ECV - External cephalic version, thoughts and experiences please.

[Jaysfourth]

I am 36 +4 and my LO is extended breach. she is also measuring just under 9lbs currently.

Shes my fourth child.

I have opted to try an ECV, at 38 wks.

Just wondering who has any experience of the procedure, did it work, was it painful, would you do it again...etc etc.

All thoughts are welcomed

Now I'm nervous, mines booked for tomorrow PM.

ETHELINA, dont be nervous, dont want to alarm anyone :(

yours will prob be fine and straight forward! i am sure!

Mine has just decided to be a minx at this late stage.

I am more concerned about my poor mum who has to help look after my other three (2,3 and 4) at home!

Let us/me know how you get on!

Ok.

bit scared. bp all over the place and dont know what they will say tomorrow.

Good luck this afternoon, thinking positive thoughts for you .:)

Jays meant to post on MD August after I'd read your post there but didn't get around to it, but looks like you're checking here so I thought I'd try and be helpful.

I've also got polyhydramnios (what's your measurement? mine's currently around 26 with this biggest pool 7cm) - have they mentioned to you that PH can just be a result of a big baby. I know your due a couple of days before me, and baby has been estimated bigger, but mine is 7lb8ish already (I'm 38 weeks tomorrow)... which I'm told is big for a first baby....

I suspect they've also suggested you have a GTT?

Fortunately our LO is head down and 3/5 engaged although he/she keeps popping up again which is a bit worrying. The midwife didn't seem to believe me when I said he/she was transverse the day before, but baby defininitely was as I could feel hiccups on one side and a bottom on the other.... anyway, they told me if he/she keeps being unstable then they'll bring me in because of the cord prolapse risk. I'm sure you already know it, but you are best off where you are. If you waters go and anything happens with the cord at least they can get you in for a section rapido. Have they told you when they'll induce if things remain the same?

Anyway sorry for blathering, but I do hope you're doing OK....

The ECV was a success!! Dont know why I was so worried last night and this morning. Was brutal though, my tummy feels like I've just done 10 rounds with Tyson.

Hope the following is helpful for anyone else faced with this option:

They put a CTG monitor on me for about half an hour whilst the Terbutaline injection to relax my uterine muscles took effect. When it was time to start they tilted the bed slightly head-down and then the lovely specialist registrar, with the assistance of the midwife, under the consultant's guidance, scanned to check position. Sure enough he was still breech, legs extended.

Then she started kneading my tummy just like it was dough, starting at the bottom, alternating with the head. Its very physical, she was standing up sweating with the effort of pushing his little bottom out of my pelvis and holding it there whilst she checked on the monitor. She just kept going for about 10 minutes, inching him round to transverse, then finally to cephalic.

I'm so glad DH was there holding my hand, because even though i'm not squeamish and have a quite high tolerance for pain, I lay there head turned away, tears in my eyes, from the force she needed to use to get the little bugger to move!

Now I'm home with strict instructions not to do anything strenuous and try to keep upright for a few hours to make sure he doesn't turn back round. I think I will have a bruise or two tomorrow, but it was completely worth it.

I'm so pleased that I can have a vaginal birth now. All he needs to do is stay in for another 3 weeks...

Ethelina!! congratulations my love, see told you not to worry ( although i do understand its easier said than done!)

Now all you have to do is sit tight for next three weeks and all will be fine :) great news!

Pamplem0use - thanks for your post! i didnt know anyone was having the some of the same issues as me! RE the PH, i am told there is not other reason for it, other than that this is a big baby. I dont know the exact measurements of fluids but its way way above the top end of above average on the chart in my booklet...like off of the chart and they had to guess plot it! Havent had any other growth scan to see an estimated weight, but at 36 wks she was just under the 9lb mark.

I was tested for GTT and it was clear - TBH i do have big babies anyway!

I/consultant isnt worried about the size of her as such, just the fact that she is moving around so much - due to lots of fluid and a large uterus ( three big babies in 4 yrs , have to expect some over stretching!) and they are concerned of the prolapsed cord risk if my waters were to break!

My plan is to stay in hospital till 39wks ( next Tuesday) when all being well , if they can catch LO head down and stable, they will do a controlled ERM. Not sure what happens if shes not stable.... consultant told me i was giving her a headache, and she would just like to do a section to get it all sorted out - but understands why i dont want one and is happy to support my decision, which is nice!

Almost feel like a bit of a fraud, its like, i am in hospital, but not even ill.....!!

Let me know how you are getting on! and if you like you can let Aug ladies know, its hard reading all posts on my phone and i feel bad when i dont reply to others!

sent from my iPhone please excuse any spelling mistakes!

thanks for this thread, and for the detail Ethilina - I'm going in on Thursday for a scan to see if baby is still breach and if they are then I'll be getting the ECV done on Monday.
I'll be 36 weeks on Thursday so from what I've read its the optimal time.
I'm hoping that by Thursday baby may have moved round and I'll not need the procedure, but haven't felt any large movements so not holding my breath!

quick update

I have been in hospital for a week now, (UNSTABLE LIE) with no sign of her turning into head down position. So today (39 WEEKS) the consultant performed a ECV, which involved me having a presentation scan (showing oblique) they then proceeded to turn baby round and it proved successful, in that her head was down. I then was monitored for an hour to ensure all was ok and i was given anti D ( i am o- ) just in case there was any blood cross over. I am now back on ward waiting till tomorrow to see if she has stayed down. IF she stays down, i have requested a controlled ARM ( membrane rupture) and so the induction would begin. IF she has moved, i will be staying in hospital till next Tuesday ( due date) where i would have a repeat ECV and ARM at the same time.....failing all this, a Section will be booked for after due date.....

Good luck with yours (should you need it) Falsey let us know how you get on.

After reading this thread, I feel a bit more positive.

I found out just yesterday, at 37+4, that my little madam is in the frank breech position.

I have been offered an ECV, which will now go ahead on tuesday. I was so dreading it, but do feel a little better after reading this.

If this does fail, then I will be booked in for c-section on 31st August, due date being 5th September, which I really don't want to go thru with.

My son was born with forceps help, but would really like a normal vaginal delivery this time again, xx

jamie - i am still in hospital becasue although they manage to turn my baby, she turned herself round the next day. PLease dont be disheartened at this, my baby is in a lot of fluid and i have had v large babies before and have been told that this is a common thing to happen. She is was breech like yours at the same sort of time ,but when i came for my ECV she had managed to get into he 'unstable lie' positon... hence why i had to remain in hospital. I am really pushing the docs and consultants here for a normal delivery, and do seem to have got their attention. I will be waiting till due date ( 24th , same date as yr ECV!) When we will make a plan for another ECV and then a controlled ARM, ( membrane rupture) hoping that all goes to plan and i dont end up with an ECS.... but if i do , at least i know i will have tried all i can :)

keep us/me updated with your story :)

Well....I actually ended up going to hospital on the Monday as madam hadn't moved for a while, so after monitoring her for a while they kept me in as i was booked on Tuesday for the ECV anyway. After turning her she moved again, so after repeating it they decided to induce me couple hours later. I was given the pitosin stuff, waters were broken, left for a bit, then given the syntocin drip and eventually gave birth after a 6hr labour :) Chloe Ann was born on 24th August, weighing in at 8lb 2oz.
She also had alot of water around her, I was still "leaking" when I had her!!! But it was a great birth, we are now settled in back home, and doing well, xx

Sorry,just trying to see how did you end up ? Was it a vaginal birth in the end?

My two youngest DDs were both breech babies, the first one they decided that due to being a large baby, there simply wasn't enough room to turn her, and She was delivered by C-section at 40+5 weeks after a failed breech labour. I gave Birth to her DD sibling when she was 16 months old. The consultant did try to turn her but she refused to budge from the Transverse position, and slipped back to being full Breech. Again she was delivered by Elective section at 38weeks, both of them healthy babies.
The sensation of having the Consultant try and turn them was rather like a heavier pushing sensation of having the midwife check to see if the babies head was engaged as happened with my previous normal deliveries. It wasn't painful, a bit uncomfortable, the worst part being Flat on the table and suffering heartburn badly whilst they were trying to do it.
When older DDs were babies, and before the high tech scans they have today, Turning a breech baby could be quite risky as they were often unsure of the position of the cord and placenta. For this reason when my older DDs where born the practice of turning a baby was frowned upon by the medical proffession in favour of Breech Forceps deliveries and if that failed, a CSection delivery.