ECV- Have you had this procedure? Worth it? Painful?

[Mrsjaffabiffa]

Hello

I'm just trying to find out about an ECV procedure. I will be offered this in 3 weeks if lo doesn't turn. I know it probably will, but I would love to hear your experiences with an ECV.

Did it work for you?
At how many weeks were you?
Be Honest, I've heard it hurts like hell, is this true? I'm such a wuss.
My MW says it's a less than 20percent chance of it working.

I would like to make an informed choice about having the procedure if it comes to it.

My experience was like RedFraggle's. Very experienced consultant, very high success rate but agonising. I was completely unprepared for it and would have handled it better if I'd known how painful it was going to be. I know some people find it uncomfortable rather than painful but I would agree that it was worse than labour. It often seems on here that it is the unsuccessful ones that are painful.

Marslady, I know you believe that it shouldn't be painful but IME it was terrible!
I was determined that I wouldn't stop the process no matter how painful as I really wanted to avoid a c-section. It was done in the next room to the theatre so they could whip me straight in for a section if need be. As for not lasting longer than 2 minutes that was definitely not the case in the hospital I attended. They basically said they had a certain amount of time before the drugs relaxing my uterus wore off and the understanding was that they would try to turn the baby up until then (or until I said stop).
I had counselling after the birth of my dd (due to other issues relating to the birth) and when I said that ECV felt more painful than full on labour the counsellor said that most of the women that she saw who had had the procedure also said this. This means that there is a vast difference in peoples experience of ECV. By the way I have a pretty strong pain threshold, but at least in labour the pain comes in waves, with my ECV it was a constant, wrenching pain that there was no relief from.
MrsJaffaBiffa, I am not telling you any of this to alarm you but I was told before I had my ECV that it was "mildly uncomfortable" and was thus totally unprepared for the fact that this clearly not always the case!

RedFraggle.. then whoever did it shouldn't do it! It's not supposed to be painful at all.

We need to go back to vaginal breech births. They are so easy and much quicker than head down vaginal births.

I think people should ask for midwives that have attended Breech births before (the community and home midwives tend to) and then birth their babies vaginally.

Yes, absolutely worth it.
Had ECV at 39 weeks and it worked on the second attempt. Had drip to soften uterine muscles, and it was certainly uncomfortable, although not painful.
Felt like I had been hit by a truck after, as tummy muscles sore and felt as if I'd just done a compplicated gymnastics routine!
DS2 born very very quickly at home two weeks later, seven minutes after midwife walked in the door.
Would do it again like a shot.

had mine at 37wks with DD (first pregnancy) - consultant very experienced in them & had a 80% success rate. (worth asking about this)

he turned her within a minute & said "that was far too easy, I've never had one turn back before, but I think you might be my first" and he was right, she turned back breech 2 days later

the ECV was mildly uncomfortable, but it didn't (and shouldn't) hurt (the worst bit was being without food & water, just in case they needed to do a cs)

so was booked for an elective c/s, went for my pre-op appt at 38+6 & said to m/w I think this baby has turned head down as of yesterday as the kicks have moved. She was very dismissive, saying there was no way baby would turn again so late...until she palpated me...and then sent me for a scan to check...and I was right

so in terms of the procedure I'd wouldn't be worried about having it again, but not sure I would as maybe my babies just want to make their own mind up when to turn head down

Lulu - I know you have a link with Ormskirk hospital - I've been in this morning and the consultant has told me that unless lo turns then I will have to have the ECV.

Is the situation different with first pregnancies then? Is the baby less likely to turn? I'm 34+5, but she's been in this position since about 26 weeks.

P.S. Hi Mrs JB - thought I'd join you!

Hi Pinkjenny.....

is your baby breech then !

babies have been known to turn as late as 40 weeks, and actually during labour !

there are other things to try to help baby turn, which are on a different thread ,i can link to it if you cannot find it....

ECV can be up to 90 % successful, depending on who is doing it , best to try and check with the consultant next time , but i can ask tomorrow , if is see anyone who will know at the baby day !

links on here re turning a breech baby...

My experience was identical to RedFraggle's. DD's bum was wedged firmly in my pelvis so they had to pull her up first. I had a very experienced consultant and she said she would only try for a certain amount of time. She did say at the start that there was only a 50% chance it would work and that she didn't think it would. I got gas and air while she was doing it but it was extremely painful. It didn't work, and I was left with a line of yellow bruises across the top of my bump!

Evenhope, although I'm sorry it didn't work for you I am glad that I am not the only one posting here who found it horrid and painful! I was getting rather fed up of all the "it shouldn't hurt comments" I know I have a high pain threshold so it's not like I'm an utter wimp...

Thanks lulu - will be at baby day tomorrow and will ask some questions.

In the meantime will hope she turns on her own. Thanks for the link. x

worked for me perfectly (unlike moxibustion which is an expensive waste of time, IMHO!) - not painful eihter other than an excruitating second or 2 but that was it, well worth it! Hope it goes well.

40 weeks +6 & discovered this morning that baby is breech. My DS was born normally so am pretty shocked as to why this one has decided to do it's own thing. Have been booked into have an ECV tomorrow am. If it doesn't work then it's a CS. Has anybody heard of an ECV this late? The consultant was pretty upbeat & said she would only try one attempt. Fairly nervous, really wanted normal birth

Hooper, I was in the exact same position as you, I had an undiagnosed breech for DD1 and they did an ECV at 41 weeks.
It hurt a bit and failed but the consultant told me it probably wouldn't work as she was my first so there was no 'give' in my uterus and she was in a really awkward position.
I am glad I tried though as I then new I had no choice but a CS (the way DD1 was positioned she couldn't come out naturally, got herself well and truly jammed)

The 'bonus' of doing it this late is that if it starts labour/breaks your waters then you are down to have a CS shortly anyway, so no risk of prem birth etc.

Good luck.

I had an ECV yesterday, didn't work, and pretty uncomfortable/painful at times, mainly due to the consultants long nails!

I am trying moxibustion this week, lots of swimming etc, but am also booked in for one more go at the ECV next monday, if not its pre c section appointment same day and c section a week later!

I was feeling wiped out after, and fairly bruised, but it really wasn't as bad as I thought. I used my natal hynotherapy techniques to help me to relax before, and also the breathing during, which I think helped. The baby was monitored lots, and was fine - heart rate went up a bit when mine did, but as soon as I calmed doen after it was fine.

I am more worried now about the C section, really, realy don't want one, having planned for hb and now knowing not going to get it either way as also have group b strep!