Experience with external cephalic version(ECV)

[AngieR87]

I've been told baby is breech and I may have to have external cephalic version (ECV). Can anyone shared their experience? Thank you

I had one for breech, it failed. They tried very hard, several times, including after I started to dry heave. It was uncomfortable, a little painful, and terrifying. I wouldn't do it again. I had a planned cesarean. I did go on to have a vbac 3 years later too (baby number 2 was and still is much better behaved lol, knew which way up to go and how to breastfeed!)

I had one May 2020, they tried 3 times and it didn't work. It wasn't painful just uncomfortable. Had my section the next day and it was brilliant. Baby was never ever going to turn or be anything other than a section her cord was round her neck twice and her arm was behind her back

How many weeks were you?

I had it at 38.5 weeks and it worked like a dream. It was a little bit uncomfortable but over very quickly and I was panicking SO much because nobody I spoke to had anything good to say about it! I wanted to try it as I didn’t really want another c-section because I was being extremely hormonal and silly about a “natural” birth. The ECV worked perfectly, they got him turned and he stayed the right way round even though it looked like he’d gone sideways again at 39 weeks. It honestly took them about 1 minute to turn him and he was monitored before and after to make sure he wasn’t distressed. I know it doesn’t always work but I had a really good experience. That said, the midwife who does it in our local hospital is very senior and has a lot of experience. I’d not be as keen if they didn’t have the years behind them unless they were heavily supervised.

They did say if I had it, they could stop it at any time- so there was that.

Sorry, I think you wanted positive stories- I’ve asked mn to remove my post.

I had one with my first. Worst experience of my life and then DC ended up being delivered shoulder first.

My third was also breech. They offered it to me and I outright refused after my previous experience.

Ended up with elective section and had I have taken their advice, which I was under a lot of pressure to take - DC would likely have died as I had a complete knot in the cord, which was also very very short.

In a nutshell - I don't know why it's even an option.

@AngieR87 I was a very late breech diagnosis at 38/39 weeks. I didn't find it bad at all and the midwife and consultant were talking to me and explaining everything. Little one was just a gymnast/contortionist.

Friend had an ECV I can't remember how many weeks she was but it worked she said it was ok and baby turned beautifully and she gave birth vaginally

I’m not going to add to your horror stories because my two breach birth were wonderful, wonderful c sections!

Totally up to you of course, but I’m dipping in to say that you DONT ‘have to have’ an ECV. If you want a CS instead, you can do that (or even try a natural breach birth, but obvs that’s rarer).

I had one (about 37 / 38 weeks maybe?) as I really wanted a vaginal birth and no amount of standing on my head was going to turn him. I did lots of research and asked the team how many they personally had performed, their success rates etc. The baby was monitored the whole time and I could stop at any moment. It took several attempts and was pretty painful but was good to practice hypnobirthing before the real deal! It was successful and the baby stayed happy throughout and I went on to have a vaginal birth so, for me, it was absolutely worth it.