my cervix. He was also held in place with rolled towels. It was so much fun (not).
Then they broke my waters, which speeded everything up - and he was born about 3h later.

But at all times there was a theatre standing by in case anything went awry, and they needed to do an emCS.

Not many OBGYNS would have done what mine did, I don't think - a friend in Sydney had a breech presentation (footling breech) and wasn't really given the option, she needed a CS. My OBGYN would have tried to birth the baby in the breech position, because he was experienced in doing that - the OBGYN my friend had wasn't so wouldn't take the risk.

My advice to you, OP, is to seek other options - but I wouldn't agree to the ECV so far ahead of time.

[pickleandflux]

I also saw the the horribly sad story on here about the lady who lost her baby after an ECV, which is why I don't want one. I read it only works 50% of the time, which is not good enough odds for me to want to take the risks. I hope the baby still turns but if not I will just firmly ask for an ELCS. Thanks all for your advice.

[Finola1step]

Good luck and please, please w back in a few weeks and tell us all about baby. My DD is nearly 5 and most of my friends are finished with having babies. So I need to get my new baby news fix through mn

[AmberRose17]

I'm in the same boat but further along. Mine has been breech ever since 20 week scan and at 34 weeks I started getting comments from midwives about booking me in for my ECV as if it was routine. I worried about it a lot but read up about it and decided I would very firmly say I'd decided not to. Nobody challenged me or tried to persuade me, and even the consultant said the success rate was as low as 40%. I'm booked in for my ELCS on Friday unless he turns!

[jamtartandcustard]

Dc3 didn't turn till 36-37weeks.
I wouldn't have been able to have an Ecv due to previous section so if he didn't turn it would have been an elective section.
Spend as much time on all 4's as possible, eat lots of ice cream and put a bag of frozen peas on top of the bump. I don't know if they helped dc turn but I did them and he did so it's worth trying x

[pickleandflux]

Brrr! Frozen peas on tummy sounds horrible, but I'll try anything

[MurlockedInTheCellarHelpUs]

I had an ECV as DD was breech - it was a total waste of time, and I wish I hadn't bothered. Lots of discomfort and bruising for nothing! Any other procedure that carried such a low success rate wouldn't happen routinely, imo.

28 weeks with baby #2, and this one is wedged in exactly the same position - everyone keeps telling me it'll move, but I'm not convinced.

Bring on another ELCS, I say!

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Have you found this website yet? spinningbabies.com/learn-more/baby-positions/breech/flip-a-breech/
I tried some of it, but couldn't try much because I had SPD and a bad back, but also because DS2 just had so much space that even if he had gone head down, he'd have just swum round back to where he was comfortable straight after. Literally a swimming pool inside of me

[Mumberjack]

I refused one as I'd had a previous stillborn baby. The risk is very small but my mental health couldn't cope with it.
Plus the success rate is 50% roughly so if your baby likes being breech and is stubborn, he/she might just move back.
You are always entitled to refuse treatments - they can only advise not impose.

[mrsmugoo]

I've had an ECV (failed) that was deeply unpleasant and if I had to go back in time I would definitely not do it again.

ELCS was fine and everyone in theatre treated us not like they were churning out our baby on a conveyor belt but that every birth is just as magical and special.

[pickleandflux]

Thanks all. Have chatted to various friends in RL too, and a few tried and failed ECV (and all said they wouldn't do it again). I'm feeling a bit better about the idea of an ELCS if it's needed......we'll see if the baby decides to turn or not!

[MamaDuckling]

Hi Pickle, same situation here. 35+5, will find out on Weds if we are still breech (will ask for a scan to confirm either way), but will be refusing ECV if offered. 50% success rate isn't worth any risk, however small, for me.