To be wary of having an ECV?

[TiredOfUsingTechnology]

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 normally I am all about the evidence-based medicine BUT as far as I know, although the risk of anything nasty (i.e. placental abruption) happening is actually really quite low with ECV, if it happens they cannot necessarily detect it till it's too late and the outcome can be horrific.

DD was transverse lie till about 35/6 weeks and I looked into ECV then. I decided on the basis of the reading I did that I wouldn't go for it. One story I read was here on MN, it was a complete horror show and (sorry if this is distressing) the woman's baby died.

As it happened DD turned before 37w and I had a home birth But personally although I am v pro natural birth in your circs I'd look at the spinning babies site, and if those exercises didn't work I'd go straight to ELCS.

My dc1 was breech til very late, turned naturally. I'd have rather had a vaginal breech delivery than ecv though.

OP this is the thread I mean:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/a1542806-Are-people-aware-of-the-dangers-of-ECV

It's REALLY upsetting so sorry in advance. Several posts down the OP links to another thread she started, I think in Bereavement, which describes her actual experience.

Normally, I'd say go with the published guidelines which say that the risk of a bad outcome is low..............but personally for, the negative outcome from this is SO nasty, and an elective section is really not that dreadful, so I'd decline.

Hope this doesn't seem like scaremongering but for me, just not worth it - good luck making your own decision

I had on and it was my least traumatic birth out of three. For me it wasn't especially uncomfortable either. I can see there are different opinions, but giving birth is not risk free, however you do it. If you trust your team and have looked at the statistics and they indicate it is the best option, then that outweighs any horror stories, in my opinion.

OP ( will stop spamming your thread after this, promise!!)

If I were you, if you go ahead with the ECV, make sure to ask them what measures they have in place to check if placental abruption has occurred. The OP of that thread I linked, just in case you find it too upsetting to read, had her daughter's heartbeat listened to, which was fine. But this didn't reveal that a minor placental abruption had occurred, which then became much more serious during a long labour.

Like I say, I wouldn't because on risk/benefit analysis, to me the small risk of something very nasty outweighs the risks of a commonly done, routine op like an ELCS with comparatively low complication rates - and those complications typically happening to the mum not the baby. For me ECV tips the risk to the baby which is to me less acceptable.

BUT if you're having it done, at least be sure what complications might occur and what plan the drs have in place to address those.

I personally would not consent to an ECV. Just too many unknowns and risks. If the baby hasn't turned there may be a good reason. For example the cord is short or tangled round the baby, or there's insufficient room to move into position. There s a risk of placental abruption and of cord compression as well as risks to the baby from the physical pressure exerted.
When I weigh the risks of ECV against the risk of an elective section it's a no brainer to me - there is no way I'd consent.
It's your choice. If you do Consent make sure you are monitored for at least an hour afterwards. And you can withdraw consent at any time before or during if it's painful or just because you want to

I wouldn't, and I agree with everything Fomalhaut just said.

And having had an absolutely brilliant elective section, I don't think they are something to be worried about. I know people talk about caesareans like they're the worse possible birth outcome, but they really aren't.

I had an ECV for DS at 37 weeks. I dsicussed it with my DH and my Dad (ex obstetrician, who I trust deeply) and was givena good run down of the risk benefit profile by the midwife who confirmed the breech. I was sent home to pack a bag 'in case of complications' and was very definitely told that at the slightest hint of foetal distress I would be whipped to theatre for an emergency section.

I was also given a good run down on likely success. For me, as it was my second child, not that far on in the pregnancy (at 37 as opposed to 40 wks) and that his head wasn't actually in my pelvis, jsut resting above it, I stood a good chance of a succesful ECV (in answer to a question up-thread it stands for extra-cephalic version).

In the end was pretty painless, I felt extremely well looked after and it was successful. It seemed their biggest concern was asking if I knew what sex he was as the screen was full of very boy looking bits! I was monitored continously for a good 2-3 hours afterwards before they were happy to let me home.

The little bugger then turned back, but turned again himself at 39 weeks and stayed put for another 3.5 weeks...

But- this is all anecdotal evidence, as are the extrememly sad instances where it goes wrong, much better to base your decision on the evidence form systematic review linked up thread.

Personally, I felt in my own situation, the risks were small, the chance of succes high and I desperately wanted to avoid a section so I could get my mobility and strength abck as soon as possible after a long pregnancy plagued with SPD.

Good luck!

I had ECV over 18 years ago. It was painless and we were both monitored through the whole procedure with a scan. Afterwards I was monitored for about three hours and scanned again before going home. She stayed head down but arrived nearly two weeks late! My second settled head down quite early but was still a week late.

Just weeks before my ECV my friend had had an elective section due to footling breech, she has had two more children since then both vaginal deliveries and she has always said that the vaginal deliveries were way easier than the section.

I had an ECV with my DD1 at 38 weeks when they suddenly realised she was breach.
Ours is a teaching hospital (JR in Oxford) so had a student attempt it at first, which was extremely painful. Thankfully the consultant then took over and he's the best of the best. Swivelled baby around in a matter of seconds, completely painless and there she stayed.

FWIW I was monitored overnight and re-scanned the next day so you might want to ask what the process is at your hospital for after the procedure, to make sure you and baby are ok.

longtime lurker here but had to post,
I had an unsuccessful ecv with my 3rd baby AFTER my waters had been broken by midwife (part of induction due to previous pre eclampsia- midwife was sure baby was engaged??) for me it was extremely painful, the very determined consultant had to be stopped by his colleague as my baby wasn't going anywhere-ended up having an emergency c section due to baby in distress
given the option again I would def have a planned c section,after having unassisted,assisted &c section, honestly once your baby is here everything else is immaterial,good luck!!