Please tell me about ECV, - anyone had it successfully? Or how was breech birth by either route?

[Lookandlearn]

I am early to be thinking about this at 31 weeks, but like to be forearmed with info before the point where decisions needed. I know that it is likely baby will turn. I also know ECV is meant to be uncomfortable but trying to gauge how grim it is compared to caesarian and recovery from. Really grateful for experiences or even from anyone who delivered breech baby without c section (never imagined I would even consider that option having delivered two heads!). Thanks!

My DS was naturally born breech.
I was originally told by my gynea that I could have a natural birth if I wanted to because he was second child and my daughter had been born with no complications.
No attempt was made to turn him and I don't think there would have been.
I tried the 'raising my hips on cushions every evening' method, but it didn't work.
In the end he arrived at 35 weeks, very suddenly, and was born on my sitting room floor.
It was therefore a completely natural birth with no medical intervention at all until the ambulance men arrived and delivered his head and cut the cord.
It could have been very different, but everything went fine.
I knew not to push and simply relaxed and let him birth himself.

I'm sure you won't have an unplanned home birth, but I wanted to tell you that natural breech births are possible.

My dc1 was transverse and I had a version. it was extremely unpleasant. I felt a bit nauseated while they were trying to move the baby. I 'endured' it for as long as I could and then asked them to stop. Later that night the baby moved! That was quite freaky as well. I felt like an alien was somersaulting out of me. It was beyond the feeling of a baby kicking. It was extreme. Funny thing was, by the time the baby moved, I was due to go in and have a cs two days later. so i was kind of disappointed. I had thought i'd have a baby in two days, and then it turned out to be 10 days later, the natural way (they call that natural!!?). But I was glad.

I know breech is a bigger challenge though. good luck.

I was breech with dd3 and was prescribed pulsitilla by a homeopath (cant remember the details so make sure you consult a qualified practitioner!) and it worked a treat. I had to dissolve one teeny weeny pearl of whatever strength it was in half a litre of water and sip it over a day. That night I swear she was trying to break out of the sun roof!

My bump went right over to the left, painfully far and it looked like nothing you have ever seen, like my bump was coming out of my hip. And then it felt like I was being turned inside out! And that was it. Over an hour or so, and she was turned. I went 3 days later for the version and she was head down and ready to go. A word of warning though, after she turned I did feel quite sick and shakey for a while, and i was told to check her movements after that and to be aware of any signs of labour as it can trigger things. Do please go to a proper homeopath, dont try it without the correct advice.

I believe moxibustion also works and was next on my list, but obv i didnt need it.

DD1 was a planned home breech birth with IMs. We used IMs as a way to guarantee getting MWs competent and confident in breech birth, which also meant we could be confident of their support throughout the remaining antenatal period (although we didn't book till 36 weeks). I had a long latent phase (about 5 days) and then an active labour of about 7 hours while all 9lb 12 of her made her appearance. Having since birthed a cephalic baby that was

Thank you for taking the time to write these really useful responses. Feel better informed already. Read the link, tangle and made me feel reassured that breech birth isn't such a weird choice and also made me see where a caesarian sits within managing the birth. I guess understanding the options will make me feel more rested about whatever happens. Will look into all the options suggested.

My baby was transverse/breech/very mobile between 30 and 36 weeks resulting in an ECV at 37 weeks (I'd tried elephant walking, bouncing on the ball, handstands in the water, front crawl, knee chest position, acupuncture, moxibustion, inversion and possibly some other things) - I read this before I went in and it really really helped relax me (partly because this is the consultant who was doing my ECV) www.motherhood.org.uk/2normal220404.htm

She reassured me that she found, generally, drugs to be less helpful (this is my second baby, which helped) and she said that my ability to relax was very good and very helpful. She told me to tell her to stop at any point, it was relatively uncomfortable but I found deep breathing helped.

They monitored me on CTG for half an hour afterwards to check baby was OK. Was told that they also perform ECVs on women at 37-41(+) weeks, and sometimes many times to get success.

Have been sleeping on RHS for over 4 weeks as she said that baby had stretched my uterus and was worried baby would 'flop' back to transverse. Still cephalic now, 4.5 weeks later (overdue and free, but cephalic!).

I also researched breech and found that my local hospital is supportive of vaginal breech births.

Good luck

Oh, I forgot to say I was initially terrified by the registrar who kept mentioning c-sections (elective or emergency if the ECV didn't work or 'went wrong') - she tipped me into near hysteria - the risks are there but small for during, but also there are people who decline an ECV and op straight for the ELCS and people who also opt for the ELCS after one failed attempt at ECV. Not judging them, but not everyone's like that and the registrar just put the frighteners up me

Thanks pootle, helpful to hear of successful ECV. Maybe I'll be well served by the fact that breathing was my friend in previous deliveries (that and huge amounts of gas and air!!) maybe not. I know my local hospital also has a consultant with lots of experience in breech deliveries, one of the reasons I might consider breech birth if it comes to it. Might also chat to my antenatal teacher - she talked of breech birth back in the days I thought it was the maddest thing to do short of...well not sure what!

I was all up for trying breech as alternative to c-section;but as you say, 31 weeks you have plenty of time. Fingers crossed for you!

I went into spontaneous labour the day before my ECV was booked in!

I ended up having a c-section as she moved feet first (a footling breech) and we decided it would be safest for the baby.

I felt completely in control for the entire birth process and it was a wonderful experience.

Currently 38 weeks pg with my second, who is head-down and will hopefully be a successful VBAC :)

oh, that was at 37+2 by the way

I have had an emergency section, a vbac and then another vbac after ecv.

The section means I can't have more children.
The ecv was bloody awful.

If the ecv is done properly in a theatre then I think it is probably the better option.