ECV...help and advice

[Jellybaby13]

Hi,

I'm looking for others who have gone through ECV to turn their breech baby in the uterus.

Just wondering what your opinions are, is it worth the risks even if the risks are extremely low?

If nothing goes wrong, do I go back to work after the procedure or take the day off?

Has anyone had success with ECV?

My baby weighs 6lbs 16oz at 35+2 weeks...is the fact that she's a big baby likely to factor in whether the ECV works or not?

I know these are all questions for my consultant but I didn't really think of them yesterday when I had this info. My head's a mess, all I could do was cry yesterday out of fear of ECV and C-Section.

Of course I'm still going to try my hardest in this next week to get her to turn but the consultant said she was unlikely to do this on her own due to her size 😭

Thanks for any info!

I had an ECV with DD1. I was happy with the balance of risks, and would have done anything to avoid a c section (including considering a vaginal breech birth).

The ECV itself was absolutely fine, a little weird and uncomfortable but certainly not painful. And the best part - it worked! I felt weak afterwards, so would certainly suggest you rest if possible. You may be alright to go back to work after a few hours, assuming it is a desk job?

Take any estimates of your baby's size with a huge pinch of salt, such figures are hugely difficult to obtain and notoriously inaccurate. So many women have been scared into believing they were having a huge baby, only for them to arrive and be 6-7-8lbs. There is lots you can do to encourage baby to turn or to improve the chances of the ECV working. Look at the spinning babies website and perhaps consider accupuncture.

Hi,
I had a successful ecv at 37+5 weeks.
The estimated fetal weight at 37+0 was 6lb 12oz.

I personally felt it was worth the risks as they are very low and I desperately wanted to avoid c-section if at all possible.

The ecv itself was rather uncomfortable and under my ribs was sore for a couple of days after, I'd definitely take the test of the day off work and relax! Even if you don't feel sore, the process of monitoring, turning and re-monitoring can take a while.

Fingers crossed for you!

I think the type of breech has more impact on success rates of ECV than size of baby. Extended/frank breech (with legs straight up) has a much lower success rate than flexed or footling breech, so I was told.

My breech baby was extended breech and with her bottom wedged very low down and ECV was unsuccessful. I found it painful but I had SPD so everything was painful by then! I'd had issues previously with spinal anaesthetic and I was desperate to avoid a c section if at all possible, so I felt the risk was worth it.

Thank you for your advice everyone! I'm going to go for the ECV on Thursday and see how it goes! If that doesn't work then I think I'll book the c-section!

Terrified but I'll do what's best for baby in the end! From what I've heard vaginal breech birth is risky so the c-section sounds like the best plan if ECV doesn't work.

Thanks everyone! X

My baby was frank breech and decided against an ECV. I did the spinning babies exercises, acupuncture, chiropractic instead but none of them worked. I ended up with a c-section and the consultant said she was very firmly wedged in and my fluid levels were on the low side so unlikely an ECV would have been successful anyway.

If your ECV doesn't work or you don't proceed, the evidence is very clear for breech pregnancies that between c-section and vaginal breech birth, c-section is safer for the baby.

The country I'm in no longer perform this procedure due to the risks so I didn't have the option. I also was a first time mum and vaginal breech is really not recommended. If you've had a vaginal birth previously then I think the risks are lower. In the end I had an EMCS at 35 weeks anyway so it didn't matter but the actual procedure was as bad as I was expecting. Recovery is hard but after 2-3 weeks it's ok as long as there are no complications obviously. After my SIL complicated vaginal birth at 42 weeks, I'm sort of glad I had a CS and will have another if I have another baby. Not glad about the prematurity of it though before anyone says anything.

I chose c section. I only knew one person with a successful ECV.

With ECV, all risk is on baby, virtually non to mother. With c section, most risk is on mother, very little to baby. I chose to take the risk myself.

That's supposed to say it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

@Hmmmbop that is why I declined the ECV because the evidence showed breech pregnancies that ended in c-sections had fewer complications to the baby. My OB told me that they're hardly teaching vaginal breech deliveries in medical school anymore because the evidence shows it's safer for baby to do delivery via c-section.

I've had two c-sections, it was painful and a longer recovery but honestly my babies came safely. I would much rather take the pain and discomfort for them!