33+2 weeks, Breech Baby & ECV

[Lennsuey]

Hi everyone,

I've just come back from my midwife check-up and I'm told my baby is still in the Breech position (feet first). There is still time for baby to turn i'm told, but if it doesn't I will be offered and ECV.
Just wondered if anyone else out there is in the same position and how they felt about the procedure? Or has anyone had an ECV and what was it like & was it successful?

Thanks.

I had an ECV at 38 weeks with my DS. I was told to expect the worst and pack for a C-sec. I was also told it was a painful and lengthy procedure. As it was the procedure lasted about 3 minutes and wasn't at all painful. It just felt like a water ripple. The consultant just covered my bump with talculm powder and then got hold of the baby's head and bottom and just encouraged him to flip over. I know that not all are as easy or as straight-forward as this but I hope you'll feel encouraged that it's not as horrible as it sounds.

Good luck.

DD was breech. I declined an ECV as, at the time, she was frank breech (legs straight, feet round ears, bum first) and large, so less likely to turn. I also talked to a lady that had a failed ECV and she didn't have anything like as good an experience as Bettispaghetti - I guess it's going to be different for everyone.

Partly because DD was breech we booked independent midwives. DD arrived at 41+3, foot first and at home. One of our reasons for using IMs was that we could guarantee a lot of vaginal breech birth experience (having done my own reading I didn't feel that a CS was categorically the safest way to deliver a breech baby, and I didn't trust the hospital not to turn a vaginal birth into a medicalised delivery).

There is time for your LO to turn - if you want to help things along you could look for an accupuncturist with suitable skills (there's a point near your little toe that can be used directly, or by a technique called moxibustion where no needles are involved!). Some people have also had the baby turn after visiting a chiro skilled in the Webster Technique.

For background reading (including complementary techniques) try and get hold of "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites and/or "Breech Birth: What are my options" by Jane Evans. My experience was that the NHS really pushed a CS for a breech baby - I felt these two books gave a far more balanced view of the choices, because despite what the consultant may say they do exist .

Fingers crossed LO turns, though - much less stressful all round

I had a successful ECV, I've posted about it numerous times before, so do check the archives.

Mine was breech right up to 37 weeks - at my scan before they performed the ECV, they discovered it had turned by itself! Hope you get the same result. 33 weeks is still quite early.

ECV didnt work for me, was pretty uncomfortable (but not massively) they gave up after about 20 mins. Think it depends on the type of breech to the success rate.

My 2 both turned at 33 - 34 weeks, on their own, after spending ages on my hands and knees with my bum in the air. (two different pregnancies btw)