Breech 37 weeks

[mumsophia7]

Hey all,

At 31 weeks scans my baby boy was transverse. At 34 weeks scan breech, 36 weeks scan breech still. Tomorrow I will be 37 weeks and I don't believe they have flipped as believe I can feel their head high and all kicks are very low. My doctor said only 3% of babies are breech at 37 weeks.
Tomorrow I am booked in for the ECV procedure (to flip baby!) and have Very mixed feelings about it. I will have a scan first, then monitoring for half hour, then the procedure which is followed by monitoring after.
Has anyone had this procedure? Was it successful? Did anyone's baby flip around 37 or 38 weeks on their own?
It's our first baby! Thank you in advance for replying.

Hello! I had an ECV with my first due to breech presentation (think I had it around 37ish weeks and had tried everything by that point) and it was successful and I went on to have a natural delivery. I'm afraid I did find it quite painful but this was due to the particular position he was in, plus the fact that he got stuck so they had to go back and turn him the other way 🙈 It was quite quick though (about 15 mins?) and the baby was completely unphased - his heart rate stayed the same throughout. It also hasn't put me off having the same again (currently 32 weeks with another breech 😬) and I've been reassured that I'd be offered paid relief if needed and an injection to relax the womb, neither of which were procedure my first time around. Good luck and hope everything goes smoothly!

@Mangoandbroccoli Thank you so much! That's very helpful. They did say I would have the injection to relax my womb. So I'm hoping that helps but definitely appreciate your honestly that although it was fairly quick it was painful. Fantastic to hear it allowed you to continue to have a natural birth. When did you have your first baby? I.e at 40 weeks, before/after? good luck with this one and I hope he/she turns by themselves before 37 weeks this time!!

Thanks @mumsophia7! My waters broke bang on my due date with my first but labour took a long time to get going so I was induced and he arrived 2 days later. Despite it being prolonged and not exactly the all hippy water birth I wanted, it was still the most incredible experience so hopefully that will reassure you about the birth too 😊

If you've looked in to hypnobirthing at all I highly recommend it and that helped me during the ECV. It was good to put it in to practice before the delivery too! Can be as simple as listening to calm music and concentrating on breathing. I've read other people say that an ECV can be uncomfortable rather than painful so fingers crossed for you. As I said though, I thought it was worth it and felt very safe throughout.

@Mangoandbroccoli Thank you again! Yes my husband and I did a private 1-2-1 Hypnobirthing course which involves four 2 and half hour sessions and it was incredible. So I will certainly use those techniques and hypnosis tomorrow while I'm at hospital and during the procedure.
Xx

Hi OP! Didn't want to read and run... My DS1 was breech until 39 weeks where he turned, I didn't feel a thing so believe me it does happen!

I had this procedure. My baby was discovered to be breach at 39+2. I was told it would be done under spinal block but it wasn't, I was given something to relax my womb (two lots of drugs as it turned out) It wasn't painful but was excruciating at the same time. Lots of people were in the cubicle as breach is rare and the procedure is very rare, they don't get to do that many so I had a lot of people wanting to watch. It didn't work so I was given a spinal block and they tried again in theatre. They put a lot of pressure on the baby, in the end my husband asked when they decide enough is enough and the person doing it stopped immediately and said now. I then had a section which was fine but it took a long time to stitch up afterwards and when one of them commented they mentioned a drug name and they said she was given double (I'm not sure it it was two lots of drugs or double the amount of one). I was lucky and my section was great and I recovered well. My friend who is a midwife advised me against having the ECV and I wish I'd listened. There were a lot more risks for the baby than I realised and there is a lot on here about them. Sorry, know this isn't what you asked but my experience of the procedure. I wouldn't do it again. Good luck OP.

@moralminority I'm sorry you didn't have a positive experience with your ECV, that sounds really tough.

For anyone else reading, it is worth asking your hospital / consultant how many they have performed and what their personal success rate is in order to help you make the decision. There will be positive and negative stories on the internet but I felt reassured after speaking to the consultant and midwife who performed mine as they had a high success rate and I was confident I could say stop at any time and that they would stop at any sign of distress (eg change in baby's heart rate, which was monitored throughout).

Good luck OP, and let us know how you get on!

Thank you @MrsTiffin for sharing that! So it's still possible!!

@moralminority Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with me. It's important to hear all thoughts and experiences whether positive, Negative or somewhere in between! I wish my husband could be there to support me and even though I know I'll be fine on my own - it's just reassuring to know someone is there to ask questions and help you.

@FoxtrotSkarloey Thank you for sharing your experience with me. I too have a similar plan A - natural, birth pool, hypnobirthing etc. But I know anything can happen with childbirth and am open minded and understand as this is my first pregnancy and various other factors that the ECV may not work and I may be booked in for a c-section around 39 weeks. I've had major spinal surgery before (scoliosis fusion) so wanted to avoid major surgery again but focusing on knowing my baby boy will be in my arms in 2/3 weeks makes me feel calmer. Thank you again!

I was in a similar situation and I declined an ECV after doing research. It’s only successful in turning the baby 50% of the time and of those a sizable portion end up with an emergency section because of some other issue. I also read some studies showing that the outcome for breech pregnancies with the least complications for the baby is a planned Caesarean.

A family member is a retired OB/GYN who has seen it all and she advised to go for the section as well.

I stopped mine halfway through and am extremely cross with myself for allowing it at all. I found it very painful and I imagine very stressful for my baby. It often doesnt work and even if it does there is every chance baby will simply turn back.

DS remained breech and I had a schedulds section. Recovery was very quick and I am having the same this time round. I am very anti ECV. Good luck with whatever you decide.

@FoxtrotSkarloey you’ve quoted a different statistic. 0.5% of babies turned successfully will turn breech again.

What I read was that something like 15% of those that turned successfully ended up with a section or significant intervention (forceps/ventouse) for other reasons even though the baby was head down at delivery.

So the odds didn’t make sense. Honestly I think ECV is a holdover from days when c-sections were more risky or not available. In 2020 if section is safer for the baby we should be doing it, unless mum has other complications or plans for a large family.

I’ve had a second DC and am done with children now. No regrets about my choice!

@FilthyforFirth I had a feeling I would jump from the table to be honest. I watched a video of an ECV and pardon the pun but it turned my stomach. My beautiful child was happy with her head up, who knows why but she came out safely thanks to modern medical practice.

My daughter was extended breech, went in for the ECV and after monitoring the consultant decided there was no way she was going to be turned so it was even attempted. Was booked in for c section at 39 weeks. Was a positive experience.

@mumsophia7

Hey all,

At 31 weeks scans my baby boy was transverse. At 34 weeks scan breech, 36 weeks scan breech still. Tomorrow I will be 37 weeks and I don't believe they have flipped as believe I can feel their head high and all kicks are very low. My doctor said only 3% of babies are breech at 37 weeks.
Tomorrow I am booked in for the ECV procedure (to flip baby!) and have Very mixed feelings about it. I will have a scan first, then monitoring for half hour, then the procedure which is followed by monitoring after.
Has anyone had this procedure? Was it successful? Did anyone's baby flip around 37 or 38 weeks on their own?
It's our first baby! Thank you in advance for replying.

I was breach until 36 weeks. I did certain exercises to help the baby turn - the easiest one is just get down on your hands and knees and rock your hips. Walking also helps - but I found that my DS kept flipping back afterwards lol

I have had an ECV done. At 40 weeks. Baby didn't turn and it was brutal result was an EMCS at 40 + 3.

That's not to say it won't work for you.

I think you should prepare your self for all the eventualities.

To update:

I had the ECV today. I was scanned before and then monitored for an hour before. Then had the procedure with 2 midwives and 2 doctors, one was a very senior doctor and the other a 'standard' doctor. They gave me an injection to relax my womb n started about 20 mins after that. It was a lot of pressure but I used my hypnobirthing techniques whole heartedly and did not accept the gas and air. They left it very closed to me incase I wanted to grab it but I felt positive I could do it without. The power of breathing and visualisation is immense. They tried 3 times - anti-clock, then clockwise then a final attempt similar to the first. Yes it was very uncomfortable and painful but I don't regret it.
Unfortunately baby did not move into head down position and I have an elective c-section booked in for 39 + 2. So it wasn't the perfect result for me but it was an absolutely okay experience and I feel at ease with it all! Hopefully my ELCS goes well and baby and I can be back home with my husband the following day.
Thank you to all who posted and offered their advice and experiences x