ECV for turning breech - some questions!

[secondtimemum]

Hi,

I'm nearly 34 weeks and bump has been breech for at least 5 weeks. I've been booked in for an ECV at 37+ weeks, but basically been told not to worry about it till a scan at 36 weeks, and so did not have the opportunity to ask any questions, as "they may not need to be answered!".

Has anyone had one done and got any good advice, or better still is there anything I can do to turn bump myself?

Also if I have to have an ECV can my partner be there with me? I understand it is done on the labour ward so I would hope so.

Final silly question - but what should I wear for the procedure!

thanks

Hi secondtimemum,
I was also breech with my second baby and was advised by the doctor to try acupuncture as she was BIG so they didn't think they would be able to turn her in the hospital and would end up doing a caeserian. So, despite being sceptical, I tried it. The Acupuncture didn't even involve needles - they just held a hot charcoal like crayon close to my little toes and kept it there for as long as I could bear it then removed it for a few seconds then held it there again and so on. WHole thing took about 30 minutes and that evening I had an "alien" like experience when she turned herself. Very weird but preferable to anything else I think. Good luck!

this thread might help

thanks Clary, I've had a look at that thread and might try some of the suggestions, but deep down I don't think it is going to turn and I'm going to end up having an ECV. My partner thinks I should just go for a CS, rather than getting my hopes up that this procedure will work. I'd just be really interested to hear anyone who has had one done and whether it is obvious immediately if it is going to work. I'm a bit worrried about having a CS straight after if the baby gets distressed - but hopefully that doesn't happen in practice.

I've also had a bit of a look about this acupuncture procedure and might try that, if I can sneak off and get it done!

Blimey 34 weeks is still early to be worrying, The MW thought my baby was breech but she said not to worry & if need be they will send me for a scan at 38 weeks, they say that 2nd babys onwards can turn right up until when your labour starts.

I really would not worry i was worrying about this but i am 37+1 & pretty sure my baby has turned in this last week will find out on Thursday when i see MW.

Goodluck

bumping this as would really like to hear from anyone who has had an ECV done.

thanks

I've had one. It didn't work, but it didn't go wrong, iyswim. I had a section a few weeks later.

But I'm very glad we tried the ECV, I really didn't want a CS, and needed to try everything to prevent it.

There are a lot of webpages out there about turning the baby yourself. This page has some options. I tried them, they didn't work for me, but I've heard of them working for other people.

Your partner can be there with you for the ECV. From what I know, the only time your partner is made to leave is if you have a CS under GA.

Wear something comfortable. It helps the ECV if you can relax. Bring an ipod, wear it during the procedure if you want. Oh, and if gas and air agrees with you, you can have some of that, too. It's worth asking for, anyway.

I have not had an ECV done but my clients have (I am a doula) and I have seen them done... definitely your partner is allowed and I would recommend him there as you may want him to drive you back home. Some women find it uncomfortable others not. You are scanned during the procedure and given a muscle relaxant.

Moxi-bustion (the accupuncture) has a great deal of success so has Pulsatilla 200 (homeopathy).

Why do you not think this would work? With these thing I always worry about self-fulfilling prophecies !!!! They have done studies where they showed that worried women have a higher rate of breech (women whose husband is in Irak for example).

I presume you have decided against a vaginal birth if baby remains breech. It is not at all the same sort of "big deal" for a 2nd time mum than it is for a 1st time mum (who had a vaginal birth). There is a bigger acceptance by hospitals to do vaginal births (well they tend to opt for vaginal deliveries- not the same) for "multips" (woman who are on a subsequent birth).

NQC thanks for the link - I will certainly try some of those things. Gas and air went down well last time so I'll make sure I ask for it.

pupuce I had problems with last birth (stuck and forceps), and they were talking about section this time anyway even before breech issue reared its head! Ironically I have been really worried about having a CS because of what happened last time and really don't want one, so I know I have been worried a lot, and now I'm worrying even more about ECV and CS and what if it turns and I have a natural birth, and there are problems again - which is why my partner is in favour of CS

34 weeks is still early, fingers crossed for you. My dts turned at some point in between 34 and 38 weeks, so don't lose hope yet! If you do an archive search, there are a few threads on ECVs.

Secondtimemum.... if you've had a baby through your birth canal once.... it will come through again!
Think positive

Hi my daughter was breach till very late 40 weeks I know this sounds really silly but run a bath and go on all fours withe the bump compleatly covered and the baby will probably turn maybe have some sugar a few mins before. I had two c sections as failed to dialate you have to wear hospital stuff good luck with turning. Dont let them turn the baby as the cord could end up round the babies neck.

vikki

Hi! I had regular acupuncture as part of fertility efforts and am still having monthly treatments (now 10 weeks pg) to help me stay balanced and relaxed. My acu doc said if the baba is breech towards the end, come straight to her and she can 'guarantee' it will turn by using moxibustion - burning the moxa herb. Sounds crazy, but she is a proper Chinese doc who specialises in acupuncture and is NHS advisor on incorporating acupuncture into regular healthcare, so I do trust her! It's gotta be worth a go before intervention as it's completely non-invasive and stress-free. Good luck!
Pinchy xxx

Hi secondtimemum

I am 38 weeks my baby flipped into breech position at 31 weeks and then refused to budge, even though I tried swimming, homeopathy at 36 weeks and moxibustion last week! I also tried some positional stuff to no avail. Finally went for ECV yesterday and to my surprise it worked at the first attempt!

I went with partner and I wore comfy trousers! We were on the ward for 4h - the midwife checks the routine stuff first, then you have fetal monitoring, then an untrasound followed by more fetal monitoring after the ECV.

I was given salbutamol to relax my uterus first. Also, I did find the ECV very uncomfortable, but mine only took about a minute or so to do. I do know people who it hasn't worked for though, and some people say the procedure took longer &/or wasn't painful. I think the point is that each baby and mum are different - e.g. my baby is average sized, was sitting on the edge of my pelvis rather than in it and I have a very long back, all of which which I think why consultant found s/he pretty easy to move. Hopefully s/he won't turn back now! Good luck if you go ahead.