Breech baby - ECV procedure

Just found out my little boy is still breech at over 36 weeks and is highly unlikely to move on his own. Im booked in for an ECV where they will try and turn him, but Im a bit nervous about it. has anyone had this done? what's it like? They were great at the hospital and gave me lots of info but I have never spoke to anyone who has had it done before. I think Im more than likely going to end up with a c-section as the chances of them being able to turn him are 50%. As much as I wasn't looking forward to all the pain etc of labour theres a part of me feels like Im missing out by not going though it, is that daft?

They discussed it with me as Aaralyn was still breach at 34 weeks, and I have to be honest, I was informed that it was not very comfortable... I really didn't want to have a c-cection either... Ironically Aaralyn turned the weekend after I had the Dr's apointment and then I ended up having an emergency c-cection that Monday due to another medical situation.

I think my friend Kristen (Kris10 on here) may have had that procedure with her first daughter!!

Hey Kristen!!! we need ya on here!!

Good luck hun, let us know how it goes, the baby may still turn yet.

i dont no babe never had to have it done all mine turned on thier own at the last minute so there is still hope
good luck babe
xxx

I didn't have it done but my second baby didn't go head down until about 37 weeks, he'd been laying transverse for about 3 months I had little hope of him turning but he did. They say boys are more awkward with their positions. Good luck xx

Thanks guys, I know it will be very uncomfortable but they tell me it shouldn't be painful. If it is they will stop immediatley. Apparently his bottom is too engaged into my pelvis for him to be able to turn himself now, my midwife just couldn't tell which way he was so I had to go for a scan to confirm it. Apart from being the wrong way around he is very healthy which is great.
If I happen to go into labour before my appointment then its an emergeny c section straight away. I was due to have the ecv next friday but they put it back a week cos the dr isn't going to be there or something Ive had a bit of an achy belly the last couple of days and im nervous incase I start before I get to my appointment

[b] Hey. I know what you are going thru. Trust me. I am living proof. I am 38 wks pregnant. Last wednesday my doctor tried to turn my baby. I was sooooooo scared about the pain and how much it was going to hurt. I know I am having a large baby. I know that the babys head is up under the right side of my rib cage. The procedure scared the hell out of me. I was so nervous but I knew it needed to be done. My doctor came in... the nurse did a quick ultrasound to see where the head is and where the butt was... he put the palm of his hand on my babys head and grabbed up the babys butt... he then pulled the babys butt into my ribs on the left and shoved as hard as he could with his other hand against my childs head. It hurts... dont get me wrong.. but it didnt hurt ANY WHERE NEAR as bad as I thought it would. When you feel him getting ready to try and move your baby just take a deep breath and hold it untill he stops. My dr only would try for about 8 to 10 seconds. Its about the same as holding ur breath during a push or contraction. I hope your turning works for you and your baby. Unfortunatly my baby is too big and the head is too stuck in my ribs. My baby REFUSES to turn. They are giving me a c-section on October 11th. Now all I have to hope for is that I dont go into labor naturally (my water breaking) before the 11th!!! I would be upset if I had to go thru labor pains and then have a c-section! The dr. says its a slim chance but maybe baby will still turn. *crosses fingers*. I hope that it works out for you. If you dont mind... let me know how it goes. I will be thinking about you!

Good Luck
~Cerise

It was talked about with Charlotte as she was still breech at 36 weeks but they then realised I was rhesus negative and said it would be a C-section. My mw gave me another week and she had turned at 37 weeks. I was sent to hospital after some bleeding and they scanned me and told me she was now head down.

I've heard some people use icepacks - they wrap them up in a teatowel and rest them on their bumps and the baby moves away from the cold spot and turns.

Good luck with whatever happens hun xx

Im also rhesus negative, but that fact wasn't mentioned when they were talking about the procedure.
I'm kind of preparing myself for a c-section as I know what a long shot it is that they'll be able to turn him. Then if it does work I will be pleasantly suprised. I have another midwife appointment next wednesday but I don't expect her to be able to tell if he's turned as she couldn't say which way up he was the last 2 visits I suppose I'll have to wait until they scan me again next fri just before they try and turn him.

good luck!!!! i didn't have the procedure as tammy mentioned earlier in the post. have you done any research online? i dont know really anything about it, and i dont want to alarm you, but i hear it can be paiunful, and not really helpful. dont know those to be facts tho. sorry i couldnt be more helpful. cant wait to see some pics of your baby!!!!!!

I know they have changed the procedures from when I had Charlotte to when I had George over the rhesus negative situation. I went for a injection of anti-d at about 30ish weeks with George and they said that would cover me until the birth, whereas with Charlotte I had anti-d when I had bleeding at 36 weeks and 41 but otherwise I wouldn't have been given any until the after the birth and Charlotte was rhesus positive (she wasn't in the end so no injection needed). I also got told that your rhesus status doesn't matter as much when you have your first baby as it does when you have your second and any others after that

It was probably just an excuse too to get me into having a section because I didn't want one hehe!

Hope everything goes well - and baby turns, good luck xx

Hi ya,i had this procedure with my son i went into hospital and they inject a muscle relaxent in your hand.You will feel a little funny and a bit anxious.They then try turning the baby and yes it does hurt but as cherrypie said its no where as bad as i thought its just very uncomfortable for a little bit.I ended up still having a c-section as they couldnt get his head out from under my ribs he was well and truly stuck...
Three days later my waters broke at home and i felt all my contractions etc but i wasnt allowed to push as his neck was in a bad position (i knew from when they tried turning him)that i HAD to have a c-section.
Dont panick i was a little upset that i couldnt have a natural birth but at the end of the day i would rather have my baby alive and well than risk something going wrong.C-sections are a major opperation and very uncomfortable but when you hold your lo in your arms the pain just fades away.
Good luck hun wishing you all the best xxxx

I too am rhesus negative and the reson they do the injections is too protect future babies from having what they call is blue baby, this basically means if that was to happen the baby would need a full blood transfusion when born,they anti _d injection as far as im aware is very important after all ur births as it prevents anything going wrong with ur next babie if you decide on anymore. i have to have them again on this pregnacy also had them done on kyle @ approx 28 weeks then again after birth, not sure how it going to work on this one but will let you know.

Just to let you know, I went for my ecv this morning but they couldn't turn him so Im booked for a c-section next friday.
It wasn't bad at all, just a bit sore where the dr was trying to push his head around at the top of my bump. I did get the shakes which haven't fully gone yet but I think that's more my adrenilin going as I got quite nervous. I did get another anti-d too.

oh wow!! this time next week youl be holding your baby!!! i know a c-section is a big no-no for us mums to be,but if it helps our babies its good enough for me!
i had an emergency c-section with Ethan - waters broke went into labour,in mat ward and before you know it his heart had stopped,i was hooked up with wires needles and in theatre!! scariest time of my life!!
gonna try VBAC next time round tho if theyl let me!

Hope all goes well with your c-section hun. A lady at work had one yesterday and as far as i know all went fine for her and baby.

Best of luck

Hayley81, I needed an anti-D injection after I had George as he is rhesus positive but I didn't need one after Charlotte because she is rhesus negative like me.