Can't see midwife until 37+ 3 - too late for an ECV??

[user59457812]

Hi all. Hope you can give me the benefit of your wisdom!

My midwife care has been a bit random and she always seems somewhat, ahem, 'relaxed' about sticking to the recommended appointment schedule.

My last appointment with her was 34 weeks and I'm not going to see her until 37+3 - no 36 week check. I'd understood that 36 weeks was when they checked the position and arranged for the baby to be turned if I needs to be. I don't really know what position it's in at the moment but I'm concerned that it's gone breech and it'll be a bit late to do anything about it.

Does anyone know until what point an ECV can be done? I know a lot of people who've gone into labour earlier than 40 weeks so I'm concerned about it being left too late, esp. if it has to be done by an obstetrician an it might take a while to get an appointment. I'm concerned I'll go into labour at 38 weeks, say, and that it will be too late to do anything about a breech.

I'm probably worrying over nothing, but still...

Hello if the midwife thinks the baby is breech she will get it confimed by a scan at around 38 ish weeks and they can discuss turning if you wish if not they will look at then booking a csection witch they will happily cancell if the baby turns even if its on the day of the csection. I wouldnt panic they wil have time X

It's not to late for an EVC...actually, I've been told before doing mine that they would not do it before 37 weeks, because of the risks involved, like breaking waters etc.
Also, don't get you're hopes to high...even if they do an EVC, it doesn't always works...mine didn't!

But if you don't even know if the baby is breech, don't stress over it!!

What makes you think the baby is breech? you could be worrying over nothing and even if you are not, it is not too late. They don't generally do it before 37 weeks anyway.

Hi there,
My ECV is booked in for next week when I will be 37 weeks, but as they all say above it could still turn back again or not work at all. There is a slight risk of causing distress to the baby during the procedure so they like to leave it till baby fully 'cooked' at 37 weeks just in case you need EMSC.
Don't panic and good luck x

I had an ECV done at 40 + 11 - it was successful and dd was induced the next morning.

She was frank breech at 37 weeks, but turned cephalic and back several times between then and her birth, so there's still time for your baby to turn naturally if he/she is breech.

I had an ECV doen at 38 weeks exactly. I saw the midwife at 37+2, and during that appointment (which was at the local surgery), she called the hospital and booked the ECV.

I had the ECV done, and it worked, but I ended up having a EMCS anyway after 3 days in labour. When DS was delivered, the obstetrician told em that the cord was wrapped round his neck and each of his legs in a figure 8. This can't be definitively linked to the ECV, but I have refused another ECV (I am pg and this baby is breech too at 31 weeks).

Just because an ECV is offered to you, you don't have to take it, whatever the baby's gestation.

I had an ECV last week at 37+2 - it seems to have worked, but I also had the 'midwife scheduling' problem that you had - I called them at 34 weeks and explained the situation and my worries and managed to get an appointment at a drop in at the local community hospital for 35 weeks - do you have any numbers you can contact. They did seem quite prepared though to get scans & ECVs done at short notice, so there will be time if you need an ECV. You never know - your baby might turn anyway by then :)

Thanks all. I think I might be able to feel the head under my right ribs (hard to be sure what's, what of course) which is what's fuelling my concern a bit...It has been a real wriggler and change position quite a lot until now.

Thanks for all the advice. I was aware that not everyone is a fan of the ECV. If anything I'd prefer to leave it later, but all the early deliveries around me lately has made me nervous of pinning my sights on having until 40 weeks!

I might give the main office a ring and see if any midwife could have a quick feel to put my mind at rest. At least then I'll know to start the spinning babies routine (again!) if it's not head down any more...

I found tat thr bum ynder eubs and head were v similar if that helps x

Opps under ribs

I was breech at 34 weeks, and was afterwards convinced that the baby was still breech, because I never felt it do a "big" turn.
I thought I could feel its head under my ribs too - I got a MW friend of mine to check it for me (about 2 days before my next appt!), and she confirmed it was a big fat BUM not a head that I could feel.

My dd2 was breech right the way through, from about 28 weeks, she was consistently head up. They insisted i try and have her turned and i was very reluctant to let them, believeing she was that way for a reason, but they said they wouldn't entertain an ELCS unless i tried to have her turned at least, so i had an ECV at 36+2, and it didn't work at all - she didn't budge a millimetre.

She was born by ELCS on Valentines day, and she had her cord wrapped tightly round her neck. If she had been turned or turned by herself, the consequences could have been tragic.

I was told that i could have an ECV anytime up til birth.

dee - I haven't said congratulations yet!
congratulations - hope you're enjoying lots of lovely snuggly cuddles.

(my DD had cord wrapped round her neck twice - she refused to come out by putting her hand against her face hmm])

If it helps, in my case they used a mobile scanner to check the position of the cord immediately before and after the ECV. I don't think I would have gone ahead if they hadn't done this.

Dd was also on monitored and traced for half and hour before and an hour afterwards to make sure she hadn't gone into distress.

You absolutely don't have to agree to an ECV if you don't want to. Most trusts will want to schedule a CS for a breech baby. I was told that at our turst this is because there aren't enough midwives who are suitably trained and experienced in breech delivery, so they considered it riskier than a CS.