ECV

[LUCIA22]

I am 38 weeks and just found out baby might be breech, I am waiting for a scan to confirm. MW has said that my options are ECV, trying for a normal birth with risk of emergency cs or elective cs. I hate the idea or cs whether it is elective or not but guess that it must be better than an emergency one. Has anyone had an ECV? What exactly does it involve and is it worth a try?. I am feeling so disapointed as had my heart set on water birth at local mw lead unit and now will have to go to the maternity hospital whatever happens.

Hi Lucia, there is still time for the baby to turn on it's own at this stage. Do a seach of threads about ECV and you will see quite a few posts on this.
Personally I had an ECV at 39 weeks and found it horrible, for me it was worse than labour. I also ended up with an emergency c-section anyway. In hindsight I wish I had opted for the elective section!
But saying that you will now hear lots of people telling you that it shouldn't hurt etc.
It basically involves them giving you an injection to relax the muscles of the uterus and then they place their hands on your tummy and attempt to turn the baby around to the head down position. It doesn't always work and apparently you can ask about success rates etc for the person doing the ECV.

thread about ECV

babies have been known to turn at term or in labour

what is hospitals stance on vaginal delivery of a breech baby? and how do you feel about it?

I have had a look at the previous threads. This is my first baby and although I was looking forward to a normal birth with little intervention I dont really want to risk a traumatic birth ending with a emergency cs and I dont want to put the baby at any risk, I really dont think it is worth it. It worrying to hear about other peoples experience of ECV and how much it can hurt. My placenta is anterior so maybe they wont offer the precedure anyway. I think if it comes to it then I will opt for an elective cs as now this has happened I wont be able to have the water birth I wanted now anyway as I wont be able to go the the midwife lead unit, they dont take anything that isnt low risk.

I had an anterior placenta with dd, but they still did ECV so don't assume that they can't if you want to give it a try...

Well, I have heard that they have good success rates with hypnotherapy. One also relaxes and the baby can turn itself. I have heard this from a hypnotherapist, so maybe an independent source would be more reliable. I am sure the NHS wouldn't cover this bu the way.