Does anyone have experience of 'manually turning' a baby?

[K999]

My sister is getting this done next week! I have heard a few horror stories about this procedure, ie painful and no guarantee that the baby wont turn back.....she is 37 weeks pregnant and baby is in breech position....

Should she go ahead with it???

[Lulumama]

she should check on the success rates of the person doing the ECV

and look into moxibustion ( mugwort ) to turn it.. an acupuncturist can do that.

and there are lots of natural tips to help turn a breech baby, if she googles. or do a search on here

her decision on whether to do it or no!

[3NAB]

In all honesty I would say don't do it.

I booked an independant midwife to come to see me through the last few weeks. My son had been lying across me for quite a while and it was uncomfortable. She asked to feel the baby and without me realising she turned him. I felt really sick for the rest of the day.

My NHS midwife was horrified and the m/w was going to be spoken too. With my history I shouldn't have had him turned without it being in a hospital theatre where he could have been delivered straight away if necessary.

[McDreamy]

I had it done with DD. It was very painful for me and unsuccessful but there are people for who it has worked.

[lucysnowe]

Try doing a search on ECV in thread title - there have been lots of people talking about their experiences - both good and bad - I found them v. useful when I was up for one (although in the end it wasn't necessary). Good luck to your sister!

[Lizzer]

YEs accupuncture worked for me, moxibustion. She should be able to get an appointment really quickly if she explains the situation to the practitioner, they really like to help as its a really effective treatment. Well worth the 30quid.

Also I saw my homeopath who treated me too and did all the exercises that lulumama suggests (you get loads of info when googled). He turned at 37w and was a big baby (10lbs4 birthweight) so I've all confidence in the treatment. I was dreading the alternatives ie ECV or cs.

wishing her lots of luck, let us know what happens

[Bettispaghetti]

I had a very successful ECV. The whole procedure lasted about 5 minutes and was painless. However I was told beforehand that it could be painful and could possibly result in an emergency CS so I guess I was lucky.

[K999]

Thanks for all your replies ladies. Will let you know how she gets on!

[Tangle]

3NAB - I'm horrified for you. No matter what your history the MW shouldn't have tried to turn your baby in a home environment and certainly not without your permission

K999 - it's also worth asking what position the baby is in, as that can impact on how successful the ECV is likely to be. DD was frank breech for quite a while, so her feet where round her ears and her legs would have acted like splints - full breech (sitting like a little budha) is a much more favourable starting point.

I declined an ECV, and DD was born at home as a breech baby. It is possible, although finding midwives with good breech skills to support the labour is getting progressively more challenging (as CS becomes more and more common for breech). Do a search for Mary Cronk and you'll find a LOT of information on breech birth.

Good luck to your sister .