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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

ECV vs c-section - breech baby

43 replies

2021expecting · 22/01/2021 18:40

Looking for some guidance/experiences from anyone who have been through the decision process of ECV and/or c section.

FTM, 34 weeks atm so I know its early yet and baby may turn, however I was at the consultant today and they were very keen on me having ECV at 37 weeks if still breech. Then listed every negative and scary point for the c-section option, not one positive. So worried that I'll make the wrong decision and put him at risk or worse.

I've got 3 weeks to see if he'll turn and decide on initial ECV, so I'd be so grateful for any advice - even more confused about it now.

Thanks so much ❤

OP posts:

allfurcoatnoknickers · 22/01/2021 19:56

I went straight to the c-section. The ECV sounded like something out of a Saw film, and I watched a truly horrific video of one being done online.

I was also scared it would send me in to early labour and I'd end up with an EMCS plus the risks of placental abruption and issues with the cord which could leave you with a dead baby.

From what I recall c-sections are riskier to the mother, whereas ECVs are riskier to the baby. I'm prepared to be corrected on that though. There's actually an old thread on here somewhere on the risks of ECV that properly upset me so I'm leery of linking to it.

Miranda15110 · 22/01/2021 19:59

CSection all the way. Best thing I ever did x

saffire · 22/01/2021 20:06

ECV was the worst thing I've experienced. Incredibly painful and didn't bloody work anyway! The muscle relaxers they gave me, made me have the shakes for hours and I felt like I wasn't in control of my body.

The section was a breeze in comparison. If I knew then what I do know, I wouldn't go through the ECV again.

Rainb0wDrops · 22/01/2021 20:08

Mine was undetected breech so a bit different as i had to go straight to c-section but I have no regrets and am certain that had they found out earlier I would have declined ecv.

Romanticrights · 22/01/2021 20:17

I declined ECV, the risks terrified me. Good job I did as I have a bicornate uterus which wasn't diagnosed and my DD was wedged in one half, she would have become distressed if they'd have tried. Planned c-section was absolutely fine, home the following morning! good luck!!

ScarletZebra · 22/01/2021 20:34

I had ECV for a breech discovered at 38 weeks. Wouldn't recommend it. Mine was done by the consultant who had performed successful ECVs. It was incredibly painful, took ages, and then the baby plopped straight back into the same position (and she's been a little toad every since).

When the consultant had gone, the midwife asked if I was alright and said it looked very brutal.

C-Section was a breeze.

Buttercupcup · 22/01/2021 20:40

I would personally go to ELCS. ECV is very physical, it’s painful, isn’t guaranteed to work and can in some cases break your waters/induce labour so you end up in a more emergency section situation anyway. My second was an ELCS and was a lovely calm experience and I found it easier to recover from than a forceps/episiotomy delivery that I had with my first.

herewegoagain25 · 22/01/2021 20:44

Hi there. I had an ECV with my first, it didn't work but I am glad I tried. It was uncomfortable, and I was a bit sore the next day. But it was no great shakes and took a few mins.

Csection wouldn't have been my first choice, but it was a good experience and recovery went well. I also had an elective for my second a few months ago.

PlanDeRaccordement · 22/01/2021 20:47

I agree, avoid the ECV and book a c section. However, you can still ask for a quick scan before the c-section and if baby has turned head down swap to an induction or wait for spontaneous labour instead.

tigerbread20 · 22/01/2021 20:54

Both my ELCS have been a dream and I'm very happy with the decision I made, for me the risks of an ECV ruled it out.
Good luck with your decision but hopefully baby turns on its own!

chillychills · 22/01/2021 20:56

My baby was breech I declined ECV and had the section.

There was some info on the RCOG website about the risks of ECV and I just was not happy with them.

Utini · 22/01/2021 20:58

I chose a caesarean as I was concerned about the risks of an ECV. However in my case they also wanted DD out by 39 weeks as she was measuring small. I didn't want to go through an ECV to then probably need an induction, which for a first time birth carries a high risk of caesarean - going straight for an elective caesarean seemed like the best choice in my case.

AldiIsla · 22/01/2021 21:00

ECV is painful and risky. ECV and labour is cheaper than a elcs so they'll risk your baby to potentially make a saving.

Doublechocolatetiffin · 22/01/2021 21:03

A positive ECV experience for me. I had one at 41 weeks (diagnosed breech late) it took 4 mins and wasn't very uncomfortable. It was the best experience of that pregnancy/labour. I had my baby vaginally a week later. Personally I was glad to avoid surgery for the recovery times and it meant I didn't need to worry about the c-sec for my two subsequent pregnancies.

princesspeppax · 22/01/2021 21:18

I declined the ECV as didn't fancy it at all and wasn't 100% that it would work we opted for section instead, which went perfect! Then went on to have a vbac a few years after

TwoDrifters2 · 22/01/2021 21:21

I turned my DC1 by following the exercises on the spinningbabies.com website. (Ended up having to gave a C-section anyway, but that’s a whole other unrelated story )

Bromeliad · 22/01/2021 21:53

I had two ECVs, absolutely fine, more uncomfortable than painful. They didn't work though so I had to have a section which was very annoying given that this was in the first lockdown when I wasn't allowed a support bubble but also wasn't able to lift my 20 month old for weeks.

Bromeliad · 22/01/2021 21:55

Oh and I tried everything on spinning babies - no effect whatsoever! Even frozen peas which the wonderful woman on the positive birth company videos insisted worked magically for her

C0NNIE · 22/01/2021 21:56

I had a ECV and it was very uncomfortable but not painful. And I’m not brave at all. However it was a female consultant so maybe she was more skill and less brute force.

plixy · 22/01/2021 22:04

I had read up about ecv in advance and decided I didn't want it. When I went to the hospital to book in a section they were so pushy I accepted an appointment for an ecv instead. I couldn't stop worrying that it was the wrong decision so I ended up calling them in tears on the day it was due. Told them I couldn't do it and I wanted the section instead. They were fine and it was booked in.
I have to say the section was awful, I hated it, but I still don't think I could go through an ecv

Helen080 · 22/01/2021 23:26

Are these the only options you're being given? I had undiagnosed breach but then went on to have a perfectly wonderful (although breach) VBAC.

Original poster

2021expecting · 23/01/2021 09:07

Thanks so much everyone for your replies, great to get an idea of each experience. DH is very keen on me getting ECV to have a vaginal birth but the idea of risking placental abruption/worse to get it doesn't weigh up with me. Consultant was telling me to think of future pregnancies/births and how it would affect them, but this one is the most important to me right now.

@Romanticrights thank goodness you did go straight to c section, can they tell via scan what shape of uterus you have?

@Helen080 that's brilliant you got to have a VBAC although breech, they said it was one of the options but not for first time mums incase baby got stuck on way out. Hoping if I do need c section that VBAC would be a good option for any other pregnancies, were you given good odds that it would be successful after previous c-section?

@AldiIsla exactly my first thoughts, there wasn't a positive thing said about c section, definitely think costs come into it too.

For those who had c-sections, has it made any of your subsequent pregnancies/births higher risk?

OP posts:

PlanDeRaccordement · 23/01/2021 09:42

Just wanted to add two of my DCs turned head down late. So I had two that were “breech” at 34weeks, but they turned head down before the c-section date and I went on to have vaginal births. Another one was sideways until last minute but they didn’t seem as concerned about that for some reason.

(I am a small, petite, person btw and they were all 8lbs and up babies so I wasn’t a larger mum with smaller babies).

herewegoagain25 · 23/01/2021 09:54

@2021expecting my second pregnancy was incredibly straight forward, and i chose to have an elective second time around, rather than Vbac. It went really well, and recovery was quick.

Original poster

2021expecting · 23/01/2021 10:08

@PlanDeRaccordement that sounds like the best outcome, hoping he'll turn within next few weeks like your 2 DC did - did you do any exercises to encourage them to turn? 😀

@herewegoagain25 that's great to hear, the consultant was telling me all sorts of horror stories for subsequent pregnancies, such as higher risk for still born etc so glad it went well for you 😀

I honestly wouldn't mind a c section if it were safer and it came down to it, but was deterred by yesterday's appointment, was borderline scaremongering

OP posts:

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