ECV

[elvislives2012]

I'm 33 weeks with my 2nd DC. My first was born via EMCS

Sorry pressed button too soon!

..... And I was hoping to try for a VBAC this time. However, baby has been breech since 28 weeks. I have tried yoga and spinning babies, am interested in people's experiences of ECV. it frightens me to be honest and, if it gets to later stages and baby doesn't shift, I'm thinking I'll decline it. What did everyone else do? Or experience?

I wouldn't recommend it. I was similar in my first pregnancy, DD turned breech at 28wks, not detected until 35wks, booked for ECV at 36wks. Didn't work, next morning had a show, then waters went, then went into labour. DD born by EMCS by lunchtime. This is rare, but I wouldn't do it again. Success rates for ECV vary, so find out who is to performing the procedure and what their success rate is.

I don't have experience of ECV, but I'm also 33 weeks, first baby was undiagnosed breech and EMCS. Baby has been head down at most check ups, but I know it moves around all over the shop and has definitely been breech several times. I'm still telling myself that there is plenty of tons for it to settle down, but is there? I personally won't be having a ECV if it stays breech, I've read (on here) that it's quite risky and VBACs are more likely to be successful the more 'natural' it is. I'd rather not mess about.

I had an ECV at 38 weeks with my first baby. Wasn't pleasant but was fine, baby turned on first try and I had a good birth a couple of weeks later. I'd do it again, especially as I was lucky enough to recover quickly from my vaginal birth and I really valued that. Read lots of scare stories beforehand which stressed me out but my consultant, who I trusted based on various previous experiences with him, said they do lots of ECVs and complication risks are v low. Good luck OP x

blue, I don't mean to be rude, but my story is not a "scare story", it is just what happened in my first pregnancy. My EMCS was also a good birth, with a successful outcome of no damage to my baby and none save the incision to me. I also recovered very well, walking over 2miles into town a few days later. Denigrating the birth experiences of those who for valid clinical reasons need intervention contributes to PND (which I was lucky not to suffer from), 'natural is best' lobby can be very hurtful.

I think you are more likely to hear from people who have had more negative experiences. You are not likely to get a balanced opinion from a forum. I would be more interested in the particular skill of the consultant doing it. Ask him/ her directly for their personal success rate. Good luck op.

V sorry if I offended corpore, but I wasn't referring to your story as a scare story - before my ECV I spent lots of stressed out nights googling stories of where the ECV had resulted in bad outcomes for the baby, which terrified me. That's what I meant by scare. An EMCS isn't a bad outcome!

As for 'good birth', I wasn't suggesting natural is better! I am sure if I had had a CS I would also have had a good birth! It's just that for me, I was epiduraled up to my eyeballs but up walking and having a shower 30 minutes after having my baby, which I valued, and that would personally be a factor for me deciding whether I would have an ECV again.

I guess with all these things if you had a positive experience of an ECV you would do it again, but if you had a negative one you wouldn't - it's so personal. The OP asked for experiences and I was just sharing mine.

My DD was transverse at about 37 weeks (sorry 10 years ago now - so a bit vague on actual timings!) I had ECV and they managed to turn her. It was a bit uncomfortable but not unbearable - think Chinese burn!! She stayed put after that and was born at 40+12 so I don't think it caused an early labour
I have to say it was all done in a bit of a rush, and I don't remember any of the risks being explained to me at the time. If they had been, would I have given it a try? I think I probably would have done, at 37 weeks, an early birth would have been OK. I had a toddler at home and didn't really want a C section.

Interesting responses, thank you. Obviously, I Won't make my mind up on the strength of them but I value others experiences hence why I posted
I think as I had an EMCS last time I'm aware that it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be a hellish experience if it happens again. Good idea to ask the consultant success rate....

I had an ECV with DD2. Isn't up there on my list of experiences I'd like to repeat - it was like a massive Chinese Burn! BUT it was successful, and 2 weeks later I had my planned home birth so I wouldn't discount it completely.