Experiences of ECV? Should I?

[HugosGoatee]

So I'm 34+2 and baby is determinedly breech. He has been properly wedged like this for as long as I've been aware of him, with his head under my right rib.

I really doubt he'll turn on his own. I saw the consultant this week who explained the ECV procedure. If I go for it, it'll be booked in following a scan at 36 weeks.

Does it hurt?
Is it really scary?
Do they give you drugs to relax the uterus? (have read on net this might happen)
Did it work for you? (Have read 50% success rate)
If it worked, how was the subsequent birth?

If I refuse the ECV, I can go for elective C-section... should I just do this instead? So confused I can't psyche myself up for labour as I doubt I'm going to experience it! I have had anxiety issues in the past and am a little worried that they might resurface in labour, so is a C-section a blessing in disguise?

Not sure if this is any help but my last baby was breech at 34 weeks and was told caesarean at 38 weeks if she didn't turn. They said this was highly unlikely cos she was a big baby . Anyway we went home and tried the little toe twiddling refloxology point thing that a friend told me about - google it! - well my husband had to do it cos obviously reaching my little toe myself was a physical impossibility. I was sceptical and didn't notice any movement which I thought might be her turning but Voila at my scan at 36 weeks she HAD turned! Can't remember which little toe it was and it sounds quite far fetched but maybe worth a try!

I have spent the last 3 weeks stressing so much about this (i had decided i'd go for the ecv as was a bit of a wuss about a section) went for the scan, very big baby too and it had turned head down. I'm really pleased. Acupuncture offers really good success rates so is worth considering.

I had ECV with DD1, it didn't work but I was glad I tried as I felt I'd done my best to avoid a CS which I really didn't want (although which was fine). I also did all the spinning babies suggestions, even tried the moxibustion, but DD1 refused to budge. To answer your questions

• it did hurt, a registrar tried under the supervision of a consultant and it was really quite painful. Then the consultant tried, was much more gentle and said baby wasn't going to turn so they stopped.
• Not scary. The only scary thing was...
• I had the injection to relax my uterus and they didn't mention it would make my heart race. Half an hour of waiting alone with DH feeling shaky and weird, i was just about about to send him to find someone and ask if this was normal (it was) when the Drs came in to start and casually asked "heart racing then?".
• As I said, it didn't work but I was glad I tried it despite some pain. I felt bruised for a couple of days after but not too bad. I would have tried it again with DD2 if necessary if she'd been breech (well if I hadn't had a CS I would have, I think it's contraindicated if you've previously had a CS).

I had a ECV with DS2 at 36 weeks, no drugs to relax the muscles. It took about 10-15 seconds. I was just about to say that it was getting uncomfortable when the consultant said 'Done!'. My ECV was done by Dr Impey at the JR in Oxford and I was told beforehand that 'if anyone can do it, he can'.

Stayed for monitoring afterwards for an hour but there were no after effects. I had DS2 in the birthing pool in our local midwife-led community hospital 4 weeks later and it was lovely. All that I hoped for!

I had successful ECV with my second DC (I was told it was more likely to work if not your first as your stomach muscles are already stretched). Despite reading lots of negative stories, I decided to go ahead as really wanted to avoid C-Section (previous history meant I would not have been able to attempt a natural breech birth).

I can only speak about my experience but it didnt hurt at all. I was given a muscle relaxant via injection into my bum and this was the worst bit! My partner says you could clearly see the outline of the baby as she was turned and then she got a big pat on her bottom to wedge her into my pelvis head down. I didn't experience any issues wiht the injection and didn't feel bruised or sore at all. I did suddenly feel very pregnant as head was now pressing on the bladder etc.

Birth was good too, midwives did check she was still head down when I arrived at the delivery suite and she was born 1.5 hours later - so no complaints from me and glad I didn't let others put me off trying. I think I would always have wondered what if i hadn't given it a go.

(and it wasn't scary at all)

Ooh yes! I'd forgotten that feeling of being suddenly differently pregnant littone

Thanks all, this is super useful. I was originally hoping for midwife-led unit birth, so perhaps that is what will happen after all.

I feel that I either want a C-section where it's all done for me iyswim and I don't have to do anything, or the other extreme of a totally natural birth. It's the unpredictability of the natural option that scares me - and reading so many stories on here of ladies traumatised by natural birth.

I just don't want to labour surrounded by people in white coats judging me for screaming and crying in a panic, rolling their eyes at me. I have been feeling that if I refuse the ECV then I can have the C-section without being judged. But I know logically that I should try for vaginal birth.

No-one mentioned a jab in the bum though!

I had a failed ecv but like Zimbah, was glad I tried.
At my hosp it's standard to offer it, for breech, but few ladies take it up. (they rarely allow a breech vaginal birth here!)
Afterwards, i had to go back for a cs early the next day, as ecv increases the likelihood of labour. So ask the policy, and be prepared for that.

oh - and the ecv experience? painful, intense, but overall a positive exp. Quite funny as they kept calling more people in to add more muscle to try to turn him. Had quite a party in there!