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Original poster

Positive, if dramatic, ECV story

41 replies

mumhum · 13/03/2015 15:09

Thought I would share the experience of my eventful Friday morning.

At my 36 week (DC2) midwife appt on Wed I was told baby was in breech and I was sent for a scan the next day. They recommended an ECV and that took place this morning.

The ECV itself was fine, uncomfortable rather than painful for me. But whilst baby allowed itself to be turned, it was not too happy about it and the heart rate dropped to a point which made the consultant press a big red button and I was rushed into theatre for an emergency c-section. They flattened the bed, put up the sides and whizzed me down a corridor, all without DH which was a bit frightening. As they were worried about baby they were about to give me a general anaesthetic (no time for an epidural for a ‘normal’ c-section) and had me all prepped with a canula in my hand, drip in my arm and I was on oxygen within minutes. The consultant checked the baby again one more time and the heart rate was back up so she held off to see if baby was recovering and s/he was thank goodness.

So they let DH in (he could not come in if I had needed a general anaesthetic apparently), who in the meantime had been put in scrubs and a silly hat. I was monitored in theatre for half an hour or so as they didn’t want to move me if I did need a c-section after all and when they were happy they wheeled me back in to one of the delivery rooms. I stayed there hooked up for another 2 hours, and by 1pm baby had calmed down and all was normal again.

I am now back home drinking a cup of tea and feeling surprisingly ok, if a little shaken. I can feel baby moving and actually feel a bit better now it is head down, as I am less short of breath and squished when sitting. Back to Plan A and waiting for normal labour signs.

I still feel we made the right decision for an ECV and it has not harmed the baby, and I would much rather a natural birth over a c-section. But I have never been so scared in my life.

OP posts:
BasinHaircut · 13/03/2015 15:11

That sounds awful to me! Exactly the reason I refused one. But glad you feel positive about it and baby has stayed head down.

Northernexile · 13/03/2015 15:11

Glad you and baby are ok. ECVs terrify me, I think I would take an ELCS first. You are very brave!

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 13/03/2015 15:17

I ended up having an ECV but only on the day that DS2 was delivered. I refused to have one early because of the risks; the risk of placental abruption or cord issues terrified me.

DS2 was unstable lie, if I'd gone into labour naturally things could have got very tricky for me, so I had to be induced. Induction > ECV > syntocin drip.

I absolutely don't want to be a doom monger but do keep very close eye on your baby now - if you are worried about diminishing movements or anything go straight back to the hospital.

ToriB34 · 13/03/2015 15:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

weeblueberry · 13/03/2015 15:40

I'm glad everything went well :) Are they going to monitor you on a regular basis now?

Original poster
mumhum · 13/03/2015 18:15

Risks associated with ECV are very low, I was unlucky. 1 in 200 chance of what happened to me happening to anyone else. With DS1 I had a CVS at 12 weeks which had higher risks. DS1 bow a healthy and active 4yo.

I would still definitely recommend an ECV over a major operation such as a c-section which was the main point of my post. C-sections have risks of complications too and a long recovery time. The ECV itself was not painful, and did not harm the baby. What did I have to lose by having ECV? The baby is so closely monitored that you have a c-section if they are worried, and most of the time ECV completely avoids the need for a c-section (as is likely now to be my case). I think people see a c-section as an easy option when they really should try ECV first. A VD (which I had with DS1) will be a lot safer for baby, coming out through the birth canal also squeezes gunk out of the lungs and ears that can cause complications for c-section babies who are more prone to infection.

Baby is just fine, wriggling away just like before and I am now waiting for the usual signs of labour.

OP posts:
GymBum · 13/03/2015 19:10

Really glad to hear it went well and great to hear your baby is fine.

Personally I would never have an ECV because the risks are too high,the consultants rarely do them so their experience is limited regardless of what they say.

To top it off ever since reading the post from a MNer last year whose baby died as a direct result of a ECV there is nothing that would convince me to take that risk.

With regards CS. I had a CS snd it's no where near as bad as people make out. I was driving after 2 weeks and I was back at the gym at 4 weeks. DD had no complications and you can hardly see my CS scar. So for me I would rather have a procedure the consultants do day in and day out (CS) than one they rarely do and have limited experience of doing.

BasinHaircut · 13/03/2015 22:14

Agree gymbunny, I read up on ECV a lot before I declined and also instinct told me that my baby had been in exactly the same position throughout my pregnancy for a reason. and it turned out he had the cord around his neck so I'm glad oft choice.

BasinHaircut · 13/03/2015 22:15

*of my choice

BasinHaircut · 13/03/2015 22:24

mumhum your last post is also very patronising. Just because an ECV was the right choice for you, doesn't mean it is for the next person. Also, who says that someone who doesn't want an ECV for whatever reason sees a c-section as an easy choice? Have you ever had one?

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 13/03/2015 23:08

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/bereavement/1542766-My-birth-story-homebirth-resulting-in-crash-c-section-Please-bear-with-me-its-the-first-time-Ill-recollected-everything-and-put-it-all-together-x-warning-potentially-distressing

Since you felt the need to be a little smug in your last post, I now feel the need to post the link to the thread that told me that ECV was not for me, except when the baby was due out on the same day. Up to you whether or not you read it, of course, but it's important to note that even though things may seem all right afterwards, that doesn't mean they are.

BigCatFace · 13/03/2015 23:26

I'm glad you felt your experience was a positive one. I wouldn't have one as my baby turned from LOA to back to back in labour. No guarantees!

BasinHaircut · 14/03/2015 07:47

thumb that story is truly devastating. Also confirms how sure I am I'd never have a home birth.

I'm not saying that my choice is right for everyone, and I know that both ECV and home birth can go well . But whilst I don't want to upset or worry the OP, I don't like the risk involved with either, however small.

Some people want or need totally medicalised (is that the right word) births, as is thier right. I don't need anyone telling me that by refusing an ECV and having a c-section, I took an easy choice.

P.s. Breech vaginal delivery is also an option (which I also refused BTW)

DunelmDoris · 14/03/2015 07:53

Nice to see everyone offering the OP support after a scary experience Hmm

There's no one "right thing to do" and the OP has made it clear that she understood and weighed up the risks. Give her a break FGS.

sianihedgehog · 14/03/2015 08:37

Thanks OP. I've looked into the risks and would definitely choose to try an ECV myself if needed as well, so it's really reassuring to hear how well prepared they are to act if something DID go wrong with it.

Christelle2207 · 14/03/2015 08:37

Blimey op. Pleased all is well, hope baby keeps his head down for a normal birth.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 14/03/2015 08:47

dunelm - you are right, there absolutely is no one right thing for everyone and I sincerely hope the OP's birth continues to go well.

But she shouldn't trivialise the risks either.

GymBum · 14/03/2015 09:12

Dune the op wasn't been so understanding of other women's choice by belittling other birth choices. She would have got more support had she not started judging those of us that had CS as choosing an "easier option".

If you want support then font post judgemental things.

FluffyJawsOfDoom · 14/03/2015 09:25

I actually think a 1 in 200 chance of it all going tits up is quite high :-0

Koalafications · 14/03/2015 09:32

So glad you are home and everything is ok with your baby, OP Smile

Personally, I wouldn't have an ECV. I would rather have an elective c-section. Yes, it's major surgery but its also quite common.

1 in 200 seems like a high risk to me.

Basin the cord was around his neck? My goodness. That's another reason why I wouldn't have an ECV.

Original poster
mumhum · 14/03/2015 10:08

Main purpose of my OP was to share my experience and give my opinion. Not meant to be patronising, I just wanted to reassure anyone who had chosen to try ECV as I had read about the debate on Mumsnet before deciding to try it for myself. I completely agree it is not for everyone. If I was advised to have a c-section I would, I never said it was an "easy option", I just think people need to be aware of all the choices. The consultant I saw was very helpful, and we even discussed breech VD so I was not pushed into doing anything I did not feel happy with.

ThumbWitches, I had actually read that sad story before I decided on an ECV. There's nothing in that story which links the baby's problems to the ECV, there's many possible reasons why that poor baby did not survive.

FluffyJaws, a 1 in 200 chance is not very high, actually the same as being killed in a car crash in the UK but does that stop us driving or going in cars?

OP posts:
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 14/03/2015 10:41

I think you'll find "hidden placental abruption" links it quite strongly to the ECV, mumhum and there is little point in trying to ignore that. Lack of oxygen due to lack of blood going to the baby is a pretty strong contender for the oxygen deprivation that caused the massive brain damage. I have a friend who lost her own baby to microclots that achieved the same thing - lack of blood flow leading to loss of oxgenation.

I truly wish you well with your own birth and that all is well for you.

Original poster
mumhum · 14/03/2015 10:59

That is one sad case and still no proof that the ECV was the underlying cause. Complications during birth can cause placental abruption. There are many more success stories where ECV has worked. I just hope everyone is able to make the right choice that they are happy with.

OP posts:
BasinHaircut · 14/03/2015 12:48

mumhum actually you DID say people choose c-section as the easy option.

FWIW, an ELCS is an easy option compared to a crash section, which is what you almost ended up with after your ECV. But the thing is you don't get an option with a crash section, and that's why I wouldn't risk one.

koala yes round his neck. If they had tried to turn him (like my midwife tried to bully me in to) then it wouldn't have worked and would have put him at risk and I could have very well ended up under GA having a crash section.

My c-section ended up being an EMCS anyway as my waters broke at 36 weeks and the fact that I didn't want ECV was academic as I couldn't have one in the end. I could have tried a breech delivery but it was my first and I was terrified enough let alone doing it arse first.

I would also point out that if I have another child, if all is well I wouldnt automatically choose an ELCS because actually I don't consider it an easy option having already been through it once. Not that I have to justify my birth choices to anyone.

Impatientwino · 14/03/2015 12:49

I had an ECV to try and turn DS. It was horrible, truly horrible. I vomited, passed out and found it tremendously upsetting. I felt sore and damaged for a good week afterwards. I had an ELCS which was ok.

I'm now pg with DC2 and hoping for a VBAC however, if this baby is breech I shan't be having an ECV again.

Everyone's experience is different. For every women who has a good experience someone will have a bad one.

A midwife friend of mine said that she's been in the business for 12 years and she's only ever seen 2 successful ECVs and one of those babies turned back again afterwards.