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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Transverse baby. ECV tomorrow

90 replies

Howdidido · 09/10/2019 15:02

Sorry for hijacking AIBU.
39 weeks. Midwife today said baby is transverse (explains why I'm so uncomfortable). Has anyone had an ECV for transverse that worked or not? Midwife says they'll probably break waters at same time but leaflet she gave me says ECV only works in 50%of cases so C section 50% likely?
If they break waters will it be quick to labour or will I go home?

OP posts:

Witchinaditch · 09/10/2019 15:05

Not sure- maybe put this in pregnancy as you may get more responses! Good luck

slingthegin · 09/10/2019 15:10

Success rates for ECV are around what you've been told and can also depend on the practitioner performing it. I'm very surprised they mention breaking your waters as malposition is a high risk for cord prolapse unless there's another reason for inducing you now? They would only do this after a scan confirms baby is definitely cephalic (head down) and engaged. Usually if ECV doesn't work by 39 weeks yes you are booked for a section.

slingthegin · 09/10/2019 15:13

If they broke your waters after the successful ECV you would remain on the Unit. ECV is usually performed with a uterine relaxant. I've never heard of one leasing directly onto an induction (which stimulates the uterus) but perhaps there's a clinical reason in your case.

Bearfrills · 09/10/2019 15:41

For transverse lie you should be admitted to hospital, or at least that was the case when I had DD two years ago. Automatic admission at 36 weeks until she was delivered at 38 weeks.

Are they definitely going to break your waters? I was going to be having a planned section anyway but I was told that if my waters went and DD was still transverse when it happened then it would be an emergency section due to the high risk of prolapse associated with transverse lie.

Bearfrills · 09/10/2019 15:43

FWIW, my older DD was breech and when they did the scan at the start of the ECV process they found she had next to no amniotic fluid and had the cord wrapped around her so I went straight down to theatre for an emergency section.

MsBananaHammock · 09/10/2019 16:09

I had an unsuccessful ECV for a breech baby , I was 40+2 at the time. Was one of the most painful experiences in my life. I ended up having a C-section the same day.

JesusHChristOnABike · 09/10/2019 16:13

My 3rd DS was transverse at 37 weeks so I was admitted immediately. I decided against ECV for lots of reasons; firstly because of the risk of cord strangulation (as it transpires DS was born with cord round his neck so wouldn't have survived ECV), the success of ECV varies wildly between consultants & finally because I would've done anything to avoid an emergency CS. Oh, and selfishly I had heard how incredibly painful it was.

In the end, DS turned himself at 39 weeks & I went on to have a natural birth.

Good luck.

HolyMilkBoobiesBatman · 09/10/2019 16:14

What number baby is this?
I went for an ECV for breech baby 2.
Very strange uncomfortable sensation when they turned but turn they did!

Lemonlady22 · 09/10/2019 16:15

i had transverse baby and they didnt know she was transverse. Midwife said i wasnt pushing enough, she could see babys head but i needed to push harder....jesus i was screaming.....(3rd baby)....said she was getting a doctor to see me...thank god she did as straight to theatre for emergency section....the babys head she could see was babys back, spent a night in special care and i was closely monitored. I would ask to go straight for a c section if i had a choice.

B3ck89 · 09/10/2019 16:18

My baby was breech (bum down)

Had an unsuccessful ecv, 3 of them tag teaming having a go, even tilted the bed to the point I could have slid out after all that it didnt work, had my c section a week later. He was breech from 28 weeks and didnt budge once, I had regular scans due to funneling cervix.

Liverbird77 · 09/10/2019 16:43

My ds was transverse and, like @Lemonlady22 they didn't know. I had a sweep. The midwife was also telling me to push and not to waste contractions.
Eventually I insisted on seeing the Dr. I went straight to theatre. They got him out with forceps eventually. They were close to emergency c section.
It was a very stressful birth, compounded by the fact they fucked up my epidural and that I had a huge hemorrhage afterwards.
It is good that they know he baby is transverse in advance, op.

brittabot · 09/10/2019 16:54

My DS2 was transverse at 37 weeks. I refused ECV (I had had a separate uterus so had already had an operation on and issues with my womb), I didn’t like the 50% success rate nor risk to the baby nor pain to me! They admitted me as wouldn’t let me leave hospital in case of cord prolapse. 5 days later baby turned. I eventually had a planned c section anyway when they told me I had 2 litres of amniotic fluid!

Andysbestadventure · 09/10/2019 16:55

I'd skip it and go for elective csection. The risk of cord problems is far too high for me to ever even consider it. I couldn't live with the guilt if anything happened. Chances are you'll need one anyway.

ISpeakJive · 09/10/2019 17:04

I live in another country now and ECV’s are banned over here for many reasons.

When I had DD1 I was in the UK. She was breech and they recommended an ECV.
I refused. C-Section it was and don’t regret it for a second.

GaryWilmottsTeeth · 09/10/2019 17:06

DS was an unstable lie, meaning he was spinning about a lot. But more often than not, he ended up back in transverse. I was admitted onto the ante natal ward for a week, then had an elcs at 39 weeks. We discussed doing an ecv but decided against it, as the likelihood was he would just turn back.

As I understand it, they will only break your waters if baby is definitely head down and has been for a decent length of time. They were going to try this with DS, they called it a stabilising induction. But after being head down on the ward for about 12 hours, by the time we got to theatre, he was diagonal. So we gave up and started the c-section, and by the time they got him out, he was back transverse.

The big danger with transverse babies is, as pp said, that your waters will go, the baby will drop and squash the cord. If your waters went during an ecv, I imagine it would be straight to a section. If there’s any chance you’re in labour, they won’t send you home.

Mia1415 · 09/10/2019 17:07

I had an ECV for my DS who was breech.

I'm sorry to say this, but it was a pretty horrible experience. It was incredibly painful and didn't work. I was on a monitor for hours and hours afterwards as my DS kept moving and they couldn't get an hour's continuous heart beat reading. There was nothing wrong with him, he was (and still is!) a fidget and I was stuck there without food or drink (in case I needed a C-section) for hours.

I ended up having a C-section a few weeks later and it was amazing. I had a speedy recovery and got my happy, healthy DS.

I hope your ECV goes well. Good luck.

DrVonPatak · 09/10/2019 17:10

ECV is a dodgy procedure whose use is being abandoned in many countries in favour of an elective cs. The practices in the uk that are still used so they would save a few pennies are hair rising, and too often incur much greater costs further down the line.

Haworthia · 09/10/2019 17:11

Personally, I wouldn’t do it and I’d head straight for an elective section. ECVs are pretty brutal and can be dangerous for babies (I once read a horrible account from a woman, it might even have been on MN, whose baby died after a botched ECV).

Elective section is undoubtedly the safest route forward. I’ve had one myself and it was fabulous and stress free.

RueCambon · 09/10/2019 17:12

I did. Awfully uncomfortable, very counterintuitive to let them do this. My dd didnt move but later that afternoon i felt this bizarre earthquake inside me as she moved. I had to stand up but lean against a wall as she moved. Very strange feeling! I knew she had moved into right position.

Good luck.

Seeline · 09/10/2019 17:15

I had an ECV for a transverse baby 15 years ago. I don't think the risks were known about at the time - I certainly wasn't told of any.

The procedure was fine, uncomfortable, not painful, and successful. I was monitored for an hour and sent home.

baby was born 12 days late, with the cord round her neck and a knot in the cord. Luckily a very good midwife was alert to the problem and was able to deliver her safely. Of course, I can't be certain, but knowing what I now know, I am fairly sure that they were caused by the ECV, and we were very lucky that nothing more serious happened.

Haworthia · 09/10/2019 17:21

@Seeline

It can definitely be the case that a baby is in a bad position because they’re wrapped in the cord and can’t get themselves head down. Which is another reason why ECVs are dangerous.

autumnmum · 09/10/2019 17:22

Unsuccessful ECV here as well. DD was footling breech. She was my 1st I was persuaded into it with lots of "you don't want a C section" talk. It was a frightening procedure and I ended up having an emergency section after 24 hours in labour because baby was a brow presentation. It was a horrific experience and having subsequently had an elective section (DS was transverse) I wish I'd done the same with DD. It was 14 years ago and I am still quite angry I was ever offered ECV.

Bearfrills · 09/10/2019 17:23

If it helps at all, out of four deliveries my favourite of them was a planned 'gentle' section. They lowered the curtain as they were delivering DD so we could see her being lifted up and she was delivered onto my chest, we had delayed cord clamping and cutting, and then no other medical checks in theatre because weighing and measuring wasn't done until recovery. The longest she was away from me in theatre was the 30 seconds it took to put a nappy on her and then she went back on my chest for skin to skin while they closed everything up.

Sparrowlegs248 · 09/10/2019 17:23

My mum had 3 unsuccessful ecv with my brother. He was born breech with the cord around his neck, and brain damaged as a result. I also read the awful story on here of the lady whose baby died later the same day after she'd had an ecv. Not worth the risk imo.

I had an elcs for my breech baby and would do so again.

Seeline · 09/10/2019 17:24

Haworthia - that's interesting. I am sure there must have been more research over the last 15 years or so. I wasn't informed at all, and hte internet wasn't nearly as helpful in those days!

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