ECV success stories - any reassurance please!

[summertime167]

Hi all I am booked in for ECV on Monday and am starting to get quite worried about it. A lot of what you read online is women having really unpleasant experiences.

I am wondering whether this is down to the nature of the internet (when something goes bad we are all more likely to talk about it!) or even perhaps that when it doesn't work out we might be naturally might be more disappointed?

....or maybe it just is awful!!

All of the NHS/RCOG literature describes the process as mostly uncomfortable and painful for some... so there must be some women out there who didn't find it terrible? Surely the procedure wouldn't be offered if it was that bad?

I know it is the right thing for me to do from a practical/life perspective (lots going on and avoiding a c-sec if possible is preferable). I'm under no pressure from medical professionals to have the procedure. ... I guess I am just after some reassurance/good news stories!

I found the ecv was fine, there was no pain I just felt pressure. My baby refused to budge despite their best efforts and it still wasn’t painful, just after I felt a bit bruised, but that only lasted a short while and could of been more because she focussed on one spot for most of it to try n get his bum out my pelvis. Fingers crossed your baby is more co operative 🤞🏻

I think people just generally talk about the horror births.

I had a csection and it was absolutely fine.

The only thing I would say is i found it all very overwhelming, it was like being in a bit of a whirlwind dream. The drugs can make you feel a bit sicky during the procedure.

My pregnancy had been very risky and they were delivering him 6 weeks early, I just wanted to hear that cry, it was so surreal.

Recovery was also good for me, dissolvable stitches. Worst bit was going to the toilet when they take the catheter out, felt so weird.

Another weird thing I found was even long after, I kept expecting my vagina to hurt from the birth even though I knew he hadn't come out of there.

Good luck!

I also had an unsuccessful ECV but I'm so glad I tried. It was uncomfortable but not painful but it's over quickly. they gave me a muscle relaxant to help the procedure and gas and air was available if I wanted (I didn't). Baby was monitored thoroughly before and after and was absolutely fine the entire time. They scanned me before to make sure there was enough fluid and baby wasn't too big.

I had a successful ECV at 37 weeks. Due to a high bmi they weren't convinced it was going to work though. I won't lie, the amount of pressure they needed to use to turn baby was intense but I felt like it was worth the discomfort to avoid a csection (just personal choice!) my ribs were pretty sore for a day or two after but nothing too bad. The muscle relaxant they use makes you feel a bit funny but it wears off pretty quickly. The monitoring of baby before and after was good. I would definitely try it again if I had another breech baby.

We had a successful ECV, it wasn’t painful just uncomfortable. It took about a minute to turn the baby. We were monitored before, during and after, it was all very professional and reassuring.

Thanks ladies for all of the reassuring! I had the ECV yesterday. It was unsuccessful, but more uncomfortable than painful as you've said. I actually thought the rubbing of the skin in each direction was a bit more sore than what was going on inside! Baby was monitored throughout but was absolutely fine. Only thing was the ward was so busy I had to sit around for a couple of hours before the procedure - good to have a bit of insight into how the labour ward works though before I'm back for my c-sec in a couple of weeks!