Transverse baby. ECV tomorrow

[Howdidido]

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?

Good luck op, there was talk of one for my little guy ( but turned out he wasn’t actually breech) it was never given to me as an option though more of a statement of fact this is what we will do. At least you are more aware of your options now x

I was offered an ECV with my DD2 who was breech. I declined it but to answer your question, if the ECV is successful you should be induced if it is successful to stop baby turning back whilst you wait for natural labour. I guess if you're dilated they may break your waters if not it'll probably be the pessary.

I went for an ECV with my first because I really, really didn’t want a c-section. He turned by himself while I was waiting for the ECV (he had cord wrapped round neck at the birth, interesting this often seems to be the case).

2nd time I opted to have an ELCS for other risk factors - it was fine and I really don’t know exactly why I was so anti the idea with my first.

In the same situation again I would wait and have an ELCS if needed, rather than risk an ECV.

If you talk to your consultant they will probably try and talk you into it as it is the cheaper option. It is not a risk I would personally take. I would opt for the c section straight away.

Unsuccessful ECV. It was extremely painful and I became quite unwell and faint during the procedure. I also had a lot of bruising the next day. I then went on to have a planned c section. My boss told me afterwards his wife had had the ECV and gone into labour so emergency section and he didn’t want to frighten me beforehand. Personally I’d go for the planned section.

Just to add, neither of my breach babies (successful and unsuccessful ECV's) were born with the cord around their neck - just for balance.

Maybe research NICE guidelines or similar, rather than basing your decision on a bunch of arbitrary people on the internet.

Another one who had an ECV for a breech baby. They tried three times, it was quite uncomfortable, my husband was visibly upset after watching it and said if they had asked to try again he was going to stop them. After I was on the monitor and started having pains. That night I had my baby at 36 weeks, EMCS. I wouldn't try it again. Luckily my next baby was head down.

So in your case, Orangina, the ECV attempt led to your baby being born prematurely, with all the risks that entails. Hope they are ok?

I’d be interested to see if the risks of that are included in the ECV risk calculations.

Should add, cord wasn't around baby's neck and I wasn't told how risky it was either. I didn't even have my bag with me so when baby was born she was in a towel until my husband could get home!

Yes she's fine thank goodness. I wish now I had said no to it. It was an upsetting experience but fortunately I managed to have a VBAC for my next baby and now I just tell anyone who will listen that an ECV isn't always a good idea!

I’m really glad she’s ok, orangina. What an awful experience for you.

So I just spoke to a obstetrician friend of a friend who said she had had a ECV. She would have another but that success rates were 50%(but higher in second or more pregnancy). That CS would be the alternative but ECV is worth a try.

So I will go tomorrow with an open mind and a hospital bag. DH is watching DD so won't be with me but my DM will take over if I go into labour.
I will try and avoid being induced.
Thanks for everyone's input. It's the other side to the coin I've had from medical staff but it's good to know what is possible. I won't see it as risk free but will try not to be freaked out by stories on here

My DS is 10 and was turned using ECV. He has lots of genetic difficulties but also has cerebral palsy caused by the ECV.

Mine was unsuccessful, had a planned CS a few days later. It was bliss compared with my previous vaginal birth, highly recommended. Recovery totally fine. Best of luck.

Best of luck OP

I have also had 2 ECVs in 2 different pregnancies.

The first was at 37 wks in my 2nd pregnancy. I was warned of the risks and potential success rates. For me, I really didnt want a section and as it wasn't my first pregnancy, baby had plenty of room and fluid to move around in and he was over and not my pelvis, I felt like there was a high chance of success.

The procedure wasn't painful, barely uncomfortable and was successful. Had a natural delivery 5 wks later.

2nd ECV was just 8wks ago. Baby gad unstable lie- footling breech to transverse, to transverse in the other direction and back to footling breech over 3 days, all confirmed on scan.
The procedure was a bit uncomfortable but didnt need any pain relief, and it was successful. I was induced immediately but unless you are dilated a bit your waters will not be ruptured straight away, its just not possible.

I ended up with an EMCS 2.5 days later as she put her hand over her face which meant I couldn't deliver vaginally due to risk of shoulder dystocia. Had a large PPH and I'm still not properly healed, so sections aren't always that great either, in my experience.

Bottom line, all pregnancies/ labours are different and you need to weigh up risks/ likelihood of success of ECV in your unique circumstance and consider against gaving a section. Remember people often publicise when things have gone badly wrong more than they do when things were fine.

My baby was breech and I declined the ECV. After discussing with my consultant, and reading up about the procedure, I decided it sounded like something out of one of the Saw films and opted for an ELCS instead. The idea of being sent into labour before either of us were ready and winding up with an EMCS was horrifying to me.

I’m concerned that you don’t seem to realise how risky a transverse lie can be. I was transverse and all the staff I had contact with were worried as in my first labour I had prom. The midwives drummed into me that I my waters broke while I was transverse I had to lie down on the floor with my bottom in the air and call and ambulance because of the risk of cord prolapse. They were going to admit me ahead of due date if the baby hadn’t turned. The baby did turn fortunately.

I was booked in for ECV at 37 weeks with my now 12 week old. Came to the day and she had flipped round and moved head down thankfully. The consultant didn’t seem to want to promote an ecv that much but did book me in for one. However said if my water had broken in the meantime it would be an emergency c section. My midwife however did say that breech natural birth was now something that happened more and more. I think I would have booked in for a c section anyhow, but good luck op hope all goes ok x

I've been reading the RCOG greentop paper which does have risk rates etc included. That doesn't seem to suggest the high levels of risk some people seem to think on here so if anyone is looking for advice after this id suggest reading it (not sure have managed a proper link but googled pdf link is below)
Thanks for making me aware that sometimes it can go horribly wrong.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gt20aexternalcephalicversion.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjp_ojx9JDlAhUtQxUIHVh0CrAQFjABegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw3YE_KkeUj86ZJvCQ9ELEJ2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gt20aexternalcephalicversion.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjp_ojx9JDlAhUtQxUIHVh0CrAQFjABegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw3YE_KkeUj86ZJvCQ9ELEJ2

Also please remember that any procedures like ECVs and having waters broken are totally optional and it’s down to you whether you let them or not. You should never just be told ‘they’ll do this to you’

This is what I was going to say.
Also there's an acronym to remember what you should ask about any procedure they offer you - BRAIN
B - what are the benefits?
R - what are the risks?
A - alternatives?
I - instinct - what does your instinct tell you?
N - nothing - what is likely to happen if we do nothing for a while?

Then for any alternatives they offer you, you can ask the same questions, so you have a proper view of your options and the pros/cons.

DD was transverse and I was booked for CS, when my waters broke at 38+3 I was whisked straight to the operating theatre. Transverse is a potentially very dangerous presentation. Where I gave birth they would not consider EVC for transverse, it’s straight to CS

The paper you link to is for breech presentation as far as I can tell, which is an entirely different presentation.

My ds was transverse (oblique) but they didn't pick it up until the last minute. I was booked for a water birth at home but had to go into hospital because my waters broke and were meconium stained so they said ds was stressed.

Three midwives (one a very experienced trainer) and two registrars all felt my belly and declared he was engaged and I was put under a lot of pressure to be induced which we didn't want at all (I'd not had any contractions). dh made a fuss and said we were going home and they brought in an ultrasound to take a look. Almost immediately after that the consultant appeared and said 'c-section now' and half an hour later ds was born.

I'd no idea that vaginal birth might have been dangerous for us. At the debrief the surgeon said I had a bicornate uterous (weirdly when dd was born 16mths later the registrar that operated said my uterous was normal). The only not so great outcome for us is that ds came out quite squiffy probably because he was stuck in an odd position for quite a while.

When posters have been talking to you about the risks, howdidido, it’s not that we have been saying the risk is really high in terms of frequency. What we have been saying is that it does go wrong occasionally, and that if it does, the risks can be catastrophic.

For many of us on the thread, we would not want to take the risk of an ECV at all, because any risk of it going wrong is unacceptable to us when there is a safer alternative available (ELCS).

Of course, you may be desperate for a VB, for whatever reason, and feel like taking on the extra risk of the ECV is worth it to you. Which is fine, of course, it’s your body, your baby, your decision. But posters didn’t want you going into the procedure blind, without any idea that there are risks to it. As you said, these haven’t yet been explained to you. Hopefully the consultant will talk you through them today, but actually that doesn’t give you much time to consider them before deciding what to do.

Good luck with today whatever you decide.

An ECV success is dependent on your consultant.
Ask about personal success rates. My consultant had a success rate of 80%. He was fantastic. My ECV was successful and I went on to deliver my originally transverse baby vaginally.
It was uncomfortable but more than bearable.
Honestly, an open mind is the best way to go into this appointment.
I was 36/37 weeks when they discovered my dd was transverse and I wasn't admitted, and there was no drama surrounding it all as mentioned above.
I was given the facts along with the potential risks. I had faith in the consultant to give it a go. I was in control the whole time. And they are constantly scanning baby with a small scan machine, and monitoring the heartbeat. Any signs of distress, they stop immediately and assess.
If your ECV is a success I should imagine they'll break your waters at this late stage, but I was allowed to go home as it was still early days for me.

Good luck with whatever outcome you choose!