ECV Experiences

[Everdreamer]

So I am 36+3 & my baby is extended breech. She's bum down & feet by her face.

I've opted to try an ECV which is booked in for a week on Thurs when I will be 37+6 but I'm really scared about having it done. The drs at my hospital & my midwife have tried to reassure me but I'm still not 100% sure I want to try it.

I'm naturally slim & a FTM so with tighter tummy muscles it is unlikely she'll turn by herself.

I really want to avoid c-section but I don't know if my need to want to avoid one really outways my worry over the ECV.

Has anybody here had experience of one? Did it actually work?

 

[Lollypop79]

Hey. I had a successful ECV at 37+2 with a breech baby. She was bum down with feet tucked under her. Head under my ribs. I have had 2 children previously. They monitored the baby for 30 minutes. Then gave me an injection to relax my muscles/uterus. I was monitored again so baby was alright. Then they started the procedure they had done a scan before this to check the placement of baby first. The doctor placed one hand at back behind there the babies head was and the other by the bum. He pressed down and slowly turned the baby. It wasn’t one motion it was a few and each time stopping to monitor the babies heart rate to make sure no distress. Then they would say happy and continue. It was not painful with the exception of on my left side (that was painful as she had her head under my ribs which made it sore) and also down towards my pelvis when her head was moving there. I’ll be honest it was a tough thing to go through. I was very scared but glad I did it as it was a success as I didn’t want a c section but it was brutal. There’s a lot of pushing and twisting of the belly which feels very very uncomfortable but not painful. I’ll be be honest I did cry but only coz it’s such a weird and odd thing to experience.

The success of an ECV is 50/50. My sister who is slim (i’m a little overweight) had a breech baby which was her first and the ECV was unsuccessful probably because she was a first time mum. It’s generally more successful if you have already had children.
I hope I haven’t scared you. Remember at any point you can stop or change your mind. Ultimately the way I looked at it and glad I did I was happy to try as if it did fail then the c section would be a guarantee. At least this way I would have tried. Good luck for the ECV. xx

 

[Everdreamer]

Thank you.

Yes, I know there is less chance with it being my first but the Dr really championed me giving it a try. It's that whole thing isn't it, I won't know if I don't try & would I regret it?

I'm just really not 100% sure what I want to do. My baby's head is right under my rib too. It gets really uncomfortable & at times painful during the day. Especially when she's moving around.

I'm just so torn about what to do that's all & I keep playing all the scenarios in my head.

 

[Rose83]

Hey, I had one in 2017 with my third baby. He was basically feet down almost standing up inside me and was a big baby (when born he was 9lb 6 so at 37 weeks when he was turned he was probably at least 8lbs).
It was entirely successful and in terms of the procedure was pretty much as explained above. I was put on a table that tilted my head down a bit towards the floor and then the doctor just put her hands on him and spun him, it was mostly one movement but there was some stopping and adjusting at the end to make sure it was all ok. My husband was in the room and wished he had filmed it because he said it was so mad to see because as she did it you could entirely see the shape of the baby moving. I think it was one of those things where you know a baby is in there but all of a sudden he was like oh my god there is an actual human in her stomach and they’ve just moved it!
For me I didn’t think it was painful just a very weird sensation and barely uncomfortable just very strange feeling. I would 100% do it again rather than risk a section. However I was told that most women they come across just opt for the section because a lot of them see it as the easy way out of labour. Personally I don’t think there is anything easy about having a section so would always try everything to avoid one!
I think the one thing to bare in mind is that they tell you to be packed and ready in case you are taken for an emergency section on the spot because if the procedure went wrong or caused distress they would want to get them out right away x

 

[Lollypop79]

I agree. I’m glad I did I it and I really
Did not want major surgery which is what a section is. If it were to happen again I would opt for the ECV again. So it definitely wasn’t horrendous. The only reason I think I felt a bit of pain and only slightly was coz it was already sore there from being stretched from her head xx

 

[Everdreamer]

Thanks for your input. I'm going to go on Thurs anyway to confirm if still breech & I'll see how I feel on the day.

I know I can ask them to stop at any point if it does hurt anyway.