Transverse baby - ELCS questions

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So at my 36 week appointment it was still transverse.

I have another MW appointment at 37+3 to check position again and then will be referred for a scan if needed to confirm transverse lie (assuming that the MW doesn't feel it has turned).

I'm very keen for a HWB so am trying every alternative therapy possible but in order to prepare myself for the potential outcome if none of that works when do they usually book you in for an ELCS (I am not going to go down the ECV route for various reasons)? I've heard everything ranging from 36-39 weeks.

I'm afraid I don't know what day they book you in for an ELCS. Guess it's something that varies from woman to woman rather than a standard procedure...

But it's something I'm also trying to prepare myself for, as my baby was transverse between 28-32 weeks before flipping to breech, confirmed by a scan at 33 weeks. I've got a scan at 36 weeks to confirm presentation.

I'm now 34 weeks and am so hoping for a vbac rather than an ELCS. I've also been trying lots of alternative things - we're doing moxabustion ourselves at home, I'm doing the spinning babies inversions (which are supposed to be v good for transverse) and tilts, I'm listening to a self-hypnosis breech turn download on a daily basis, as well as the usual time on all fours etc. Haven't tried rebozo (sp?) yet but may try it too. I do feel like baby has moved in the last couple of days but no idea if it's to transverse or to head down. So am trying to think that baby is still breech, and prepare myself for a c section.

Out of curiousity, why are you not prepared to do an ECV? I'll definitely try it, as it worked for my SIL and some friends so haven't even thought about refusing it...I'm prepared to take the risk of an immediate section.

Have you looked at the spinningbabies website? I was pointed in that direction after a breech was found at 34 weeks, which then turned transverse. I have been hanging off the end of the sofa in an 'inverse' position for 2 minutes at a time all week, and baby was confirmed as being head down again today :) It's got to be worth a shot. I have been worrying myself sick over the possibility of a c section all week, but I the midwife today said I can now have a check every week as baby is small (not worryingly so) and seems to have a lot of room to manouver, coupled with not a lot of water, so could easily turn again. I was completely reassured that the chances of me getting my waterbrth in the MLU were still very good.

Thanks for the responses.

Mine has been transverse since my 20 week scan and despite trying inversions etc I have had no luck in turning it. I'm seeing a chiropractor and have booked in for moxibustion tomorrow so at least I will be doing everything possible to get it to turn on its own.

Because it's been in the same position for so long and so far all attempts to get it to turn have been entirely unsuccessful I am inclined to believe that if it doesn't turn of its own accord then an ECV is unlikely to have the desired result and could result in an EMCS (something I want to avoid at all costs) as well as being a very unpleasant experience for us both.

I'm ok with the idea of having an ELCS as have had time to think about it and get my head around it. It was more that I wanted to know when they might plan it so I can prepare!!

QT thanks for the very positive ELCS story. That is exactly the kind of thing I need to hear!!

I had an ECV at 36 weeks as DS2 was breech. I had the bag packed in case I had to be admitted but the procedure only took a couple of minutes and then an hour of obs before I went home. It wasn't painful just a bit uncomfortable and it was so quick.

I went on to have a water birth at a MLU at 40 weeks. It something worth considering?

I appreciate that it is the right thing for some people but it's not for me. I'll
Do everything else possible but on the ECV front it's a definite no!!

I think it's good to go with gut instinct sometimes. I don't know why but am 100% sure I would not have an ECV either.

It's not that I oppose them or think others shouldn't have them, it's just something tells me not to do it in my case.

Best of luck with the moxibustion!

Ds was transverse and had been since 20 week scan, still transverse at 36 week scan told to come back for scan 37 weeks at which point they would take one of two options.
Admit me at 37 weeks with intention to section at 39 weeks, I was aghast at this due to 2 year old at home.
Section me at 37 weeks.
Returned at 37 weeks baby head down and ready to go (i did nothing other than scrub the floors) Ds born at 38 weeks after 3 hour labour.
Good luck.

My stubbornly transverse and the oscillating baby turned without an ECV - again tight abs made it improbable. I recommend handstands in the swimming pool if you haven't tried yet.

Be aware that it will hurt when it happens and don't tense up if you want baby to turn.

My ds was transverse oblique, but we don't know when he got into that position, as every healthcare professional muddled up his head and his bottom on the day of the delivery, so I suspect that the midwife probably was wrong when she said his head was engaged a week or so before. It was quite funny because my midwife had a student who she had carefully shown how to feel the head and bottom, and she was totally wrong (along with the next two midwives and the registrars). I was told that ds got stuck because I had a bi-cornate uterous, however when I had dd 16mths later apparently it was quite normal. Very odd.

Anyway good luck! My emergency but not really (I wasn't in labour) CS was almost a pleasurable experience, very relaxed. Not quite the home birth I'd planned, but way way better than the real emergency section I had with dd.

I've had a lovely elcs on Monday and what a world of difference from an emcs!

Anyway, this was at 39+1 (their records) and if the reason had been breech/transverse they were more than happy to scan that morning to give one last chance. Tbh, I think they'd have been happy to let labour start "just in case".

Congrats Alpine! Hope you're both settling well.

DC2 is breech at 30 wks, which they're not too worried about but I don't have a huge amount of fluid (very very low with DD too) so they said to prepare for the possibility that they may not turn. I woudn't have an ECV, I would just go for ELCS too.

Thanks for all the positive ELCS stories everybody. It's really helpful to hear them. Only a few more days until my MW appointment and then scan so the waiting is almost over. I'll be glad to have some kind of plan in place so I can prepare!!

Oh, and congratulations Alpine!!

Well it's still transverse and so I'm being admitted tomorrow (38 weeks) so they can keep an eye on me and make sure I'm on site incase anything starts. Think I'll be scheduled for an ELCS at around 39 weeks.

Turns out this baby didn't fancy a serene home water birth and would rather be entering the world surrounded by people and spotlights...... Drama queen!!!

So pleased to have heard all the positive ELCS stories now. I feel more reassured about it all. Although I'm still getting butterflies!!