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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Breech baby---ECV

25 replies

smidge1717 · 04/07/2014 14:44

I'm 36 weeks plus 6 days, just been told baby breech.

I'm having ecv next Thursday where they will attempt to turn baby.

Anyone else had this? Is it very painful and did baby stay in that position as I was told as first baby only 40% chance he will stay in position.

Any experiences willbe great to hear!

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angelopal · 04/07/2014 15:53

No personal experience but from what I have heard it can be painful and it can be risky for the baby. I think there was a poster on here who lost their baby after it.

Dc2 was breech at one point and if she had not turned then I would have gone straight for a c-section. However I lost dc1 neonatally which made me very cautious during the entire pregnancy.

There is a website called spinning babies that has tips on getting them to turn that may help. Hope all goes well.

Familyguyfan · 04/07/2014 16:03

I'm sure lots of people will be along soon with positive messages. DC2 was breech and I was offered this. I read a lot about it on the web and was advised on here to check the specific hospital stats so I knew their success rate rather than the general success rate across the NHS.

I decided against it as the success rate at my hospital was fairly low and I heard it was painful and could cause the baby distress. I had an emcs (was scheduled for an elcs but didn't make it that far!) which was terrific, safe delivery, easy recovery and happiness all around.

Don't feel you have to agree if you don't want. If you do have it, I'm sure you'll be monitored carefully and all will be well! Best of luck

Andcake · 04/07/2014 16:13

Again I read about risks and decided just to have a cs as I was less worried about that than the turning.

tiger66 · 04/07/2014 16:17

I was booked in for one with my second and went for acupuncture instead. So pleased I did as baby turned whilst in there and cancelled ecv. So much more comfortable.

Funkytown · 04/07/2014 16:23

I tryed everything to get my baby to move he was breech up until 37+2 when they wanted to manually turn him at 37+3 I would have refused anyway but he turnt the night before I popped in to to see the consultant had a scan and showed him head down thank goodness

Funkytown · 04/07/2014 16:24

Sorry posted too soon was ment to add that baby still has time and room to turn up until birth so try not to worry

Original poster

smidge1717 · 04/07/2014 16:46

I just don't know what to do!

Either I go for it on Thursday or I don't do it at all.

There are risks with everything I guess but it's just making the right decision :-(

OP posts:

GingerScouse · 04/07/2014 18:37

Remember you can still have a vaginal birth even if baby is breech.

LittlePeaPod · 04/07/2014 18:55

Personally I would never have an ECV. I think the risks to baby getting injured are too high. It's extremely risky. Ave you done any research personally Op?

Angle I saw that thread. A perfectly healthy baby died purely down to the ECV. Had she had a CS baby would be here. It was awful.

MurtleTheTurtle · 04/07/2014 19:51

I had an ECV at Christmas. I was very hesitant after reading lots of horror stories on here but actually it was fine - they checked the cord position first to ensure baby didn't get tied up in it which is what can happen when it goes wrong I believe. They did check his position very carefully before proceeding.

The turning part was very quick and not at all painful, though I believe it can be uncomfortable and even painful for some. Perhaps I was just very lucky.

Baby moved right away though the consultant said she wasn't confident at the start. They monitored him for an hour afterwards to ensure he wasn't distressed at all and then I came home.

He stayed head down though was in a slightly awkward position for labour which made pushing harder but there were no complications / interventions required. I was discharged 6 hours after the birth so for me personally it all worked out well.

This is only my experience of course and just as every woman experiences labour differently I suspect every woman's experience of ECV will be different.

RedBushedT · 04/07/2014 19:55

I had an ecv at 39 weeks. It was extremely painful and I ended up with a crash section as she got stuck during birth anyway.
I would never bother again personally.

TheOnlySeven · 04/07/2014 20:04

I saw the thread referred to up thread as well, it was one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever read. I'd never consider an ECV, I'd go straight for a CS if it was me

pinkglitter80 · 04/07/2014 20:09

I had an ecv and the baby didn't turn (had elcs in the end which was lovely and calm) and it didn't hurt much at the time but the next day my tummy ached loads which made me realise how much pressure they must have applied and I felt really sorry for my poor baby. I wouldn't do it again x

pinkglitter80 · 04/07/2014 20:11

I tried moxibustion and spinning babies website too and although they didn't work either they are worth trying IMO as no harm

pinkglitter80 · 04/07/2014 20:11

I tried moxibustion and spinning babies website too and although they didn't work either they are worth trying IMO as no harm

butterfliesinmytummy · 04/07/2014 20:20

dd2 was breech and turned loads of times. I had moxibustion, she turned, and turned back, built a trainset for dd1 on my hands and knees, she turned and turned back, did handstands in the pool, she turned and turned back. She was head down at 40 weeks and breech at 41 (my obstetrician had ultrasound in his office and the country we lived in at the time let you have as many scans as you wanted, as long as your insurance paid!).

She was delivered by elcs. They don't do ecv or breech births in that country (Singapore) as they are considered too risky. Cs was great, not one contraction, took less than 2 minutes once the epidural was in.

HalfPintPickle · 04/07/2014 20:48

I had an ECV with my daughter and it was terribly uncomfortable. I hear some people have no problems with them though.

They tried 3 times to move her (her bum had already engaged) and she wasn't budging at all, in the end I had to ask them to stop. They kept me in for 2 hours after for monitoring to make sure they hadn't started labour off.

I'm currently 33 weeks with a breech baby and if this one doesn't turn, I'll be going straight for another section and bypassing the ECV all together. Not something I'd want to do again.

Original poster

smidge1717 · 04/07/2014 20:51

Sounds like concensus is to have c section? I know I can still have a natural birth--but consultant didnt recommend it and to be honest if he remains breech would prefer c section. Just thought it was worth ECV?

OP posts:

GirlWithTheLionHeart · 04/07/2014 20:55

I wouldn't. A cousin of mine had this and it ended fatally. Not to scare you but it's very risky, I think it should be banned.

CorporeSarnie · 04/07/2014 21:48

Success rates are very variable. I had one at 36&4 in my first pg, DD was thoroughly wedged in my pelvis by that point, and was not for turning. I had taken advice from an obs&gyn friend and was convinced that this was the least worst option.
Booked for an ELCS the following week, looked forward to a nice calm birth. Went into labour the next morning, DD born by EMCS by lunchtime.
Currently 22&6, baby footling this week, was frank last week (have had some complications hence the extra scan). If this one doesn't turn of its own accord will not hesitate to go straight to section. I may just have a funny pelvis I guess.
Ask about the success rate of the doctor performing the procedure. Try and remember that no one else cares how your baby arrives.
Good luck whatever you decide to do.

MultipleMama · 04/07/2014 22:02

I was breech with two of my DC at 35 & 36 weeks and refused this, I gave birth to two healthy breech babies.

I don't want to risk the procedure and I looked up techniques and everything online to move them in position, and I also research breech births just to be safe.

Em1503 · 04/07/2014 22:20

I am in exactly the same position as you OP! 36 +6 as well and my midwife confirmed today that baby is still breech she has been at every check up since 28weeks). I'm booked in for a scan on Tuesday to check her exact position and then will have the choice of an ECV or not. I've already decided to refuse this and opt straight for a c-section instead. The c-section and recovery worry me less and with this being my first baby, plus the fact that she's been in this same position for weeks now doesn't fill me with confidence that it would work anyway. Hopefully she'll turn on her own but if not then I think I am prepared for a c-section.

NancyinCali · 04/07/2014 22:41

I'm 37 weeks with DD2 and she was breech at 34 weeks. Did the spinning babies exercises and saw a chiropractor and by my next appointment at 36 weeks she was head down. I've also heard of babies turning literally while the mum is waiting in the hospital for the ECV.

Plateofcrumbs · 05/07/2014 01:51

I was planning to have an ECV but the baby did a last-minute turn.

I had also read the story on here about a mother who lost her baby weeks after an ECV but with all respect to the poor woman I think it was far from conclusive that the ECV had anything to do with it.

I was feeling very apprehensive though about the procedure itself (potential pain) and the possible risks. But after doing a lot of reading and checking the data I decided that ECV was less risky than a c-section and definitely less risky than a breech delivery.

I found the RCOG guidance on ECV a helpful read (it is a bit techie as designed for professionals, but informative): www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/external-cephalic-version-and-reducing-incidence-breech-presentation

Original poster

smidge1717 · 05/07/2014 10:08

Thanks plateofcrumbs.

I will give it a read

I know every procedure whether it be ECV or c section carries it's risks and of course he may turn on his own. But it's just trying to make the best informed decision

OP posts:

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