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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To turn down ECV and go straight for a c-section?

69 replies

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 15/10/2013 15:58

So, 2 years ago, DC1 popped out vaginally no probs. Quick labour, bad tear and stitches but all healed and no negative side effects.

Now 38 weeks with DC2 and he's breech. Options are c-section or ECV, then c-section if this fails. I'd just about decided on c-section but saw a different Dr this morning who said I'd be a good candidate for ECV and was pretty persuasive, so am now in two minds again.

Reasons for not trying ECV include the risk of placental abrubtion (small) but also an element of control in my own head. I'd rather know what I was letting myself in for than try ECV, it fail and end up in theatre anyway. Or try ECV, be induced and then end up with a c-section anyway, if that makes sense.

I'm in the US, not the UK, so pls don't comment on costs to the NHS etc as it's not relevant in this case. Everything is covered by health insurance so it's basically my call.

An extra consideration is that being overseas, we don't have family on hand (though my mum is coming over in a few days) so c-section recovery could be tricky with a toddler. However, I don't want to base my decision on that - if it comes to it, we'd have to get a nanny temporarily.

DH is trying to be supportive but to be honest, I don't think he could ever really understand somehow. So - wise Mumsnetters, would you go straight for the c-section?

TIA

OP posts:

Original poster

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 16/10/2013 11:47

Thanks again for all the tips and advice.

Booboo - interestingly, he's a Canadian Dr in a US hospital. I think he tries to get people to consider their options before going straight for a c-section as that would be the standard US response. He's campaigned for gas and air to be used in the hospital but to no avail (it is used in Canada).

I think as it's a second baby, I've had one successful vaginal delivery already etc and after feeling the baby's position, he saw me as a straightforward case.

Tallulah - I don't know! They call it inhalation anaesthesia, some dentists still use it, but when I told my initial Dr I'd just used gas and air in the UK with DD, she was appalled! It's all epidurals and medicine all the way seemingly, unless you go to a specialist birthing centre, but some insurance companies have issues with them. This latest Dr said he's been told that to use it legally here, ie with no litigation issues, they'd have to use it in a room set up as an operating room. Clearly the fact that half of Europe is willing to carry it into people's homes for home births doesn't provide much reassurance!

Bosgrove - that's interesting, I've heard of that happening before. That's what they've said here too - if they were to catch him head down any time after 39 weeks then they'd induce.

SugarHut - that's been the experience of various friends too, very reassuring to hear positive c-section stories.

CQueen - trust me, I've tried it! Moxibustion, acupuncture, yoga positions etc - I'll carry on but nothing has changed for weeks.

OP posts:

Ladyhawke127 · 16/10/2013 11:58

I have had a section ( elective, materna choice) but as it was, my son was breech anyway, and they offered to try and turn him. I do obstetrics at work, and there is no way I would let them do that to me or my baby. It has a pretty limited success rate anyway, and is usually really uncomfortable. They have to give you medication too, to help with the turn. Recovery from the section was absolutely fine, I was able to move about gently the day after and I could pick up my son. I was also able to breast feed him with no bother from my wound either. Though a c section is major surgery, vaginal childbirth is no walk in the park either. Good luck in what ever decision you make.

VeganCow · 16/10/2013 12:03

I had ECV which was successful.
Went into labour naturally 2-3 weeks later, full labour ending with distressed baby followed by ECS, which I am now convinced was caused by the ECV.
Would go for attempted natural breech delivery if I could do it all again.

PumpkinGuts · 16/10/2013 13:08

I wouldn't want to take care of a toddler with a csec, but if you are in the us the truth is you will probably end up csec anyway. They arent even teaching new docs how to perform vaginal breech births . Look at what your hospital stats are for csec and for csec after breech

Original poster

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 22/10/2013 02:22

Update - well, baby DS had his own plans and my waters broke early Sunday morning. Less than two hours later I'd had an emergency c-section and narrowly missed a breech vaginal delivery!

Both he and I are doing well and whilst it's early days, the c-section wasn't nearly so bad as I thought it might be. I was amazed at how quickly he seemed to come out and he was a good size, despite being a couple of weeks early.

Thank you all so much for your opinions. Whilst it didn't happen quite as I would have planned it, I think the c-section was definitely the right way to go.

OP posts:

BuntyCollocks · 22/10/2013 04:44

I'd go for the section. There was a woman on here who lost her dd to a silent placental abruption following an ecv.

BuntyCollocks · 22/10/2013 04:45

Oh! Should read the thread in its entirety! Congratulations! Enjoy your newborn snuggles, and I hope you heal quickly

Booboostoo · 22/10/2013 09:48

Congratulations! I am sorry it was an EMCS in the end but glad it all went well for you and the baby.

CrackersandCheese · 22/10/2013 09:58

What sort of breech is it?

Mine was in the tuck position. I had a failed ecv. It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. Went on to deliver him vaginally with no problems.

The greatest risk is with footling birth.

Here is the link to my thread where I had to make the same decision:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/a1478789-Anyone-have-an-experience-of-vaginal-breech-birth-theyd-like-to-share

No idea how to link, sorry!

CrackersandCheese · 22/10/2013 09:59

Oops! Congratulations anyway!

Doubtfuldaphne · 22/10/2013 10:40

I had this decision to make quite recently and I am so glad I chose the c-section. It was straight forward, easy and I was out the next day with a take away and a beautiful baby and feeling brilliant! I know it's not so straight forward for everyone but I have nothing but praise for the c-section!

Doubtfuldaphne · 22/10/2013 10:41

Oops just read your update- congratulations!

pianodoodle · 22/10/2013 13:22

Congratulations! I'm glad the c-section wasn't as bad ad you thought.

I'm 31 weeks with DC2 and he's still breech. First baby was straightforward but I'm feeling a bit anxious as I'm a bit scared of the thought of c-section :(

chilledmama · 22/10/2013 14:56

Sorry if this has been covered BUT why not normal delivery?? You have a proven pelvis if you've already done it once...is there some other reason why?

Stangirl · 22/10/2013 17:14

I've had 2 ELCS and with the second I had a 17month old to take care of afterwards. It was fine. Really really pleased I chose ELCS with both. Good luck with whichever you decide.

yoniwherethesundontshine · 22/10/2013 18:41

Sorry if this has been covered BUT why not normal delivery?? You have a proven pelvis if you've already done it once...is there some other reason why?

because she looked at her options and said she wanted a section and she has had one read the f'ing op she has had one already.

Huge congratulations op! So happy you are happy with it all.

yoniwherethesundontshine · 22/10/2013 18:43

piano

Please don't be scared, read all the past reviews of sections on here, on the child birth thread, so many positive results and how calm it is.

I found this too. There is lots less to be scared of.

starkadder · 22/10/2013 18:46

Congrats!!

SofiaAmes · 22/10/2013 18:57

I had 40 hours of labor followed by an emergency cs with ds. Then I had a VBAC with dd 2 years later. If I had it to do all over again, I would have had an elective cs with both. My recovery time from all the damage from the vbac was far longer than the recovery from the emergency cs and it's my understanding that an elective cs has far less recovery time than an emergency one.

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