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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Refusing ECV?

17 replies

BushyKate · 07/08/2012 11:07

I am 36 weeks and have a scan tomorrow to confirm if baby is definitely breech. The MW said that if she is (as we both suspect) they will offer ECV (trying to turn baby) as the first option.

I've had a difficult pregnancy, with severe SPD,back problems, and then lately measuring small and episodes of reduced movement. Partly because of all this (especially the SPD) I am not very keen on the idea at all.

Did anyone else refuse the ECV? Or have it? I know it can be fine for some people but do they press on your pelvis/other muscles very hard? My biggest concerns are the baby's health and that it may worsen my SPD.

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shelley72 · 07/08/2012 11:19

Hi, me again! Can't conment on spd as I didn't have that, but I did have an ecv to try and turn dd. It didn't work for me. She was footling so had one leg extended and foot wedged in my pelvis. for me, the pain was excruciating - much worse than labour. Have since found out that I should have been offered pain relief. The ecv has worked for others. Best to ask lots of questions, including the success rate at your hospital - some consultants more skilled than others!

I also had to pack bag to take to appt as they monitor the baby during and for a while after, if in distress they may induce labour / or emergency section, at least at our hospital.

Hopefully the scan will be good news tomorrow and you won't need to worry about any of this. Went through it with dd so know how anxious it can be.

Homebird8 · 07/08/2012 11:24

I had one at 37 weeks which was successful in that it turned DS1. It was a bit uncomfortable but certainly didn't hurt and the movement was more as if they were trying to screw off my bump like turning the lid on a large jar. It wasn't ultimately successful for my unstable lie though because he was the 1 in 25 that turn back afterwards.

They were going to try again once I was in labour but by the time that happened at 41 weeks he had turned himself head down

They do put in a cannula and have an operating theatre ready just in case something goes wrong though and I think they asked me to fast before it too in case of an emergency C section.

Good luck with your decision. Have you strong views about how you would prefer the birth to be? Are you planning labour or a C section for a breech lie? Might you give baby another week or so to change position? DS1 was still changing position after his due date but I was assured that is very unusual.

Hoping there's someone coming along soon with some actual knowledge and not just experience.

QTPie · 07/08/2012 13:57

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Boggler · 07/08/2012 15:44

My baby is transverse at 37 weeks ans has stubbornly been that way all along, my consultant wanted to try ecv, I read up on the procedure and didn't like he sound of it. I especially don't like he idea of the drugs they give you to relax the uterus muscles nor did I like the risks associated with the placenta rupturing. I. Told him why I wasn't keen and he was fine with it, he actually said that it only truly works for 50% of cases. The upshot is that I'm booked in for an elcs in 2 weeks which Im quite happy about.

Original poster

BushyKate · 08/08/2012 13:01

Thanks so much for the replies. Had scan today and baby is breech - extended breech with legs over her head! Fluid was a bit on the low side (8) so I am booked in for a repeat scan next week. If fluid is OK then they would like to try the ECV. Baby isn't small at all - just above average in fact!

The consultant said that if it hurt too much they would stop - has anyone else been told this?
But she also said there wouldn't be any pain relief available - i.e. no gas and air. Still not feeling very keen but part of me is now thinking I should give it a go. I am especially worried about going into labour and then having an unintended vaginal breech birth - I know many people do deliver breech babies vaginally but it's not something I feel comfortable with at all at the moment.

Any more thoughts/advice/info much appreciated :)

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plantsitter · 08/08/2012 16:21

I was booked in for an ECV in both my pregnancies. With DD1 I had some acupuncture the day before and she turned herself; with DD2 she turned herself just after they had given me the drugs to relax the womb. So I reckon I must have a particularly grippy womb or something. Anyway I don't know what the ECV is like obviously but the drugs to relax the womb feel slightly odd - but fine.

It might be worth trying some moxybustion (acupuncture). Worked for me (or something did!)

Good luck

shelley72 · 08/08/2012 17:10

well thats good news that baby is fine in there! when i had the ECV i was also told that of course they would stop if i wanted them to (which i did) and i wasnt offered any gas and air, or drugs to relax the uterus first. DD was footling, so if i was to go into spontaneous labour, there was a pretty good chance one foot would come out first followed by cord. it would be 'bum in the air time' and time to call 999 they said. consultant said that outcome may not have been desirable if this happened (she could have been starved of oxygen).

i also tried moxi to get her to turn - but nothing doing. i was so against the idea of a section that i tried everything i could to get her to turn. she just wouldnt and so went for the ELCS in the end. and actually it was fine. and she made it here without complications. i had MC between DS and DD and would never have forgiven myself had something happened to her through my stubborness and determination to have a VB.

so really of course you have to weigh it all up in your mind and do whats best for you and your family. i found it hard to come round to the idea of a section but as an elective it really wasnt that bad.

what did they say at hte hospital, apart from they will rescan (as they do on day of ECV and also CS just in case). Feel free to PM if you want to chat some more..

QTPie · 08/08/2012 21:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Jules125 · 08/08/2012 22:12

I had ELCS due to transverse lie. I was offered ECV but my consultant didn't really recommend it (I think she thought the baby would turn back agan even if initially successful) and I didn't really care how the baby came out so I opted against it. ELCS was fine and I am happy with that choice. You should do what you are most comfortable with.

ComeonComeon · 08/08/2012 22:21

I was same as QT (who gave me great advice on here about elcs last year ) and baby was breech, I was fine with having a section!

I refused the ecv and would do so again. IMO it can cause distress to the baby, and if you go into labour as a result it's not ideal, you want the baby fully cooked.

Elective sections are lovely, v civilised!

ComeonComeon · 08/08/2012 22:22

I should have said - turned out I had a septum across my uterus that hadn't been picked up at scans, so baby was firmly wedged breech and the ecv wouldn't have worked anyway.

Original poster

BushyKate · 19/08/2012 10:33

Hi, thanks for the other really helpful replies.

Just to update - had a repeat scan, fluid had dropped quite a lot, there are concerns that I may be leaking fluid. Also have had episodes of reduced movement... and baby is still very much breech. So the upshot is that I am having an ELCS tomorrow morning. Will be 38+2 and they have given me steroids to help babies' lungs. I am scared of course (as well as excited) and part of me is wondering if I could have pushed to wait a bit longer - but as she is v v unlikely to turn, risk of infection, I don't want a breech vaginal delivery etc it seems the right choice.

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Ushy · 19/08/2012 13:24

ECV can result in the baby turning but does not necessarily improve the outcome - and it is usually painful. Stick with the refusal.

This is what the conclusion of the study says (and it was a big one)

"The intrapartum cesarean delivery rate after successful version is 2 times that in pregnancies where there is spontaneous cephalic presentation. Pregnancies after successful version should not be considered the same as a normal pregnancy."

But I guess you'll have your baby shortly so good luck.

Original poster

BushyKate · 19/08/2012 14:19

Thanks Ushy- sorry should have said I wasn't offered ECV in the end, as fluid too low. I wasn't keen anyway but was kind of relieved not to have to make the decision in the end.

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MirandaWest · 19/08/2012 14:28

My sisters baby was breech and she also had issues about reduced fluid so wasnt able to have an ECV. She had to have monitoring for a couple of weeks I think and then had ELCS at 38 weeks. Don't think she had any steroid injections and her DD was completely fine :) And tomorrow youll get to meet your baby :)

MrsJamin · 19/08/2012 15:04

Sounds like they have made the best decision - I had an ECV at 39+5 but there wasn't enough room to turn and it was excruciating. This week there was a poster who had had an ECV and a few weeks later lost her baby. She believed it was connected though I'm not sure it could be proved. There's nothing wrong with an elective CS, have fun seeing your baby tomorrow :)

milli2512 · 20/08/2012 14:59

Like MrsJamin I read the thread on here the other day about a lady who lost her baby, and she feels that this was down to ECV. It's probably a few pages along. I have to say it made me think that if I was in that situation I would refuse one and ask that they book me in for C-section.

Just seen an update from you - Wishing you all the best.

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