ECV to turn the baby, any experiences?

[Cyclebump]

Hi all, am 36 weeks with DC2 and he's breech. I've been offered the option of an ECV to turn him if he's not flipped by 37 weeks.

Consultant reckons I'm a good candidate as he's in the foetal position, got room, but is just the wrong way up.

I don't want a csection really (frightened of epidural and had decent vaginal birth with DS) so I think I'll go for it if he's not turned by then. But does anyone have any experience of the procedure, successful or otherwise?

I'd like to know what to expect.

[Squtternutbaush]

I didn't have one myself but I know lots of people who have and none were successful, I was offered it in my last pregnancy but having seen the devastating result it can have when it goes wrong I refused. My consultant also said that the procedure isnt deemed particularly effective anymore when you look at the stats.

There are lots of threads on here about it so it might be worthwhile reading to get an idea of what goes on :)

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I had one at 36+5

Dd was transverse. Really wasbt too bad tbh. They attempted without the muscle relaxant (which was only part that worried me really) and it worked.

Wasn't pleasant, but not painful either.

Unfortunately though I didn't get to enjoy the painless feeling if a baby finally in the right place as my water broke a few hours later. But for the walk to the car at least , finally no pain.

[ToffeeWhirl]

I had it to turn DS2. I had been told, by a consultant, that having a caesarean was more risky than having an ECV. I was afraid the ECV would hurt, but it didn't - it just felt weird. To be honest, I didn't feel quite right from that point on - I can't pinpoint why. I didn't ever go into proper labour (a midwife said it was called 'silent labour') and eventually, after days of extreme discomfort, I started bleeding and had to go into hospital. The midwives were surprised to find that I was well dilated and ready to push. They were also concerned because every time I had a contraction, my son's oxygen levels dipped dramatically.

When DS2 was born, he wasn't breathing and he was a bluish colour. He had the cord wrapped twice round his neck and three times round his body. The nurse got him breathing almost immediately, but we had a tense few seconds.

He is now a very healthy eight year old, so it all turned out ok in the end. But I'm convinced that the ECV is the reason that I never went into proper labour (following a textbook labour first time round) and why my baby was so tangled up in his cord and had trouble with oxygen. It's scary to think of what might have happened.

I wouldn't have it again, to be honest.

[Hippopotamousse]

I had an ECV last year. DS was breech and I was advised it was worth a try although I wasn't the best candidate as I had relatively low amniotic fluid and DS wasn't in the foetal position.

The actual ECV felt uncomfortable as the doctor did try quite hard to encourage DS to move. I found I felt a bit shaky after the muscle relaxant which the midwife with me said was quite common. The procedure lasted about 5 minutes as the doctor only tried a few times to get DS to turn before we agreed that DS was going nowhere and I would have an ELCS. There was a lot of waiting around with my ECV as I had to get to the hospital at 1pm and didn't have the ECV until around 7pm as they had to wait for a doctor and a theatre to be available. I don't think all the waiting helped my nerves and I remember feeling quite disappointed that it hadn't worked immediately afterwards.

In the end I had an ELCS at 39 weeks which was amazing. I was very nervous but it wasn't as bad as I expected. Instead of an epidural, I was given a spinal block which doesn't involve leaving anything in your back - for some reason I didn't find the thought of the spinal block as bad as that of an epidural.

All the best for which ever way you proceed.

[mrscog]

Hi, I had one a couple of years ago and it was successful. I wrote up the experience at the time when it was fresh in my mind - here you go - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/a1408145-Had-ECV-for-a-breech-today-and-thought-Id-update-you-all#30113449

[Cyclebump]

Thanks everyone. I'm still hoping he'll turn, but DS has just been diagnosed with measles (joy) so that's taken my mind off it somewhat!

I'll talk to the consultant at the scan next week, but I think I'll go for it if he's still breech and in the tucked in position he is now.

[Scoobyblue]

I had an ECV with dd1. Was successful and I went on to have a natural labour and birth. I know that lots of people are against them but my experience is very positive.