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Pregnancy

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

Breech baby/unstable lie, ECV at 38 weeks

3 replies

YouFightLikeADairyFarmer · 26/01/2020 20:16

Hoping some wise Mumsnetters can share their own experiences - I need to talk to a doctor/midwife really, but have been driving myself mad over the weekend obsessing over options!

I'm 37+5 - community midwife said baby was head down at my routine appointment on Thursday, but referred me for a growth scan the next day, which found a normal size baby, who is also breech. I've agreed to an ECV next Friday when I'll be 38+3 (seems late, but that's the earliest they could fit me in) mainly on the basis that I've had a previous straightforward delivery and want the same again, but have been worrying ever since.

I hadn't realised baby was breech myself, and the general consensus seems to be that if she'd flipped 180 between the Thursday appointment and the Friday scan, I'd have noticed. Since that scan on Friday, I've been more focused on her and am now wondering if the quite violent (verging on painful) movements I've been experiencing are actually her spinning around - eg. I could have sworn earlier today that she was transverse - something very solid on either side of my bump and very soft at the top. Now, however, there's definitely something solid in the top left corner - how likely is it that she's actually somersaulting about, compared to my imagination running away with me?!

If she is constantly turning, the ECV seems like a waste of time because she'll probably just flip on back - or what if they check her position beforehand, find that she happens to be head down and send me away again, only for her to flip about half an hour later?

I'm also now a bit worried that if she is in an "unstable lie", that seems to be dangerous - and my last labour, whilst uncomplicated, was very fast - about 2.5 hours active labour, although my waters went (without contractions) almost 24 hours before baby was born. First baby was very overdue so I suspect I'm unlikely to spontaneously go into labour any time soon, but the whole situation is really stressing me out - and I'm not usually a worrier.

Can anyone offer me any advice/reassurance?

OP posts:
Lilice · 26/01/2020 23:25

I'm not an expert but I'd say if she is still flipping then that's a good sign and maybe before labour starts she will know to get in position? I also had a breech baby, but he was head up the entire pregnancy and never moved. I had two ECV but he still didnt want to move. He decided to come before the planned c section but that was fine and I still had time to get to hospital etc.

nicciw87 · 27/01/2020 13:45

No advice here as haven't had an ecv done but have heard on a different post/forum of asking for a ecv and then induce to break waters at same time. Waters breaking prevents baby turning back. I'm pregnant with my 4th and if breech this is what IL be asking for I couldn't cope with a c section and 3 other boys at home

Dancingandthedreaming · 27/01/2020 13:53

My 3rd was like this. Transverse from 37 weeks, admitted and had ecv. Very non traumatic, didn't hurt and baby turned beautifully. But then he flipped back to transverse. He turned himself at 39+5 and I really knew about it, like a huge pair of trainers in the washing machine! Baby arrived after a lovely easy labour a few days later.

Have you looked at the spinning babies website? Very good exercise to help baby go head down. Good luck!

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