ECV - does it work?

[Muppet1104]

I've just found out my first baby is breech at 37 weeks, and the hospital have suggested External cephalic version next week to try and turn it but am not sure - does anyone have any experience of it actually working? I don't want to put the baby through additional trauma if am going to end up needing a c-section anyway?

i think franny has tips for turning baby

tbh i wouldn't allow ecv - heard too many negative experiences

good luck

find out the success rate for the hospital and the consult. who is doing it, as rates vary

if you do a search on here, there are lots of natural tips to help turn a breech baby...including moxibusiton and caullophyllum....

I had ecv when pg with dd1 - worked perfectly and wasn't painful.

DD2 was also breech at about 36 weeks and I had a friend do reflexology on me - later in the day, she turned!

They tried ECV with my dd, very painful and didn't work although they tried both ways. She ducked under the consultants hands each time but she is a stubborn so-and-so. Ended up with elective c-section,which was great (although I have nothing to compare it to). If this baby is breech not sure that I would even try ECV.

Having said that they give you a drug to relax your stomach muscles, which means the baby can go wild and all sorts of bumps and lumps all over the place. V amusing, probably worth it for that.

I had an ECV with mine, I think at 37 weeks, and it was totally fine. She turned really easily. It was slightly painful when they took her out of the pelvis, and really wierd seeing bump changed shape as she turned. I would do again if baby 2 us also breech, but I would definitely ask consultant to stop if the baby wasn't turning easily on first go.

I had an ecv I didn't have a drug to relax me but it din't really hurt it was just a bit uncomfy. The doctor really scooped about my abdomen and pelvis
DD didn't turn, she was (and still is) a small baby and she was very firmly ensconced in my pelvis.
I had a elective c section and it was also fine.
The tips for turning babies were really all to late for me. If I had found out a week or two earlier I think I would have had some success
BTW the moxabustion really smells so if you try it pick your room carefully. our bathroom smelt like it had hosted a very smoky party

I was in your shoes a few weeks ago and was given some very useful questions to ask:
How often do they do this at the hospital?
What's their success rate? (At mine, it was 50%, with 10% of those that actually turned successfully turning back).
How long will they try for? Some consultants will try for a few minutes, others will have several attempts over 20 minutes.
In the end, we decided to skip ECV. I felt the hospital was almost steering us to that decision, but that was fine for me. I was worried that if DD ended up being a cranky baby, I'd always wonder if that was why (mad, I know...). Had C-section last week and all went smoothly. DD still loves to be held in the breech position and will drop off against your chest in no time at al if so. So I guess she was happy there. Good luck!

Have you tried anything else to turn baby at home?

If not I'd ask to put it off for a week or so and get going!

Mine is breech at 33 weeks and I'm desperately trying to stay positive that it will flip before scan at 36 weeks.

Good luck

I would try all other methods first (esp reflexology) - if you do have it done though, book an appointment with a chiropractor for the baby for when its about 7 days old (they do work on them that young). They will be able to fix any problems caused by birth/turning trauma.

Neither of mine had to be turned, but I seem to carry them funny so they end up with necks that don't turn properly - the chiropractor fixed both of them, DS much younger and he settled soo much easier (DD only settled once it had been done).

I had an ECV last week as it was discovered my baby was breech at 38 weeks.
It was quite painful i have to say but it was worth it as it worked!
They said it still may go back to breech so i have to go back for a scan this coming week to see what its doing. If it is breech then it will b a c section for me but i dont mind that as at least i know ive tried.

I dont think id have another ECV if it is brech altho i dont think theyd do it at this lat stage now anyway, just for the reason that if its turned again then this baby obviously wants to b breech!
Id recommend it so u can at least say u tried.
The hospital were very good with me and said i cld stop it at any stage if i felt that it was too painful or just didnt like it.
Good luck x

I had a failed ecv and went on to have a section - DD was stuck!

I wouldn't have another ECV.

Thanks for all the advice, I think I've decided against the ECV. Baby didn't like even the consultant trying to locate it last time I went, pain was unbelievable that night. Don't feel like hospital is giving me any advice at all about it, it's just book an appointment and turn up. It's only then can I ask questions about success stats. I've been sat with my backside in the air every 2 hours, frozen peas on my stomach and been swimming so am hoping I've got another week for it to turn of it's own accord. Fingers crossed!

Meant to ask, for those of you had electives, were they your first? am worried it's going to feel really clinical and more like any other operation and not this magical childbirth I've been psyching myself up for for 9 months. Don't get me wrong wasn't overly looking forward to pain etc but to never feel even a contraction or anything - am I going to feel like a real mum?? I know loads of people who've had emergency sections but none who've had electives for their first.

I had an amazing session of reflexology yesterday and felt the baby inching across. I don't think it's actually turned, but it's been way more active since then, so I'm holding out hope

Btw, can you buy sticks of mugwort online?

Hi

Seems to me breech = section

For you laydeez that had a breech/section I'm interested in what the obs said to you, and whether the advice of a midwife competant in breech births was involved in helping you come to your decision?

Spillage- at my hospital if a baby is breech then they highly advise a CS. I'm sure if you were adament you wanted a vaginal birth then they'd give it a try but they go by latest stats and I think (Well, have been told by my hosp) that the recommend CS as its currently safer.
x

Nah, it depends on the baby's position (there are three kinds of breech I've read about). Consultants generally recommend a c-section as they say breech isn't normal, but then that's their business (so to speak). They rarely witness natural births. My midwife is happy for a natural delivery but would prefer me to be in hospital rather than home in case I need a c-section. Midwives generally lost their skills in natural breech deliveries after a report called the Term Breech Study about 7 years ago recommended c-section as the safest bet. The report was criticised as being weighted.

Mary Cronk, independent midwife, has written a lot about breech births. Seems to be of the opinion that as long as the medics are hands-off (no forceps, induction etc) then breech can go well (and many mothers here say the same), but if the baby gets stuck, a c-section is best option then. More here: www.radmid.demon.co.uk/Skills.htm

The Royal College of Midwives are campaigning for a return to natural breech deliveries. The presentation is not abnormal, it's just not typical. More here: www.rcmnormalbirth.net/default.asp?sID=1099658440484

I see it as a bit of a no-brainer to leave it and see how you go. The baby can turn really late - as late as in labour - and you may still get the chance to have a natural birth whether it does or doesn't turn. Unless you're really worried about having an emergency c-section, I guess.

I am studying to be a midwife and I often see the breech trial being rolled out to scare women witless. Vaginal birth is barely discussed as an option (and strangely they gloss over the considerable risks of section) although there are many midwives more than comfortable to assist breech births.

Anyway to get back to the thread, having had two normal births, I'd have an ECV if it meant I could avoid a section (which scares me more than a vaginal breech birth).

XX

Muppet

I had an elective c-section last time, am not yet sure what I will do this time. But it was a fantastic experience and don't ever feel like you haven't done it "right" or somehow have not had a "proper" birth. My baby was breech (see below) and I was happy to go along with recommendation to have a c-section rather than natural birth; I was scared enough of birth as it was without any added complications! My advice is similar to what you would do with a natural birth - eg forewarned is forearmed; read as much as you can about it in advance, if possible speak to women who have had a c-section at that hospital and get them to go through the process in detail so you know exactly what to expect and do a birth plan just like you would for a normal birth. We had music playing during the operation; my husband told me the sex; I was able to see her straight away and have skin-to-skin contact more or less immediately; I was breast feeding as soon as we were off the trolley and all in all I felt like I had achieved a very positive birth experience. Hope this helps, ask any more questions if you have them!

I had an ECV yesterday as baby is breech at 37 and a half weeks, and I have to say that although it didn't work it was no where near as traumatic experience as I was expecting. The consultant and registrar and midwife were lovely and put me completely at ease and whilst it was uncomfortable it was definitely not unbearable pain.

I would definitely have one again if i were to have another breech baby.

We are now getting used to the idea of an elective c-section having tried moxibustion, lying upside down, and reflexology.....all of which have been futile!...it just seems that this LO needs to stay this way up for whatever reason!

Sorry it didn't work for you, Kate, but good to know it wasn't a completely horrible experience. I'm going to find out on Mon if mine is still breech and 36.5 weeks. I figured I'd give ECV a go if it is, but was feeling a bit apprehensive as quite a few people have described it as painful.

What was the moxibustion like? Considering trying that next...

I have heard about plenty of babies turning as late as 39 weeks - and one or two actually turning during labour - so don't give up hope, unless you want to plan it now. When's your c-section booked for?

My elective is booked for this friday. Pretty scary but am glad I didn't go for the ECV. Am getting psyched up for the section now, so am going to learn as much as I can to prepare me. If baby turns before then, then it's fate if not then will look on it as baby's choice.
Claraq - thanks for the reassurance, it's weird think this maternity leave lark is giving me too much time to think about stuff.
Just can't wait to have little one here really, am starting to be fed up of pregnancy.

My C section is booked for 30th July, so am starting to get my head round it now!

If the baby turns then that will be great but the consultant didn't think this was likely...I have crohns disease and it seems that part of my bowel is preventing the bottom from coming out of the pelvis!....so the poor LO couldn't move even if they wanted to!

Moxibustion was v bizarre!...we tried it at home...it involves burning these big things that look like cigars and don't smell that great over bladder 67 accupressure point on the side of your little toes!....again didn't work but provided us with some v amusing photos of me with my feet balanced on books with plumes of smoke next to them!......I would definitely recommend that you give it a go as you just don't know what might work for you!

Good luck