To not want this procedure...

[Figuringitout]

I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant with a breech baby. The hospital have kind of assumed that I will have an ECV (where they try to turn the baby manually) this week in order to try and avoid a c-section.
This is my second baby, although my third pregnancy as I had a tfmr last year (baby was given a 4% chance of surviving pregnancy and no possible known outcome for birth or life expectancy). I feel I need to explain that as obviously it impacts on my anxiety levels with this baby. Please don't feel the need to comment on that decision as it is still incredibly raw and painful.
I would love another water birth, but obviously this is only possible if the baby turns.
WIBU to wait and see if it turns itself, therefore avoiding potential stress for myself and the baby? I am aware that this may well result in needing a section.
Any opinion and advice welcome!

I was in a similar position and declined. I had successful acupuncture and moxibustion.

All the people saying that moxibustion, acupuncture blah blah worked for them - it's meaningless as none of these are controlled studies, i.e. none of them know what would have happened if they hadn't had those things done.

There is as far as I know no peer-reviewed scientific evidence of any sort for the 'alternatives' mentioned on this thread, they sound like nonsense and just making money for 'practitioners'.

There is peer-reviewed evidence to support acupuncture and moxibustion. Just because you haven't read it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I was offered an ECV for my breech baby but declined. I'd had 4 miscarriages before that pregnancy and just didn't want to take any risks. My consultant agreed with my reasoning and said 'let's just get this baby out safely' so scheduled me in for an emergency section at 39 weeks. I ended up having an emergency but not an urgent section at 37+3 when my waters went. I didn't try any thing other than cleaning the floor but I just knew the baby wasn't going to move anyway. My baby had great breech legs for weeks after (no chance of swaddling those legs) and liked to sleep in the exact same position she'd been in with her head cocked awkwardly to the side.

My consultant did say that when she first qualified she'd have given me the option of going for a vaginal birth but nowadays the midwives/doctors trained in breech or experienced in breech vaginal births were few and far between so it wasn't really an option. I'm not sure if I could have pushed for it but I was already happy with ELCS at that point.

My first baby was breech and I declined the ECV after a lot of research. I had a planned section at 39 weeks. My little girl is perfectly healthy and my recovery was very easy, painful for the first few days, then uncomfortable for a week or so followed by just been sensible and careful for another couple of weeks. I had an emergency section at 41 weeks with my son after attempting vbac and even the recovery from that with a toddler to care for as well was nowhere near as bad as I thought.

Talk to your midwife, get all your facts then tell your hospital your decision. You don't have to have any procedure you don't want to have. Hope it all goes well for you.

interesting article on alternative medicine, for the previous poster who said "There is as far as I know no peer-reviewed scientific evidence of any sort for the 'alternatives' mentioned on this thread, they sound like nonsense and just making money for 'practitioners'."

articles.philly.com/1998-11-16/living/25731922_1_breech-delivery-moxibustion-acupuncture

I declined ECV and went for a c-section. There were never any questions, I wasn't asked to justify myself and there was no attempt to make me change my mind. If you don't want it, don't do it, just make sure you are prepared for a c-section.

Not that another voice is necessary in the unanimous affirmation that you don't have to accept this procedure - but yanbu.

I'm not an expert at all and obviously the success rates for ecv must be such that the professionals genuinely believe it's a good idea because obviously they aren't malevolent and wishing your baby harm.

However, my understanding is that the choice is between a procedure where the most serious possible-but-unlikely-things-to-go-wrong are horrible things happening to you (wound infection, rupture etc) vs a procedure where the most serious possible-but-unlikely-things-to-go-wrong are horrible things happening to your baby (cranial bleed, placental damage etc).

I have no idea of the actual statistics but it wouldn't be at all surprising to me if the numbers show that ecv is overall less risky in which case it would be reasonable for them to be pushing for it, whilst it still being the case that most mothers would far rather accept a 5% risk of something bad happening to themselves to protect their baby from a 2% risk of something bad.

I would decline it. They attempted this with my DS (now 4). It didn't work and I had to spend a day hooked up to be monitored to be sure his heartbeat was ok, and I think it sent me into early labour. So no, I wouldn't do it. You are allowed to refuse it.

I normally have no time for anything remotely woo, but know friends who have had good experiences with hypnobirthing practitioners and turning babies. Worth a shot maybe?

Please read up on the risks of an ECV if you decide to go ahead. A friend lost her baby at term due to placental abruption following an ECV. There are 2 posters that I know of on mumsnet who lost their babies this way. I'm really sorry to sound so blunt, but as someone who has had a still birth myself, it's not something I would wish on my worst enemy. They actually don't offer ECVs in my trust and I'm shocked that others still do.

Sorry, I also wanted to say that a c section can be a lovely experience and I found the recovery time to be ok.

My dd was extended breech from 32 weeks. Was offered ecv and given info and stats. My gut instinct was to decline thinking she was in the position she was for a reason. Tried advice from spinning babies website but she wouldnt move. Had a c-section at 39 weeks and turned out she had an extremely short cord and was highly likely that ecv would have caused problems and been unsuccessful. I was initially upset at having to have c-section but had a wonderful experience and recovered very well. It is your decision alone and I would just say to trust your instincts.

YANBU ... But, based on my experience, I'd prepare to be firm.

You don't have to have an ECV. Personally I would have, but then I would also have attempted a vaginal birth of a breech baby, which I know some would find unacceptable. Go with your feelings.

I wouldn't have one tbh. I had an ELCS for ds2 after birth trauma from ds1. It was lovely and calm. You have the right to say no without them treating you harshly or interrogating you. I am consistently amazed that as soon as a woman is pregnant some treat us as if we've lost our mental faculties and need to be railroaded into complying.