ECV or C-Section for transverse baby

[MrsJLee123]

34 weeks pregnant with baby in transverse position. Having another scan at 36 weeks and if baby hasn’t moved - I have to decide on ECV or C-Secrion. From what I’ve read so far, the complications that could occur from ECV have terrified me, and I feel like if baby is in this position, she’s in it for a reason. Has anyone got any experience of this dilemma??

I refused the ECV which was met with a lot of eye rolling and detain from the doctor & midwife .. 2x midwives checked baby the day before my section at 39 weeks and still breech. Rocked up to my section, went for the confirmation scan they do & she’d flipped and was head down 😫 It really threw me as I’d built myself up to the section & after a pretty traumatic pregnancy with vomiting 30+ a day for months, I was also really excited to meet my baba & not be pregnant anymore! But despite my protests, they sent me home. Little one arrived a week later, super fast, straightforward birth & swift recovery.. so all ended well in the end!

My DS was transverse breech. My consultant advised against ECV as he said I was very likely to end up with an emergency CS (something to do with the umbilical cord, but I can't remember what). So I didn't do it. I was really glad I had the elective CS as it was a lovely, calm experience.

DD was born 17 months later (also elective CS) and was a footling breech, from the 20 week scan onwards, so neither of my babies wanted to be upside down :)

I had a transverse baby no3. Ecv was terribly gentle and non traumatic, but they did monitor continually and warn me of the risk that an emergency section might be needed. I think it is easier when you're on baby no 2 onwards as everything is a bit, um, looser! She went head down like a dream. But then by the evening she'd turned again. I was admitted from 37 weeks. The consultant was happy to watch and wait (in hospital) on the basis that baby would assume some sort of vertical position pre birth. I was so grateful for that time to wait, and did loads of spinning babies just to pass the time. She did eventually go head down at 39.5 (wow did I feel that) and then I got to go home. She was about a week late and was the fastest of all my births at less than 3 hours twinge to baby. They wanted me in on 1st contraction though to check she hadn't flipped again. She's still fabulously strong willed now at 6, quite possibly prime minister material (or dictator?!) Do whatever you feel safest doing and really really good luck!

I've just had an attempt at an ECV on Monday for my breech baby (I was 37+4). I'm a first time mum which impacts on success rates but my local hospital success rate is 65% for second+ time mums. If they get them turned, they have a 5% chance of flipping back.

I'm not going to lie, it wasn't pleasant, but they did a thorough scan beforehand and only attempted it when a surgical suite was available just in case of an emergency. I felt safe throughout with my hospital, and at least having tried it I now know I gave it a go.

Could you find out your hospital's success rates/safety procedures?

I now have to decide between c section and attempted breech birth. Breech birth is more risks for baby, c section is more risks for me. Trust me to have the awkward baby! 🙄

I had an elective section, it was already planned due to a previous section. He had his cord round his neck several times, I'm very grateful that they didn't try and turn him.

I’ve had two c- sections - both recommended by the head of Ob gyn at a major London hospital and interestingly the consultant said that he would choose an elective C section over vaginal birth if there are any suggestions of complications during vaginal birth. Both of my c sections were completely uneventful and I didn’t even need to use half the pain meds they sent home with me.

I had this and went for ELCS. I was admitted for a week beforehand. Baby was very stuck in my hip, would never have turned.

I had an ECV and the baby turned easily, it wasn’t painful, and I felt safe and felt the baby was safe and was monitored the whole time. I made the choice because I’d had a pretty traumatic first birth and had planned a home birth - and I got to have her at home.

I also had moxibustion and followed the spinning babies techniques for both babies - but the first baby didn’t turn (transverse) and the second only did with a ECV

That’s a coincidence (age gaps) - people generally raise eyebrows when they find out old my other two are and I’m starting again😂

DD1 was breech and the hospital were really pushy about me having an ECV. I refused and decided baby would turn if they wanted to...morning of the CS they scanned me and baby had turned the evening before! Roll on 12 years and DD3 was also breech but had turned by 38wks. You have to go with what you’re comfortable with and trust your body x

C section for the reasons many others have mentioned

And good luck!

There is still a lot of time to move. DD was head down as we were having weekly scans , we had a scan and she was head down, we were asked to come in for induction the next day but she turned thar night to transverse!

I did have the ECV, which was not too bad but then overnight she went transverse again but the other way.

So if had the choice again I'd go straight to the C section.

I had a transverse baby and wasn't even offered ECV. I wouldn't have opted for it even if I was; ELCS all the way!

@Auntycorruption

I had this and went for ELCS. I was admitted for a week beforehand. Baby was very stuck in my hip, would never have turned.

Yes. I spent a week in the hospital prior too. And was given strict instructions on what to do if my waters went!

I wouldn’t worry about it at only 34 weeks, both of mine turned from transverse and breech(bottom fully engaged and informed wouldn’t turn) after 37 weeks. My first was over 10lb at birth and he still had plenty room to turn.

Just to comment on the statistics, when DD was transverse and we were offered ECV, we were told that it's 50% successful for breech babies, but they didn't know the stats for transverse ones, but they thought they were lower.

I did have ECV, successfully initially, but DD turned back.

Not sure the techniques on spinningbabies will work (though they're worth a try) - it may not be possible to move a baby which is more comfortable/fits better when sideways.

I was told that transverse babies are much more common for your third or later pregnancy, as everything is a bit stretched internally. I was very unusual in having a transverse first baby, so it's possible that my internal anatomy is a bit weird, hence she preferred being sideways - I found it more comfortable too (compared with after she was turned).

Transverse here too for dd2. I opted for elective section at 38 weeks (but actually 37 as their dates consistently a week out). Best decision as was squished by a bicornurate uterus undetected before but the unknown cause of a very big bleed after ds1 was born which took a year to recover from. I’m a full hynobirthing, pro natural water birth type person and yet for that baby it was the right choice and I pushed to have it thankfully.

My 3rd was breech, she was breech all the way through my pregnancy. I had an appointment for the ECV which I attended but had a niggling doubt in my head that maybe she was breech for a reason, it seem to annoy the doctors but I refused. She was born by EMCS in the end as my waters went and I was contracting quickly, and despite struggling with recovery I’d make the same decision again. Good luck xx

I went for the C section after I read in here about a woman whose little girl died from the ECV. It caused a placental abruption and the baby could not survive.

When I had to discuss the ECV with my consultant I asked what the success rate was and he told me anything between 20% - 80%. My mind was already made up by this point anyway but all I could think was who would ever go for those odds?

ECVs are barbaric in my opinion and I wouldn’t risk one.

I had successful ecv for dd2, it wasn’t bad at all. I had her naturally in midwife unit, but she was back to back (apparently common after ecv) and had cord round her neck (which a chiropractor friend who works with pregnant women said may have been the reason she didn’t turn herself but who knows) all went well, but she was a second and smaller than our first (under 8lbs)

I have had friends with transverse babies (not firsts, maybe more room?) they have had hospital stays for monitoring but all went head down in time for labour. I’d be concerned baby would be less likely to stay in place after ecv if transverse?

Why take the risks of an ECV, when ELCS is so safe?

Unless you’re planning a large family, the risk profile of ECV PLUS VB PLUS potential EMCS has to be considerably higher than ELCS.

If you’re keen for a VB, why not try natural ways to turn the baby like the methods on Spinning Babies? Also hypnotherapy has a good track record. If I’d tried them and the still the baby hadn’t turned, I’d be concluding it wasn’t head down for a good reason, and ELCS has to be the better option.

Third baby was breech until 40 weeks. I ruled out ecv as it scared the bejeezuz out of me. I did spinning babies and moxibustion and he turned within 12 hours of the moxibustion (coincidence? Who knows?).
As it was third baby I was prepared for breech vaginal delivery should it come to it, but with a transverse baby, I’d be inclined to have elective c-section as a back up rather than try and turn them manually.
Good luck with everything Xx

I refused an ECV. C section was complicated and I probably would of died had I gone for the ECV and vaginal birth. Firmly believe DD was breech for a reason. They will scan you before the section though just incase you have a late turner.

I had an ECV, it wasn’t at all barbaric. It was slightly uncomfortable but certainly not as uncomfortable as recovering from major surgery. It was successful and I had a really easy birth. Not my first baby though so I know that can make a difference. If I had another breech pregnancy I’d definitely opt for an ECV again.