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Pregnancy

Manual 'manipulation' of baby - help!

15 replies

RPosieB · 23/03/2013 19:48

I'm nearly 36 weeks pregnant and the baby is lying sideways. I've an appointment at the hospital in a couple of weeks for them to try and move him head down. They describe it as 'massage' but I have an awful feeling it's going to be horrible.
I don't think it's common practice in the UK any more, but it is here in Spain. Does anyone have any experience of this (good or bad!) so I know what to expect? I'm scared!!!!

OP posts:

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youmaycallmeSSP · 23/03/2013 19:57

The technical term to google is external cephalic version (ECV). I was offered this as DD was breech but I turned it down after doing some research. In the end DD turned by herself but I would have taken a CS over an ECV.

sundaesundae · 23/03/2013 19:59

It is called External Cephalic Version and is offered routinely in the UK for breech or transverse babies. Ask for their statistics for success, whether they give you a muscle relaxant, how are they going to monitor the baby (scan before, during after? doppler?), how long will they monitor you for afterwards, what do they think the chances are for success and maintaining the new lie.

My mum had ECV with me 30 years ago, she described it as quite uncomfortable but bearable. It is less in favour now, but still done.

NightLark · 23/03/2013 20:00

I took ECV over a CS when I found DC3 was breech. It was uncomfortable but not painful. She turned and I got my home water birth. BUT she was not in a good position and it was a hard and complicated birth. I don't know if that is associated with ECV.

RPosieB · 23/03/2013 20:04

Great. I'm going to look it up now, then cross everything that he's turned by himself before the appointment.
Thanks for taking the time to respond x

OP posts:

pod3030 · 23/03/2013 20:08

i had this done, i'm not going to lie, it wasn't comfortable.

the doctor who did it was very good and i had confidence in her, but it took my breath away. They have to use a lot of pressure and it just seems so counter-intuitive that you naturally fight it.Try not to tense up, do some breathing exercises. They give you a drug that relaxes the uterus, but makes your heart race. they scan you along the way to see how it's going. I felt in safe hands.

It didn't work for me, dd was just too wedged and i had to have a c section. I know some people where it worked well and it wasn't so hard. Agree with the dr on how many attempts you are willing to try. If you've had enough, don't be afraid of saying.

I think because i had a tiny bump with no room to manoeuvre it was more uncomfortable. Good luck, hope i haven't put you off, it's best to be prepared i think!

pod3030 · 23/03/2013 20:11

ooh, and before i had the procedure, i tried to turn her with the help of this website www.spinningbabies.com/techniques/the-inversion
well, it gave us a laugh and it does work for some people.

ScariestFairyByFar · 23/03/2013 20:11

They tried to turn my breech dd this way it wasn't that bad, actually the worst bit was looking at everyone in the room screwing there faces up, there was about 15+ doctors and nurses in the room as they don't get to see many and have to see how ever many! Oh that and the consultant I'd just let try to manoeuvre may baby then put the scanning probe on at the wrong angle and told me she'd turned! If he's lying across cant imagine it will be as bad as from breech.

HavingALittleFaithBaby · 23/03/2013 22:00

Reading with interest as MW thinks my baby might be breech!

pod I'm going to try that position! I'm also doing pregnancy yoga and sitting on a gym ball a lot!

Runswithsquirrels · 24/03/2013 08:03

There was a lady who posted on here about this procedure. All I can suggest is you do lots and lots of reading before agreeing to it. The hospital is trying to save a CS, but you will have to decide if this is better for you on reading more.

bakerbump · 24/03/2013 08:25

My baby was still transverse at my 33wk appointment and had been ever since my 12wk scan so was getting worried that it was never going to move head down.

As a previous poster suggests, I looked at the spinning babies website and practiced the inversion exercise on there (kneels on edge of sofa with elbows and forearms on the floor) for a few days.

Am now 34+6 and am pretty sure by the pressure and movement on my cervix and kicks higher than my belly button that baby has turned head down.

Give the exercises a try!

plannedshock · 24/03/2013 08:25

I was meant to have an ecv fri but due to lots of emergencies couldn't so I'm having it done on Monday, my hospital are definately not saving on c-sections because I was told I could pick, whatever I wanted and I could stop anytime or change my mind on the day and opt for an elective, I see it as the last thing I can try before I need a big op, I've given it so much thought. You have to do what's best for you, I will let you know how it goes and what it's like!!!

RPosieB · 25/03/2013 07:21

Thanks everyone. I'm not quite as terrified as I was before! ScariestFairy I think you're right in that they don't have to spin him around completely as he's transverse not breech, so it won't be such a big thing.
I was offered a C section instead but want to avoid that at all costs.
Plannedshock will you let me know what it's like??

OP posts:

plannedshock · 25/03/2013 14:11

Hi so just got back from having ecv, went in hooked up to heart monitor for 20mins and had scan to check position, midwife came rnd for quick scratchy injection in arm to relax uterus, takes 10mins to work, doctor came rnd to do ecv. Unfortunately didn't work for me. Girl nxt to me took 5mins and turned successfully, I took about 15-20mins baby moved slightly then slipped back, dr told me that was that it wasn't shifting c-section booked for nxt wk!! It's 50/50 and I wasn't successful girl nxt to me was!! Let me know if you want to know anymore, you are going to ask what it feels like but I will wait until you want to know! I'm still smiling and baby is happy!

hartmel · 25/03/2013 14:40

There was a lady that also posted on here a while ago, that she did the ECV. By doing that her baby died.. It is your opinion but I would recommend doing a CS..
Good luck

plannedshock · 25/03/2013 15:00

I read that post she said she had had an ecv but her baby hadn't died as a result of the ecv, the rate of infant mortality is like 0% as a result of ecv I've done so much research into it, it either works or it doesn't the worst thing that could happen is babies heart rate changes and they get baby out there and then which is why you can only have them on certain days when the "crash" team is available. It is hugely a personal choice I wasn't 100% but knew it could be stopped at any point, you have to just read read read and question everything but inevitably only you can choose

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