Anyone have experience of having or preforming an external cephalic version (ECV) ?

[mrswee]

Hi
I started thread containing a long post in 'Pregnancy' the other day asking if anyone have had an ECV to try and turn their baby. No one answered, perhaps i was the wrong place to post or no one has had one!

I can find the thread now to copy and paste but the short version is that I had a scan on friday which confirmed my baby is still breech, (I'm now 37 weeks) we talked to a very competent sounding consultant who easily persauded us that attempting an ECV was the best option before opting for an elective CS.
I am booked in to attempt it on Thursday afternoon!!

Although I am pretty confident in what I have been told by the consultant, I would like to hear other people's experiences, good or bad, of this procedure.

Can anyone help? Thanks so much, I am a little nervous that I have made the right descision!!

oh and yes my DH is coming with me tomorrow, so glad of that!

My mum had an external cephalic version with me - in fact, she had three! The first two were done by the gp, but I flipped straight back into breech position, so the third one was done in hospital (either under sedation or anaesthetic, I am not sure which) so that they could wedge me firmly in!

Mum never said whether or not it was painful, but the final attempt did work, and I was born head first - and I appear to have turned out alright too.

OP - I hope that this goes well for you.

Thanks Stayingsunnygirl!

It sounds like it used to be a much more brutal procedure, my MIL had it done twice with the same baby and he still flipped back.
It's now all monitored and done only by trained consultants.

It is surprising how many breech baby stories I have heard over that last few days! it's only meant to be about 3-4% of babies remain breech but it seems that every second person I have spoken to was either a breech baby or turned!

I had it done with my second pg - I think I was about 37/38 weeks (5 years ago now so not sure!!) DD was in transverse position. In no way was the procedure painful, the thing that hurt most was the consultants pressure on my skin (sort of like a chinese burn) but that was the only slightly uncomfortable bit. It was successful and luckily she stayed in the correct possion until she was born at 41+5. Good luck!

well that's me off... will let you all know what happened!

Thanks again for your help.

I can't believe I have not been able to eat or even DRINK anything since 9am today... supposed to be getting this started at around 2pm, but been told I may have to wait if someone giving birth is having a medical emergency - very busy hospital so quite likely!!

I'm going to one thirsty faint feeling lady by the time this is over!

I meant 'to be...'

mrswee, hope it's all going ok for you, give us an update later!
Assuming it does, make sure you visualise the baby staying head down - do this regularly during the day, say, every time you go to the loo or something...have a quick close of the eyes and see your baby in the perfect birthing position. This will help even if the ECV hasn't!
x

Hi everyone

sorry for the late reply, I've had no internet all weekend not sure how I survived!!

Well went to the hospital, waited two long hungry and thirsty hours get the scan and was very happily told that she had managed to make it head down after all!! And in optimum position too, though not yet engaged!

I really do think the Pulsatilla 200 worked, I had, had a lot of movement since I took it, though I was convinced my baby had not made it head down!

Now to keep her that way. Hoping engagement happens soon.

thanks again for all you help!

Oh that's great news! Well done on having a co operative baby!
I am due for my presentation scan on Thursday - so far the baby hasn't turned and I don't think it will be itself. I just don't fancy the ECV - and our hospital has a crap 'success' rate so may just go for the C section

Unles baby is being a tease...!

Heylottie if you fancy it, try using the 'pulsatila 200' it's a homeopathic remedy, you just take it once and it can do no harm.

You can buy it from neals yard or your local herbalist.

I am positive it worked for me.

well done mrswee!
And heylottie, just find some quiet time, put your hands on your bump and have a chat, tell your baby why you need it to move and then picture the move happening in your head. Keep doing this, it works!
And yes, use the homeopathy too, it won't hurt either way.

With ds1, I tried lying with my hips higher than my head - someone had told me that that might sort of tip him down out of my pelvis a bit, and give him a bit more room to turn round in.