HAVING ECV ON FRIDAY - PLEASE REASSURE ME!!

[mawbroon]

Self explanitory really. I will be 39+1 on Friday and baby has been breech since 34 weeks. A scan last week revealed that he has one leg by his head and the other in the frank breech position. I think he is stuck and the consultant has given me a figure of 30% chance of him turning by ECV.

Anyone able to calm my frayed nerves? I don't think it's the ECV I'm worried about, rather that they are going to give me a c section straight away if it doesn't work.

It's my first BTW.

ECV is fine. I had one at 37 weeks and it was uncomfortable but not agony. They put me on a drip for about an hour beforehand, which was the worst bit for me -- the drug is intended to relax uterine muscles, but also makes your heart race unpleasantly.

For the actual ECV, just as I was about to yell: "OW OW OW" it was all over. Baby stayed head down (apparently rare for them to turn back after successful ECV) and had normal birth about 3 weeks later.

I had previously asked about the complication rate (they do emergency section in case of probs eg. if placenta comes away). Stats were that they do an average of 2 ECVs a week and hadn't had to do an emergency section for about 4 years.

Good luck Mawbroon

Can't give you any advice re ECVs but I don't think they can force you to have a cs, there and then, if the ECV doesn't work. I think it is only of if there is a problem that you would have to have a cs imedd.

Crossing everything for you.

Thanks for your replies ladies. CADs they are not forcing me to have a c-section immediately, but although I would prefer not to have one at all, I think an elective one (which this will be if the ECV doesn't work as I will have had all my pre ops and everything done before the ECV just in case) is better than waiting until it turns into an emergency. IYSWIM

Good to hear that yours was successful frogs.

BTW, has your baby turned yet CADs? Sorry, I haven't been keeping up......

Doh! CADs sorry, I have just read your entry on the other thread.

I bet that is a huge relief for you!! Good luck and I hope that baby stays that way for you!!

Not everywhere does the drip. Oh, and you can have gas and air for it, which if you like gas and air, is a plus.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

I had an unsuccessful ECV. It was uncomfortable, but not agony. I wsn't offered G&A or given a drip.

ECV is less successful in first pgs (your tummy muscles are tighter).

I felt I'd given it a good shot and done all I could to avoid a section, so I just relaxed about the elective and got everything sorted in advance. I had ECV at 37+6 and ELCS at 40+0.

Good luck for Friday.

Thanks mawbroon. I'm hoping your baby will move on his own before the ECV.

Mawbroon, just wanted to wish you well for Friday. I hope everything goes well and the ECV works. BUT, if it doesn't, tomorrow will be two weeks since my section, and I'm feeling fantastic. Still can't throw myself around (obviosuly!) but feel great. Tomorrow will be my first day at home without DH as he goes to work tomorrow for a week, then off for two more weeks, so I'll let you know how I get on!

TBH I had been hoping that Evelyn had turned for the scan I had before the section so that I could go home and wait for labour to start, but once I was in theatre, I was fine and relaxed. First night was a bit crappy with the drips and everything, but it was fine afterwards. Reading the ante-natal thread now, I'm glad I'm not playing the waiting game!

Good luck and I cant wait to hear all the goss!

I've had an ECV, it was fine and worked. Good luck.

Hi Elf - glad to hear that you are doing well and Katierocket - thanks for that. I just need to know that it does sometimes work!!!

MB

Hi Mawbroon

Good luck today. Hope everything runs smoothly for you. Try to relax, you might have a beautiful baby by the end of the day.

Crossing everything for you and let us know how you got on.

Hope everything went well today...

at work last night i actually was looking after a lady who was in labour with her first baby who had had ecv at 38 weeks and it worked and the baby was still cephalic! i must admit we were all amazed as had not come across many that it had worked for, i think that the later you have it done the more chance of it staying that way if it works as less time to go until the birth (although this is probably just my way of logic iyswim?)

apparently there is a new drug that they can use now (although not all consultants use it i'm afraid and i'm afraid i can't remeber what it was called) and apparently the consultant who did the ecv said that before he used the drug the ecvs generally failed (only a success rate of about 5%) whereas now a higher success rate.

i know that none of this helps you, but i have my fingers crossed that it works for you. and just to reassure you that an elective section is much calmer than an emergency one and after mine i felt great had ds2 at 9a.m and was up and able to move about and walk around my bed by lunch time. compared to the emergency section i had with my first that i couldn't ge out of bed for 24 hours and felt like crap for ages because i had been in labour for so long before. (both were breech ds1 undiagnosed until labour ds2 picked up by community midwife and scan and not offered ecv as already had a scar on my uterus)