ECV on Tuesday... come and tell me it'll be ok?

[newmomma]

Or your experiences (good or bad) of how it went, how successful it was etc...?

Thanks!

I had one at 37 weeks and it was absolutely fine and successful

I am going out now but will be back later if you want to ask anything else.

Baby was born at 40 + 2 fairly straightforward birth.

Hi newmomma, interested in this thread as I am going for a scan first thing Monday to determine breech position!

Fairly sure it is, so will be offered ECV!

36+1 today, when are you due?

Good luck, hope its successful! x

I'm due either the 8th or the 17th (dates are confused)... So I'm either 37 weeks today or 36 weeks on Monday!

Would be lovely to chat further onepieceoflollipop later!

Be good to hear how you get on too morethemerrier and whether or not you need it - I'm am hoping and praying that little one will have 'shifted'!

x

I am hoping the same!

Not doing anything wild or wacky though! I'm too tired/busy to go on all fours with my bum in the air/burning things by my toes etc!

Was planning a homebirth, so fingers crossed!

Will check back in later x

I was booked in for an ECV last week.....got there, was scanned and found the baby had turned and was very relieved. I was 36 weeks so thought I might have felt it turn.....obv not. I did do the bum in air thing, and also lying on my left side with my right leg propped up as high and forward as I could get it. I also took pulsatilla homeopathy capsules.....I'll never know if all of this contributed, but I got the desired outcome.

newmomma just to add re my experiences. I was told that the success rate of the ecv is around 50%. Don't ask me for statistics, just something I heard.

I was fortunate in that at the hospital we attended, one of the consultants is known for being quite good at the procedure. His bedside manner was also very kind and professional.

I had to have some sort of muscle relaxant, this isn't standard but my bump kept going into kind of braxton hicks type movements every time he laid hands on it. The relaxant felt like having a big glass of wine (!) which at that stage of pregnancy was very welcome.

The whole procedure was monitored/observed on an ultrasound scan and I had to stay in for observation for (I think) 2 hours or so.

There is a small risk apparently that the baby will opt to turn itself back. I was told that 37 weeks is about the optimum time. There is usually a bit of space to enable to doctor to turn it, but less chance of the baby turning back.

To give a more balanced view I have heard of friends' experiences where they have found it a lot more uncomfortable.

Thanks onepieceoflollipop...

Have been trying to pretend I'm all cool about it - but as it gets nearer and nearer, I seem to be getting a bit more nervous.

Have had so many friends telling me they wouldn't even consider one and people have told me stories of prolapsed cords/placentas coming away/babys in distress... even broken bones.

I LIKE THE SOUND OF IT FEELING LIKE A GLASS OF WINE THOUGH!!!!! Having not had a drop for nearly nine months - I can't wait.

Can I ask how long it took - was it second/minutes...? Longer? And were you in any discomfort afterwards?

Thanks Pinner35 I have been trying all the usual stuff like you, but would have liked the chance to do reflexology/moxibustion etc so am hoping that if the ecv doesn't work that I don't end up with an emergency c/s.

The actual "turning" part took maybe 3 minutes. It felt like a very firm massage over my abdomen, I didn't feel any discomfort at all.

All the best for Tuesday, if you have chance come back and let us know how it goes.

I am sure that it isn't a successful procedure for everyone, but I think it is wrong when people tell you all these horror stories. It is unlikely imo that the friends who tell you these stories haven't all had such awful personal experiences.

It's a bit like birth stories I reckon, some people take great delight in telling you all kinds of awful things. Yes, for some people it doesn't go smoothly, but for the vast majority all is fine in the end.

It was a terrible experience. It worked in that the baby turned.

Good luck.

Can you tell me why Fab?

I arranged for an independent midwife to come and see me at approximately 29 weeks as we were not happy with the care we were getting from the NHS. I told her that my baby was lying across my stomach and it wasn't very comfortable. She asked if she could have a feel and I agreed. The next thing I knew she said "there you are" and she had turned the baby around. For the rest of the day and the next I felt pretty grotty.

We decided not to go with her as she would be away for 9 of the 11 weeks I had left of my pregnancy.

I told my NHS midwife what the IM had done and she was furious and the IM was actually given a bollocking. With my history I should not have had my baby turned anywhere other than in a theatre at the hospital.

I didn't know this and certainly would not have agreed to it being done at home if I had and tbh if she had said she was going to turn the baby I wouldn't have agreed to it full stop.

well, sounds like it worked out alright in the end Fab, which is the main thing. Your first post was rather criptic and alarming, especially considering the OP had asked for reassurance!

She asked for good and bad experiences, emma.

Fab that sounds like you had an awful experience. The midwife didn't act in a responsible manner at all from the (very little) I know about ecv.

Yes, op did ask for good and bad.

Hello. My first post to mumsnet. I'm 40 weeks on Wednesday and had an ecv at 37 weeks. My baby was lying diagonally with its head under my rib cage. I was finding it hard to breath and was very panicky. Went to A&E and the doc told me I had to get "through it and that it would be worth it in the end." I was so miserable. Three days later I had an antenatal clinic appointment at hospital to confirm position. The consultant said she would do an ecv on me that day or I could wait another two weeks for c section. I went for the ecv. I got taken to a delivery room. The midwife and doc both had a feel to check baby's position.I was put on a monitor for I think about 30 mins to check how baby's heart was. Then they gave me an injection in my arm to relax the uterus. They then monitored us again for another 30 mins. Then the doc scanned me to check the position of the baby and cord. Then doc put her hands on baby's head and legs and turned him all the way round so he was upside down. She said he wasn't engaged but I didn't care cos his head was out of my ribs.I felt no pain when baby was being turned until the head went into my lower regions but it wasn't sore sore and it was momentary. It took about a minute to move him. All you really feel is the pressure of the docs hands. Doc kept asking if I was OK. If you aren't OK they will stop immediately and you don't need to go on with it. The drug made me a bit shaky so I'd recommend taking someone with you to hold your hand and to help keep the monitor thing in position. I stayed for another 40 mins on the monitor and then I went home. Didn't have any bleeding or anything untoward. Doc said baby probably wouldn't stay put but a week later midwife said he was. Will find out tomorrow if he is still in correct position. Hope this helps. Good luck with yours.

Hi supersuz, and welcome.

Hope all goes well with the birth for you (and the op of course)

If you are new, you may not know that you could join an antenatal/postnatal thread if you are interested. Lots of other mothers/mothers-to-be all around the same stage of pregnancy.

Just have a little look at the topics for the April 2010 thread. I'm not on it, I am only posting on this thread as I was talking about my ecv experience.

Just popped back in to say, fortunately the baby is head down!

Confirmed by scan this morning, just hope it stays there now!

Good luck with the ecv Newmomma, fingers crossed it does the trick x

Fantastic news morethemerrier

Lucky you morethemerrier! Really pleased for you - must be such a weight off your mind.

Have been in floods of tears for last few days - so scared, but have to do this as the thought of a c/s is much scarier.

My appointment is 8.30 tomorrow am so I'll let you all know how I get on - if it results in a c/s it might have to be in a few days though .

Thanks for the info supersuz - its great to know a little bit more detail about what to expect. Did the doc say why she thought your baby might move back - too much space? Or do ecv's generally fail?

me too, me too, me too!!!

baby was head down and spine to the right - perfect!!

so pleased - only had about 3 hours sleep last night stressing about it - like you morethemerrier just hoping LO stays put now.

please don't move again bubs...

Ahhhh thats brilliant!!!!

Hey, mine is lying to the right as well!

I really am pleased for you, I know the relief I felt yesterday!

Relax and catch up on some much needed rest x

Congrats to you both.
Baby is still head down and been promised he won't budge now. ECVs do work (even to the surprise of my G.P.)

fab news supersuz and morethemerrier

i meant spine to the left (d'oh) - not that it makes any difference.

lets all try and come back with happy birth stories soon!?

my doc just phoned to say i'm iron deficient and that supplements might help. which is great news as i've been so tired recently and have put it down to late pregnancy but hoping these supplements will perk me up a bit!!

Oh that's fab news for all of you.

I feel a bit of an intruder on your thread I'm not even pg - youngest dd is nearly 3 and we aren't having any more. Just wanted to give a positive account of my experiences though.