Breech baby at 37 weeks - thoughts on ECV or planned c-section??

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Hi all,
So as the title suggests my baby is breech at 37 weeks and I have been offered the ECV to try to turn him or a planned section. I’m not sure what to do-the doctors seem to think an ECV isn’t very risky so it’s worth a try-but then you look online and see horror stories and of course it doesn’t have a high success rate. Perhaps I should just trust the doctor and it might work. Just wondered if anyone has had to pick between these options and could share their thoughts /experiences?

Many thanks

Hello, I have a 4 month old daughter and she was breech at 37 weeks and I opted for ECV. I barely felt a thing and it was succesful and I had a normal quick delivery. The doctor doing it made it look so easy & made me feel so at ease. I have known 1 other friend have one (hers was a bigger baby too 8lb 12) and hers was also succesful. I would honestly say its worth a try!

I had an ECV - it was hell! I had mine in the afternoon and the company consults hadn't managed to turn a single baby that day. I've never felt pain like it (sorry to say that) I attempted natural labour as was allowed due to midwife experience. Unfortunately I ended up with EMS, check out spinning babies website, they are great to help with moving.
Go with your gut instinct x

My DS was footling breech so I was told a natural birth was off the cards unless I had a successful ECV (felt the consultant was pushing for that option really) but we decided to decline and book in for a c section.

DS had been in the same position for a long time and I guess I felt maybe there was a reason for that and best not to interfere with what nature/he intended! I'd heard good and bad things from others but just felt that was right for me.

Personally, I also weighed up what the reasoning behind an ECV for me would be. I ideally wanted a natural birth but took the view that baby didn't mind how he came out and his safety was the most important thing above my preference etc. so decided to go for the c section unless he moved himself and a vaginal birth was back on the cards!

Totally accept a c section has it's own risks to weigh up so no right or wrong, just what feels right for you.

Good luck whatever you choose!

My DD was breach so we opted for ECV, it was the most painful experience of my life and I always promised myself I would never recommend it to any of my friends unless they really desperately wanted to go for a vaginal birth.
I remember the midwives telling me it would be fine and I would hardly feel anything, then when the surgeons came in to start the procedure one of them told me I would need the gas and air, which instantly made me nervous because I was not expecting much other than slight discomfort.
They tried one way and it was excruciating, then they went to try the other way and my husband had to ask them to stop because I was beside myself and crying my eyes out in pain. I desperately wanted to have a water birth, but I knew at that moment that I just couldn't continue so I opted for an elective caesarean, which is the one thing I had been terrified of throughout my whole pregnancy.
That being said, the c section was the best decision I have ever made and it was very calm and relaxed, I didn't feel anything, not even the cannula being put in my hand.
We are about to try for our next baby and I will go straight for c section now without any second thoughts or nervousness!
You have to do what is right for yourself though! But as someone who desperately didn't want a section, it really was an amazing experience and I have absolutely no regrets! I hope this helps

I had a failed ecv. I was really glad we tried. The doctor was great and don't try and force her where she didn't want to go. He managed to rotate her about 30 degrees but she just pinged straight back again as soon as he eased off. I have since learned I have a divide/ridge in my uterus (can't remember what it's called) so maybe that's why she wouldn't budge. I loved my planned c-section.

I have two failed ecv attempts. It wasn't painful but the doctor knew when to stop. If I have another baby, I'll skip the ecv and go straight for c section.

My ECV was hell on earth and there is no way I would do it again or ever recommend it to others! I found it very distressing, like a PP my DH had to tell them to stop, and I worried so much about the distress to my baby.

Went for elective section and it was fine.

Thanks all-it’s very interesting hearing your experiences. It seems for many it was somewhat more painful than the doctor simply it is going to be! I wonder also -if some babies are just in a position that’s easier to manipulate than others -hence for some it’s not so painful and works. I’m really in two minds-these cord horror stories are really off putting for the ECV. Also -how long does the whole process take with monitoring? I was under the impression it was quick but now after reading perhaps the actual procedure is fairly quick but the monitoring afterwards going on a few hours.

Part of me wonders if a planned c section would be calmer-but I worry about the associated risks and also during corona virus obviously you will be in recovery without partner. Perhaps I should just give the ECV one go and then if it doesn’t work take it as fate and stick with the section! I hate decisions!

Hi Op, my DS was breech and we found out at 39 weeks. Doctors refused to move him as was too high risk due to how far along I was. They also said it could be too risky with his cord. We opted for a c-section and to be honest it was all pretty calm and was over quite quickly! Good luck x

I remember with mine I went in on the Wednesday at 10am and I was told that if there were any problems with their booked sections or emergencies came up then we would have to wait longer until the surgeon was available. We ended up waiting until about 3pm before they just sent us home because they were so busy.
Obviously you can't eat beforehand or during the hospital stay in case they need to rush you to surgery after ECV so I was starving and felt really unwell (I had HG in my pregnancy too though so that didn't help!)
I came back the next day at the same time and then finally saw a doctor at about lunch time, the procedure can't have lasted more than a few minutes but we were under observation until gone 6pm. I can't remember the exacts, but both times I was in for what I would consider to be a whole day.
As much as I wouldn't recommend it (solely because my experience was awful and looking back I do kind of feel personally that if that's the way Baby is then maybe there's a reason for that), you really do have to do what makes you feel right. Just don't be scared to ask them to stop, even before they've already started! If it doesn't feel right or you're in pain then just say so.
Fingers crossed if you go for ECV it will be nice and easy and little one will just pop happily head down

With regards to the section, I found it really helpful to focus on the positives. When I realised that was my only option I cried for a 24 hours, then I snapped out of it and thought at least I got to pick the birth date, I knew what was going to happen and didn't have to worry all through labour that I was going to need a section, DH would be holding my hand the whole time and within a matter of 10 minutes I would have my baby in my arms and nothing matters after that point!
I lost a lot of blood in my surgery and I spiked a nasty temperature after, I also threw up in recovery quite a lot whilst my DH held DD, a midwife held a sick bowl in front of me and another midwife milked my nipples into a syringe to feed baby! It was a very bizarre experience but I actually really enjoyed my birth and I never felt scared.

Like you say, it might be worth you giving it a try due to coronavirus and the longer hospital stay solo and stop if you don't like it It's the same as anything, we all feel really strongly about the negative experiences we had because they were negative! You don't hear as many positive stories because people just get on with their lives and forget it ever happened (I assume!)

All the best with whatever you decide!

My consultant gently tried 22 years ago and booked me in for a caesarean three weeks later. The weekend before I woke through the night with contractions and what felt like major baby activity and was on the verge of calling the hospital when I must have dropped off.

Baby was still breach at a check up on Friday. On Monday when caesarean was scheduled baby was head down so did it all by herself.

My consultant and I decided to cancel the Caesarean on my condition thst if I had a natural labour I would have a v experienced midwife. 1st labour not good.

DD was born three weeks later at 41 weeks after a quick and easy, very nearly induced, labour.

I had a failed ECV. Like a pp, I was told if anything emergency came in I'd have to wait and ended up waiting so long the injection I'd had to soften my uterus to help with the turning had worn off. It was bloody uncomfortable but the doctor knew when to stop.
C-section was more complicated than they thought it would be and I struggled afterwards thinking I'd 'failed' as it resulted in a nicu stay for my dd. However, by all accounts it was a rare occurrence and I wouldn't hesitate to skip the ecv and go ahead with another c-section if I needed to with another pregnancy.

On Monday when caesarean was scheduled baby was head down so did it all by herself
@OhTheRoses, how did they know she'd turned? Did you have a scan prior to your scheduled section?

We discovered DS was breech at 38 weeks, when they were just about to try and induce me as I also had cholestasis.

I was offered ECV or ELCS. I didn't even consider ECV and the section was quite honestly a dream compared to the vaginal births i heard the poor women enduring every night on the ward

I secretly thank DD for turning breech and saving me having to give birth vaginally. My CS went off without too much hassle and the recovery was fine. It's a no brained for me.

@theserious Unless there’s another reason for CS as well, you should always get a quick scan prior to section. Bit embarrassing to operate for no reason!

OP you should find you’re able to have a conversation with the docs about how likely it is that the baby will turn. Starting point would be about 50:50 if it’s your first baby, probably more like 70:30 if you’ve had a baby before. But when they scan and feel your baby there are things that make it more or less likely to succeed - eg whether they can lift baby’s bottom easily from your pelvis, whether they can feel baby’s head easiky, where the placenta is, how much fluid there is around baby, how big baby is, and how many weeks you are. You might find it helpful for them to give you a better guesstimate taking those things into account. And Try not to be too alarmed by google horror stories.

A good doctor should be paying careful attention to how you’re coping throughout, and stopping if you need to stop. Generally the baby will either turn easily without Much discomfort, or not at all.
Good luck with your decision either way!

@TenThousandSpoons0 I had a ELCS due to breech but wasn't scanned on the morning of my section. If I had been, the injury my dd suffered might have been avoided. I was told by pals that scans prior to sections were not routine...

No, I didn't have a scan. The consultant could feel the position. However, ds was posterior and the midwives looking after me didn't know. The consultant identified it immediately when labour hit crisis point.

I agree, all labours should be preceded by a scan. In my experience midwives claim to be able to tell the lie of the baby but in reality they can't. I stopped referring to midwives at all the more experienced I became. I would exhort all women to seek the advice of qualified and suitably experienced doctors rather than midwives or nurses.

@theseriousmoonlight that’s interesting, I’m not in the UK but thought practice here was pretty similar - here you would get a quick bedside scan to confirm. Babies trick us all the time!! I have heard of one baby turning in between the scan and the CS 1 hr later though!!

@TenThousandSpoons0 I was scanned just before my c section to make sure baby was still breech , I'm in the uk. Maybe it depends on hospitals

Can't remember if I was scanned again before the section. It was pretty obvious that she hadn't moved though as I had a head-shaped bump just below my boobs and could feel her feet on my bladder.
ECV was horrendous. I've never felt pain like it and the relaxant they gave me made me have the shakes.
The consultant that delivered the baby said that the cord was too short for dd to be able to turn and the ECV shouldn't have been done.
I really enjoyed the caesarean. It was such a lovely calm experience.

2 ECV's for 2 separate breech DC. First one was successful, mildly uncomfortable, but wouldn't say painful. EVC at 38 weeks, DC born naturally at 39 weeks.

2nd ECV was unsuccessful, again mildly uncomfortable but it was pretty obvious to me that the Dr performing it wasn't as experienced as the first time I had it done.

DC turned by herself the night before scheduled C-Section, I thought I was going into labour. I was scanned at the last minute while prepped for theatre. C-Section cancelled at the last minute and DC born naturally about a week later.

If the consultant performing it is experienced, I'd say go for it.

Thanks everyone for your comments. It does seems it varies from hospital to hospital and also on who performs it. I’m at a great London hospital but it is a teaching hospital so they often have students doing things.

At the moment I’m still leaning towards a planned section. Partly because I’m a FTM so thinking the chances are even lower for me for successful EVC, the baby is also pretty big which seems to make
Chances lower, my stomach is pretty toned with it being my first baby -these all seem to make it harder. This is an IVF baby after years of trying /miscarriage and I’m super anxious and part of me just thinks having a date to work too for section that will be before my due date might be better for me. I’m feeling super anxious about him getting bear safely these last few weeks. I know the risks are so low for EVC but some of the horror stories I have read when in the small cases it does go wrong- I can’t get out of my mind. I’m such a worrier and I’m concerned that if I do the EVC then afterwards I’m going to be paranoid that it’s caused some issue with cord or something and be nervously watching out for it. It’s so hard to know what to do though.

my baby was breech whole pregnancy, I went for an elective c section. not that it worked out like that because my waters broke the day before it was planned at 38+6 and ended up being an emergency c section but it was fine albeit a bit manic.

like a pp said I decided against turning her as I had it in my head she put herself in that position and had been happy and healthy the whole pregnancy so left her to it!

I also found out my baby was breech around 37ish weeks. I opted for a ECV as was very anxious at the thought of having a section. When I went for the appointment I was told that it is easier depending on number of factors such as breech type, age, weight etc. Unfortunately for me I wasnt in category where it looked like I had a high chance of success. It was excruciating pain but I was glad I tried it anyway. That day they booked me in for a planned c section and I had a really positive experience despite this being one of the things I was very anxious and worried about. Good Luck x

Thanks for all your help with this -thought I would update. I literally tried a few of the spinning baby tricks for a day or two-the main one where we think the turn happened is the lying on the ironing board with frozen peas on top of stomach and heat down low. I felt a lot of movement when I did this and hubby was watching it too. Anyway I turn up for my scan yesterday before potentially ding the ECV and the baby was head down! I know these exercises won’t work for everyone if the baby is really stuck but I only did a little and it caused me such relief not having to choose between a c section or ECV. They are def worth a try -I was very dubious about them but I’m convinced they worked!