ECV - would you try it?

[babythreeincoming]

Would you recommend an ECV to turn a breech baby?

My third boy is measuring 3 weeks ahead, breech and with excess fluid. I don't know whether to try the ECV or opt for a planned section. I've had two previous vaginal deliveries and would prefer this but what will be will be.

If baby does turn successfully with the ECV will they leave me to full term even with a big baby based on the scans?

My first was breech but turned by himself around 36 weeks, but I know of two other women in my family who have had babies in the last few years who were breech and they initially opted for ECV and it didn’t work in either case.

It might be worth finding out what the success rate is. How far gone are you? Could baby still turn?

x

I also had this with my third baby. It was a bit of a surprise as he only turned breech at 36 weeks after previously being head down. I was offered an ECV and of the three options (Vaginal breech birth/ECV/planned c-section) I knew that I absolutely didn't want a vaginal breech birth, and a planned c-section would have been OK, but I was hoping for a straightforward vaginal birth, so ECV made the most sense to me. I had a look at the other methods to try to persuade the baby to turn (e.g. Spinning babies, moxibustion) and it sounded like the evidence for them wasn't very good so I didn't see the point in bothering with those. I felt like if I was going to try and persuade him to turn, we might as well go with the nuclear option!

I was told that it had a small risk of putting the baby into distress resulting in me needing an emergency c-section immediately under general anaesthetic. I was a bit nervous about this risk, but it was fairly small, I've had a GA before so wasn't nervous about that. It seemed fairly straightforward for the baby if that were to happen. I would have been a bit upset about missing the birth but not the end of the world. So I was OK with that as an outcome. I did discuss this with DH because under anaesthetic they don't allow the partner to be there either. He was OK with this too.

I was a bit anxious about it being painful, but I was reassured that I could ask them to stop if if got too much, and it only takes a few minutes, so I felt like I would give it a go. DH apparently immediately looked up a video of it on youtube and then refused to be in the room if I had it done (even though I got them to agree to let him in which they wouldn't have normally allowed because it was during lockdown!). I have not looked up any videos, because I didn't want to have that reaction! I think a lot of things can look a lot more alarming than they are in reality.

In my case even though DS was measuring big, they said they would let me go into labour naturally if the ECV was successful. If it was unsuccessful they would have booked a c-section for approx 39 weeks.

The ECV was booked I think something like 37+6 but I turned up on the day all prepared for a day of monitoring/boredom and they scanned me and he had turned so they told me to go home. They did agree to scan me in early labour to check he was still head down, which he was. He turned out to be extremely long with ridiculous legs - he reminded me of a baby giraffe - but not a big baby, and the labour was totally straightforward.

I have still not looked up the video even though I won't have any more babies. All in all a totally bizarre couple of weeks. Good luck, OP.

Grateful to others for sharing their experiences and @Kosenrufugirl for weighing in as a midwife. Sorry I can't help, I just want to follow the thread as I've got a breech baby right now at 34w4d so will be facing the same choice soon if he doesn't turn.

(Just to say my memory of the exact weeks is a bit hazy so don't set too much by that. This was 2.5 years ago now.)

At that point you've got a fair bit of time I think? Mine was breech at 34 and turned. The midwife recommended Spinning Babies but also emphasised that if the baby doesn't turn it's nothing you've done wrong.

I had an ecv when my 3rd baby was breech after 2 vaginal births.
I found it to be more of an unpleasant than painful experience. It was considered successful however when I went into labour my baby got stuck. Lots of pushing later I was taken in for an ecs which was quite traumatic and I’ve always been wished I had just gone for an elective in the first place. My baby had a caephalohematoma on her head for about 6 months too caused by banging her head as I tried to push her out. No lasting damage thankfully just a funny shape and a bit wobbly for a while there!

I just do not understand the MN aversion to ECVs. OP, please read up on the risks (in reputable sources!) and speak with the consultant who would be doing it.

I had one with DC1 and it was extremely uncomfortable but I'd have liked them to keep trying longer. It was unsuccessful and I still remember the moment I realised what that meant, I was so disappointed. I had several contraindications for a vaginal breech birth, so sunroof it was!

@Whataretheodds Yes hopefully my baby will turn, I'm trying yoga poses that should help encourage it. But I just like to understand and think through all the options so I am prepared if he doesn't. Like the OP my baby is measuring big too (or was at 32w scan)

I don’t have any experience of ECV or breech but similarly to you I had a big baby and polyhydramnios, they booked to induce me at 38+5

Just another ECV story- I had a successful one with my first DS at around 36-7 weeks. It was uncomfortable but not awful and was unbelievably fast, especially given my son was pretty big ie head size on 90th centile at birth. In my case it was all done in a v low key way, though monitored by ultrasound etc throughout and with the attitude of 'nothing to lose by at least giving it a go'.

It must be said the subsequent delivery was tough as he wasn't in a great position, head hadn't engaged after weeks in breech position and v prolonged pushing required. Glad I avoided the c section though. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thank you everyone for sharing all stories and experiences!

Food for thought and at least I have until Tuesday to decide 😅 Will keep doing some research in the meantime...

I had a successful ECG with my second child. I thought it was worth a go to avoid a csection. The consultant that did it had never had a baby go into distress. It felt odd but no pain at all. Went into spontaneous labour a couple of weeks later. It was a positive experience for me.

I had 3 x ECV. It was a bit uncomfortable but the gas was lovely. Didn't work for me.

I'll tell you what did hurt though- the caesarean.

It would've been a very small price to pay if it had been successful

I had an ECV with DC1. It was a bit uncomfortable but had plenty of gas and air to take the edge off. Didn't work for me but definitely worth a try! I'm a bit surprised at the reactions from PP, the actual manual handling part of it only lasted a few minutes in total - surely nothing compared with labour?! In my case the registrar tried twice and then the consultant gave it a go. I'd say if you're keen to avoid ELCS you might as well try it. If you find it too much, just ask the doctor to stop.

I had a very positive ECV experience and the doctors managed to turn breech baby round at 38 weeks despite quite a few less favourable odds.

I am pregnant with my first baby (which meant ECV was less likely to have been successful), the baby is measuring big, breech, with lots of fluid (poly), and the procedure was carried out on the later time scale of the pregnancy.

before opting in for the ECV, I was doing all the exercises and even had Moxibustion sessions - nothing worked. ECV sounded like a low risk procedure so decided to try it.

Personally I felt no pain at all. It’s very physical, the procedure is not sophisticated at all as two people were manually manouvering the baby inside you. But it felt controlled and calm and within 5-10min they managed to turn him round. The only stressful bit for me was the injection to the belly before the ECV as I’m dead scared of needles.

the baby and I were then monitored - and all was absolutely fine. I went back to the day assessment unit a day later for more monitoring - the baby was still fine and heads down (I really didn’t trust him to stay down lol).

I was dead nervous to give ECV a try because of so much negative feedback - but glad we tried it.

Yup, would try in your case, and indeed did try! It was brutal in the sense that it requires some force, but like others have said, the pain was totally manageable. It was more the shock of it! I had gas and air, which just made me laugh. Tried to turn the stubborn little sod for 30 mins. She would get so far then just turn back! I absolutely would've gone for another try, but my DP said no - he couldn't handle it 😂I had a textbook ELCS.

If you've had two successful vaginal births and the only known issue stopping you from having another is that your baby is breech, I would put myself through the ECV to potentially avoid the C-sec.

My friend was given this option too and she decided to go with the section. It was scheduled a week after they'd suggested the date for the ECV and the night before the section (38 weeks) he turned. That scenario has happened to 3 people I know (dates all slightly different obv). It genuinely might be worth asking if you could just delay everything by a week and give your body time. All the babies were big - between 8lbs and 9.5lbs and all the mums delivered vaginally without any complications.

Name change but I'm the original poster!

Baby boy moved head down at exactly 37 weeks and was born at 37+5 weeks. I didn't have to go for the ECV and baby was born spontaneously. I had a lovely birth that only lasted 3 and a half hours 🙏🏼🎉

No I wouldn't. I'd wait to see if baby turned themselves. If they don't, there's usually a reason - e.g. wedged/stuck somewhere, placenta etc and the ECV isn't going to work and will just distress the baby. Your third so baby wouldn't tend to engage until late anyway. I'd wait until somewhere around 38/39 weeks, rescan, if not turned c section.

Personally I wouldn't want an attempt at ECV however success rate is about 50 per cent and I can definitely understand people wanting to try and avoid a c section or breech vaginal birth. It's an individual choice but for me I would just opt straight for c section I think instead.

There are NICE guidelines regarding suspected large for gestational age babies, I'd have a look at them regarding timing and mode of birth recommendations.

Congrats to you! Glad to hear it all went well!

Please don't make claims like this without backing them up with evidence. If there is a reason the baby can't go head-down, it simply won't, it's pretty straightforward.

ECVs wouldn't be recommended if they weren't safe and/ or routinely led to foetal distress. You're just fear mongering. I genuinely do not understand why Mumsnet is so opposed to ECVs, there is no reason for it.

ECV works in about 50% of cases. If baby is stuck/wedged, you're in the 50% that doesn't work. A decent chunk of 50% that do move may have moved themselves anyway before birth.

Yes, they absolutely can lead to foetal distress. Read the below NHS leaflet on it. A CTG is performed before the procedure to get babies base line, heart rate is monitored during the procedure and for 30 mins after to watch for foetal distress. They don't do that for fun. It's because babies can get distressed in the procedure and for some they don't calm back down and need an immediate EMCS. The article at the bottom showed almost 10% of babies had abnormal heart rates during or after the procedure in their study. Women that are rhesus negative also get anti-D for the procedure. It's brutal! ECV are performed to try reduce c section rates.

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/ecv-for-turning-your-breech-baby

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29041923/

I had this. A private midwife did it in my lounge with no notice. I felt so sick afterwards. When I told the NHS midwife she was livid and the private midwife got into trouble. It should always be done in hospital only.

Apparently scrubbing the kitchen floor is meant to encourage baby to turn.