Breech baby

[coffeewithmilk]

Hi,
Has anyone had a ECV for breech baby?

If so, did it work? What week was it done? Was it painful?

I desperately want to try avoid section, so will do anything and this has been mentioned as a possible plan going forward

Thank you

I posted this in pregnancy but had no replies

DC3 was transverse until 38 weeks (when she just turned by herself), so I had to consider ECV or ELCS in case she didn't turn... Personally I was more inclined towards a CS because I was scared of my baby getting injured. Good luck, hopefully your baby will turn in time, how many weeks are you?

Forgive me, but I did a little bit of sleuthing to compose my answer.

You're about 34 weeks with your second, I believe? If it helps, I was in your situation myself 2 years ago. I thought baby was breech, even though everyone has said cephalic up until that point. My trust does a presentation scan at 36 weeks, and sure enough, baby was frank breech. I had absolutely no desire to have an elective C-section, so chose to have an ECV. It also helps, that the lead consultant doing ECVs also wrote the NICE guidelines for them, so I knew I was in exceptional hands. If the ECV had failed, I would have had a C-section. I'm a poor candidate for a vaginal breech birth, and I wouldn't have pushed for one.

The ECV was booked in for 37+2 (which is probably the week you'll be booked in for if baby is still breech), as the sonographer said "seconds plus are more likely to turn a bit later". And she was right. Baby turned (I think) the evening of 36+5, as a scan the next morning showed they were head down.

So don't despair, and try to not worry. As with the PP, these seconds+ can and do turn!

I will also say, that I did go on to have a C-section with my second anyway. The recovery was far easier than expected, so try not to worry on that front either.

The average success rate for an ECV is 50%. Most successful ECVs are for second/third babies etc, not FTMs. They are also more successful if your baby has ever been head down. I was told by my consultant as a FTM whose baby had never been head down, that I would have around a 10% success rate. I had an ELCS where they found the cord was wrapped tightly round his neck, which is why he’d never turned. They said an ECV could have led to an immediate cat.1 CS.

Sorry if this wasn’t the story you wanted to hear… I think it’s worth considering your likely personal success rate for an ECV though before you go through with it.

Thank you everyone for your responses. Really interesting to hear other opinions and experiences on it.
I'm 34 weeks now, if baby turns by 37 weeks then I'll be having an induction, section if he hasn't turned (baby coming early for other reasons) so really keen to get baby head down before that 37 week mark.
I'm back in with consultant tomorrow so will explore more options and see what the plan is

Appreciate the responses!

My first dc was breech. I had ECV at 37/38 weeks. Turned successfully and went on to have a natural delivery exactly on her due date. No harm to the baby at all. I would say that it was very uncomfortable but not painful like labour.