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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be wary of having an ECV?

36 replies

TiredOfUsingTechnology · 01/08/2016 12:46

I'm 36 weeks and LO is breech. I have been booked in to have an ECV tomorrow and am slightly freaking out about it (probably shouldn't have watched clips of them on YouTube!).

I'm worried about the potential risks considering the not so great success rate.

I'm also worried about them pushing for a section when baby might still move by itself right up to the due date.

Does anyone have any experience of this/advice about getting baby to turn by itself?

OP posts:
BillyNotQuiteNoMates · 01/08/2016 13:06

In all honesty, I don't have any experience of either ECV or getting the baby to turn, all I can say is that watching YouTube isn't going to help/ reassure you. Speak to your midwife who will have a far better idea than I do. I hope everything goes well

MiniCooperLover · 01/08/2016 13:07

Sorry but it was the most painful thing one bet went through plus I believe it sent me into early labour. Speak up quickly if it's painful.

Davinaaddict · 01/08/2016 13:13

I had one, and was wary and nervous too. Whilst I found it pretty uncomfortable, the pain was gone quickly and mine went really well.

DS then stayed head down for the remaining 4 weeks of pregnancy. YANBU to feel wary, but they can go well, so try not to worry too much. Easier said than done I know. Good luck!

peripateticparents · 01/08/2016 13:14

Had one that worked. It was painless and easy. Baby turned back though. And then kept turning until 41 weeks. There are some exercises online for you to do to help turn a baby. Worth trying!

peripateticparents · 01/08/2016 13:16

Just googled .... Try spinning babies website. Good luck!

MatildaTheCat · 01/08/2016 13:18

If you have been through the correct procedures ie scan for growth and liquor volume and position of your baby and the ECV is being planned on delivery suite at 37 weeks then offering ECV is recommended by NICE. I believe the success rate is approximately 50% ( probably depends on the experience of the doctor so do request the most experienced person available). This means that you are significantly reducing the risk of CS.

By increasing your chance of a vaginal delivery you are increasing your chance of normal, straightforward deliveries for future births. If you opt for an EL CS this time you are more likely to have CS in the future with potentially more risks and longer recovery times.

I would recommend having a look at the NICE guidelines around this and if you meet the criteria I would go for it. You can ask them to stop if it is painful ( mostly it's uncomfortable). However YANBU to feel a little anxious.

Good luck.

tappitytaptap · 01/08/2016 13:28

Mine turned on his own between 38 and 39 weeks. Very glad I didn't have an ECV as ended up with an EMCS and he was really tangled in his cord. Would you prefer an ELCS OP? I'd have one next time if in same situation.

Bearfrills · 01/08/2016 13:30

I was booked to have one with DD. Found out on the Monday that she was breech at 40+1 and they booked the ECV for the Wednesday. When I went in I had a midwife specialist. Her first step was to do an in depth scan where she checked absolutely everything- cord position, fluid, baby size, etc. She determined that she wasn't happy to go ahead with the ECV due to a lack of fluid and DD being wrapped in the cord. She said her personal success rate in turning babies was 80% but only because she is very strict on which ones she will/won't attempt. As it turned out i was in early labour and dilating my way to a cord prolapse so went from the scan room straight down to theatre as an emergency section.

With DS2 a couple of years later I was going to attempt VBAC but had a scan at 36 weeks to check position and he was breech so booked for a section at 39 weeks. I had to go for another scan at 38 weeks due to lack of movement and it showed he was head down, he'd turned himself without me realising. He stayed head down but I ended up with a section anyway because I went overdue and didn't want an induction.

For what it's worth, out of the three deliveries I've had - VB, emergency section and planned section - the planned section was my favourite. A caesarean isn't the scary horror show that it seems and many people, myself included, actually found it to be a very positive and empowering experience.

nolongerwaitingfornumber2 · 01/08/2016 13:33

Would a vaginal breech birth be considered? There's Breech Birth UK on Facebook who are very knowledgeable about all things breech.

JohnLithgowsLargeForehead · 01/08/2016 13:38

I would either have an ELC or do some bending exercises to turn him yourself, heard too many sad stories after ECVs. That's just me though, I think the risk is really small.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 01/08/2016 13:43

Is "ECV" elective caesarean? If so I had that and it was not in the least bit scary. I jumped at the chance of being offered it. I agree about it being very positive and empowering.

Bearfrills · 01/08/2016 13:57

ECV is an external cephalic something, can't remember what the V stands for. It's where they try to manually turn a breech baby from the outside.

JohnLithgowsLargeForehead · 01/08/2016 13:58

Lass No that's ELC and I agree it's a very calm experience! ECV is where they massage your stomach to try and get baby to turn the right way so that a vaginal birth will be possible.

Bearfrills · 01/08/2016 14:02

And if you were to need a caesarean, the old saying of "once a caesarean, always a caesarean" is no longer true. VBAC (vaginal birth after a caesarean) is increasingly common.

Original poster
TiredOfUsingTechnology · 01/08/2016 14:03

Thanks for all the advice and well wishes

Lass an ECV is where they manually attempt to move the baby into position from the outside.

Nolonger. I'm really not keen on the idea of a breech VB as I know the risks are higher due to an over reliance on CS for breech babies.

I've looked at the spinning babies site and spoken to my pregnancy yoga instructor and have begun trying the stretches/tilting to help get baby in position.

I'm not completely averse to having the ELCS but I guess I'd just had an idea about what my delivery would be like (water, hypnobirthing etc) and this just pulled the rug from under me a little. I'm also worried about the, albeit small, risk of early labour/emergency section... I just don't feel ready for baby to come yet as I'm really enjoying these last few weeks of pregnancy and want to make the most of it now mat leave has started nothing to do with the wedding I'm going to on Friday and the fact the nursery isn't ready

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 01/08/2016 14:08

A friend of mine had an ecv for breech, didn't work but she is pleased she gave it a go and didn't find it too unpleasant.
However she turned up for her c section a couple of weeks later, only to be told baby had finally turned and was sent home! Baby arrived naturally a few days later.
So they can turn really late. I think it depends on how much you trust the consultant. Don't let them bully you into it though, it's your decision. Though if course a CS is ultimately more likely if you don't have it.
Re natural breech births my understanding is that there are very few places in the uk that support this simply because it's so rarely done so there just isn't the expertise. Yet in many countries abroad you will find consultants that regularly assist natural breech deliveries.
Good luck x

Cakescakescakes · 01/08/2016 14:11

I would because of the risk of placentral abruption if there is cord entanglement. My ds1 was wrapped in the cord around his neck etc so that made me wary a do turned down an ECV for ds2. He turned on his own at 37 weeks but I would have gone for planned section if he hadn't.

Cakescakescakes · 01/08/2016 14:11

I wouldn't I mean

Cakescakescakes · 01/08/2016 14:12

Sorry for the ridiculous typos

Karoleann · 01/08/2016 14:12

This article looks fairly good and references the three systemic reviews that have taken place recently with regards to risks and outcome of ECV. (systemic reviews are research papers which pool research from lots of other papers in a specific way)..

evidencebasedbirth.com/what-is-the-evidence-for-using-an-external-cephalic-version-to-turn-a-breech-baby/

It does say that the chance of it working is less in first time mothers, but that overall risk is exceptionally low.

Original poster
TiredOfUsingTechnology · 01/08/2016 14:34

Thanks Karoleann that was really helpful

OP posts:
mirime · 01/08/2016 14:36

They didn't mention an ECV to me when they thought my ds was breech and by the time they did a scan a week later to check he'd turned on his own - I remember him turning it was very uncomfortable and it took him two attempts.

Puddleducks123 · 01/08/2016 14:41

I had one. Baby turned most of the way but then popped back to breech. Ultimately found out it was because she was wrapped in the cord. I didn't find it painful, a bit uncomfortable but nothing I couldn't handle. I was scheduled for a repeat one but my waters broke on the morning it was due and needed a section then. I'd do it again if I had to.

Iamnotanugget · 01/08/2016 14:46

I had acupressure to turn my baby. I had no faith in it at all but it really was the only option available to me. My midwife recommended it and it worked for me. From memory I was about 38 weeks. Baby had been in position, turned breech but then turned back.

SalemSaberhagen · 01/08/2016 14:47

I wouldn't. Someone I know of lost her daughter due to an ECV. It's not a risk I would take.

Here is a link to her story
justiceforrebeccaflorence.wordpress.com/about/]]
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