ECV or Csection?

[Ejc0309]

First off sorry to anyone that read my previous thread if I'm repeating myself!

I'm 37+5 with a breech baby. Last week I was given the option of attemping an ECV or a elective section. When I was talking to the consultant I felt rushed to make a decision and opted for the ECV but since then I came to the decision that an elective section would be better for a few reasons.

Its not that I don't want an ECV I would rather just not roll the dice and risk needing an emergency section if the ecv or labour went wrong. I like the fact an elective would be planned and calm and I'd know exactly what's happening. I have a lot of plates to juggle when it comes to making sure I have someone around to look after my toddler as well as support me during and after the birth thanks to my partners job and its stressing me out no end.

I rang the hospital today to tell them I'd changed my mind (at this point I didn't even have the ecv booked, they'd still not got back to me with a date)
The midwife I spoke to spent the majority of the conversation telling me why I shouldn't elect a section and to try the ecv. I'm really bad at standing up for myself so I ended up getting really upset and agreed to let her book me in for the ECV on Monday (il be 38+4 cutting it a bit fine in my opinion!) Now I'm confused.

Am I really so wrong for wanting to elect a section? I know it's major surgery but why give me the option if they were just going to talk me out of it?

No you’re not wrong to want a section...there’s no guarantee that the ECV will work and if a section is what you want then they should support you

I’d ring again and cancel the ECV or ask to see the consultant!?

No way would I take the risk of an ECV when a c section is so safe these days (unless you want lots more kids in the future).

Your baby, your body, your choice. Stick to your guns.

If at the worst, turn up for the ECV & recuse it on the day. Or ask them to stop while attempting it. But I wouldn’t let them get that far.

I’ve refused the ECV this week, the midwife raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything but both consultants didn’t bat an eyelid. They just said OK, it’s your choice & went over all the section paperwork with me!

Please ring back again, don’t let them do anything you don’t want to your body. You have the right to choose a section if baby is breech!

Thank you for your replies!
I went to see my midwife yesterday and explained I wasn't happy. She said she wasn't going to try and talk me out of it then gave me a long list of reasons why I shouldn't have a section if I can avoid it
She said if I book a section, turn up and he has flipped himself then they will refuse to do it. Is this true? I thought women were able to elect a section even if there's not medical reason for it these days?

She advised letting them attempt the ecv once then refusing anymore, then atleast whilst I'm in the hospital I can arrange my section there and then which seems like a fair compromise. I just don't know why I'm having to compromise when it's my body!

She said 'nobody will make you do anything you don't want to do' which is funny because that's exactly what's happening.

it sounds like you’ve got a midwife trying to hit a target if I’m honest.

It’s your body and your decision. If you want a c section and the option is there, then refuse the ECV

I didn't want an ecv when it was offered and would have had an elc but my baby turned. I looked into other ways of encouraging the baby to turn too. Have you been on the ' spinning babies' website? There's daily positions you can do (think the one I did everyday was called forward leaning inversion). I also went to a chiropractor who did the 'Webster technique'. All sounds a bit woo but my baby turned. She may have anyway but worth a try!

Also absolutely do not have an ecv if you don't want one. They aren't guaranteed to work. The two people I know who one work days there babies turned back to breech within 24hrs!

I had an ECV (2nd baby) as I desperately wanted a home birth rather than a hospital breech vaginal or ELCS.
It wasn't comfortable but it worked. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I had the toe massage thing the day before so whether that helped or not I don't know. You could always try the ECV and stop it if you don't feel right.

If you don't want an ECV don't have one. Vaginal births are barbaric anyway

It's not that I don't want an ecv, the planned section just feels like the most controlled and least stressful option meaning I can plan everything and make sure I have someone around to support both me and my oldest child.
I know the risks to an ecv or vaginal delivery are slim but they're there and it's really bothering me but they don't seem to want to listen to me.

I'm so bad at standing up for myself, if a medical professional told me to jump off a bridge I probably would because you trust they're doing what's best for you. I feel like I'm being backed into a corner but it's my own fault for wanting the wrong thing

I had a planned section, it was the safest option for me.

It was very structured, I felt safe and knew my baby would arrive safely.

Recovery was hard, but it would of been much worse for me and the baby if we tried natural.

I did feel sort of strange for not experiencing labour, I don't know if that was to do with the hormonal changes and my mood being up and down but either way I'm glad I had a section.

Sounds like you've been bullied a bit by the midwife. I hate that.

I think you are right that the section will be the most controlled and least stressful for you. It's what I did. (The baby never turned.)

Please go back and say that you want the planned section because it is the right decision for you. "I have decided that I want the planned section. This is my informed decision, and it's my choice."

If you get any more nonsense from them, please say exactly what you just wrote above - "I feel like I am being pressured into making a choice that I am not comfortable with. This is my decision."

Idk if you've had a look at the Birthrights website? Might be useful?

Basically NICE guidelines state that it is your choice so they absolutely shouldn't "refuse" but that's not a guarantee that they won't iyswim.

Are you able to speak to a consultant? Midwife does seem like a bully tbh.

www.birthrights.org.uk/campaigns-research/maternal-request-caesarean/

@BadCatDirtyCat thanks for that link! Noticed my hospital is 'green' on the map, I'm assuming that means they're good at respecting women's wishes for section. Or at least they are on paper.

I dread to think what the 'res' hospitals are like 😞

You are definitely entitled to a cs! This is your body and it's pretty upsetting how badly you are made to feel about it. Also ecv are very risky too.

My hospital is red. Oh dear.

Hi just ring your maternity ward not your midwife, say you would like to cancel your ecv and book an appointment with the consultant instead

I also felt bombarded at the time when finding out mine is breech agreed to the ecv with no idea what it was, got home searched it, decided no

Rang maternity next day to discuss how I felt but it was as simple as this..

'I regret agreeing to the ecv and it's booked for Monday but i really dont want it'
'Ok lovely no problem, I assume you would like a c section instead then?'
'Oh yes please'
'Ill have a look at your notes for times and get you a date, Is it ok to call you back in about half an hour?'

And i got my date later that day

I was expecting a bit of pressure but got nada...

I also hope they don't send me home on the day of my section it shes turned!? Although I don't believe she has but that's another anxiety to add too the list

I think ECV is barbaric and there’s no way I’d go for that. Stand your ground.

@Danni91 wow I wish it was that straight forward with our hospital! I rang both the hospital and spoke to my midwife to discuss not wanting to do the ecv and got pressure from both to go ahead with it 😔

The consultant I spoke to yesterday at my appointment confirmed if baby had turned by himself by the time they came to do the section they would just send me home!
It seems all hospitals are different though so I hope that isn't the case for you.. Mine seem to be very anti-section annoyingly.

Hello again everyone,
I attended the appointment yesterday with every intention of just saying NO but as I suspected, I wasn't being listened to and was so fed up of being stressed and upset I agreed to let them attempt the ECV just to make it stop.

It was horrible but it worked, im glad he's turned and nothing went wrong and I can go back to planning my chilled water birth that I originally wanted.

Fingers crossed labour is smooth and my original fears of needing an emergency section and having no support during recovery dont come true because I'm not sure id forgive myself for being such a pushover.

I would never, ever have an ECV. They are horrendous procedures and the U.K. is the only western country that still routinely offers them.

Don’t be bullied into having one if you’re not 100% comfortable.

Bloody hell, epic crosspost there op!

I’m glad it went ok for you, and I hope you’re ok? You haven’t been a pushover at all, it’s bloody hard to say no, especially to drs etc who are telling you what to do.!

I’ve had a successful ECV (In that the baby turned) and I would never have one again.

Sorry for my cross post.

I was offered an ECV, and declined. There are risks associated with the ECV procedure (whilst probably unlikely) could result in an emergency section. Not to mention that the success rates aren't that high, when it comes to babies turning and staying put. I opted for an elective section, and was advised that if on the day, baby had turned, I could go with my original natural birth plan and would not need to go ahead with the section. It was to be my choice though!!

I was also given the option of a natural breech delivery, but they were not overly supportive of this as it was my first pregnancy.

Baby remained breech so it was a section for me, and everything went well for both of us, so no regrets at all!

After doing the ecv, I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
It was a good outcome for us but it was extremely painful and baby was upset afterwards (dipping heart rate, reduced movements) I stayed on the monitors for quite some time until they were happy he was happy but it was fairly distressing for me especially as id gone to the appointment on my own. My consultants personal success rate is 30-40% which doesn't seem that great for something so risky!
Just happy everything went smoothly and hoping the rest of my pregnancy is the same 🤞