What happens if I refuse an ECV and opt for an ELCS?

[Dogsmom]

I'm 35 weeks pregnant and my midwife thinks my baby is breech and is sending me for a scan at 37 weeks, to be honest I've known she's breech for weeks as I can clearly feel her head tucked up under my ribs and the kicks are low.

I've spent a couple of hours reading up on ECV and I'm not comfortable with the risks, the NHS say it's only successful in 50% of cases and 1 in 200 result in an emergency CS due to foetal distress or placenta abruption.

I presume it's ok for me to refuse it and opt for an ELCS.

What are peoples experiences of this and what is the procedure/timeframe? Do they make you wait to 42 weeks in case they turn naturally or are they booked earlier and what happens if you go into spontaneous labour in the meantime? Do they scan you again to see if they've turned or do they go straight for the CS?

I appreciate there's plenty of time for her to turn naturally but I want to have every possible outcome clear in my head

I didn't have my baby on the NHS, but I think the procedure is the same. My baby was breech so I was booked in for 39 weeks but if I went into spontaneous labour before then I had to go into hospital and they would do the CS there and then.
I was pretty worried about going into spontaneous labour and something terrible happening, but I don't think it's that quick if it does happen!
I ended up having a show at 38 + 2, went in to be checked and started having some contractions while I was there so they did the CS that evening.
Based on what I've seen on OBEM, they do a scan to check it's still breech before operating, however when my baby was still breech at 35 weeks my consultant thought it was unlikely he would turn, and he didn't.
Good luck! My ELCS was absolutely fine.

Every hospital varies but we would generally schedule CS for 39-40 weeks if that was the option you chose. If you went into labour before we would scan you on admission to confirm breech presentation before proceeding.

You should get an opportunity to discuss your prions with a consultant after the 37 week scan if she is still breech.

Good luck!

Prions????? *options

Thanks for the advice and experiences, I've spent the evening googling all sorts of research and discussing it with my husband and we're both happier with an ELCS without trying ECV.

We'll still discuss our options with the consultant though but we feel much better going in with a bit of knowledge.

Glad this has been asked. I'm only 26 weeks and baby is comfortable in breech had 4 scans now and she hasn't moved. I know still plenty of time. I said to my midwife about it at routine appointment and she said no you have breech baby naturally as you can imagine I was a bit shocked. I'm terrified of the turning procedure and also giving birth when baby is this way. Do you have to speak to a consultant about ELCS?? I have regular visits anyway due to a heart problem. Slightly worried.

Had ECV at 38 weeks that was unsucessful. I wouldn't have it again. Like you, I had known my baby was breech for a while and she had just found her happy position.

As far as I know NHS will offer you ELCS without ECV (when I was confirmed breech there was a lady in the next room in the same position and she just said 'oh good I can have a cs then'!) It'll be week 39 if they do it so they can hopefully pre-empt labour.

[InNeedofSomeSleep I would definitely question your midwife! Yes you can have breech babies naturally but it's a risky birth so I thought it was standard to offer a CS so mums can make their own decisions about safest delivery, especially if you have a heart condition]

Thank you, thought it was a bit strange they wouldn't offer it. We have so many different midwives here I'm sure another one will tell me something different.

My DD was breech and I went into labour at 36 weeks. I also had pregnancy related health problems so she was going to be induced at 37 weeks anyway. The consultant told me that CS at 37 weeks wasn't ideal because being pushed down the birth canal is better for early babies - gets the gunk out of their breathing system. So I was a bit worried when she decided to be born at 36 weeks. However, amazingly, they turned her even though I was already 7cm and she was absolutely fine . I think they only did it because the consultant who specialised in turning babies was there that day though. She was amazing.