Decision between ECV or ELCS. So hard.

[MiracleOntheM4]

Hi everyone

I was wondering if anybody has any recent experience of this decision.

I don't want to try for a breech vaginal birth as has a hideous VB with DC1, so it seems a straight choice between the ECV or ELCS.

My initial thought was ECV and the waiting game, but the more I research the more this worries me - not least due to a recent heartbreaking thread on here.

I'd be interested to know whether anyone else has made the decision and how you saw the pros and cons

If you did go for an ELCS did they wait until the 39 week mark. For me that will be Christmas Eve...

For full info this is likely to be my last pregnancy, as not planning subsequent children. Not sure if that makes a difference.

TIA

Christmas day baby!

miracle I faced the same dilemma a few weeks ago but have decided to go for the ELCS. Ironically I read on here a thread from a woman who's child was still born and she felt it was due to the ECV which led to a placental abruption - although not proven.

I wasn't prepared to take that risk with my baby - in an ELCS I know what the options and dangers are but less so with an ECV.

When I spoke to the doctor at the hospital he could not give me any reassurance that the ECV would be successful (30% - 80% success rates. WTF???). He also pointed out that they no longer perform ECVs at 33 weeks as so many have complications and lead to emergency C Sections and then there are problems with prem babies. Why on earth would I risk having this procedure at 38 weeks which may go wrong and leave me needing an ECS anyway?

The other information I wanted which the doctor could not provide would be who would be performing the ECV. I was told it would be whoever had the most experience on the day and for me that's not good enough.

There is also the issue of babies turning back into the breech position after being successfully turned and I heard a figure of 50% of babies do this although please don't quote me.

I would say try the moxibustion or baby spinning and if you want to pursue the ECV then ask the questions and make sure you get solid answers which reassure you. I am happy to risk DVT or infections in myself from a c - sec but I am not prepared to risk placental abruption or damage to my baby from ECV.

saggy The idea of a baby arriving with Santa is nice but in reality I want to be at home, eating nice food and watching DS play with his crap lovely presents rather than being stuck in hospital! He was born 3 weeks early though so it may be sooner than that anyway

Baba is head down yay

That's great pumpkin! Such a relief for you .

They decided dc2 was breech at my overdue appt 40+2. I was offered ecv there and then with no scan to confirm breech, which seemed like madness (thank goodness I had some clue about ecv from mn!) . I'd had a tough vb with dc1 so went for elcs. They couldn't fit me in til 40+8. Went in on morning if cs and was scanned and told that baby wasn't breech after all- I must admit that I had a total meltdown and insisted on the cs which they finally agreed to. It was a fantastic experience and I was home the following day to my 2.5 yr old too. I found recovery far better than my vb (3rd degree tear). But I do think that this was the case as I have an incredibly supportive and hands on DH and dmil.

Great news pumpkin!

Well, the baby was moving a lot last night and definitely the 'washing machine' feeling so maybe, just maybe...

I'm also very lucky to have a lot of help AmIGoingMad. I imagine if the CS is best option that will be even more valuable than ever.