Are ECV's risky?

[charima]

I was offered an ECV, but I was wondering, why do some ladies refuse it?

I've been reading about it, but have never come accross something like... "an ecv killed my baby" or anything of that sort.

So i guess the bottomline is: what are the reasons to refuse an ECV?

Thanks!

 

[LilDreamy]

I was thinking about this...

And I'm just scared to death that they might accidentally break my babies neck or ligaments, or poke an eye out...

I know it's silly... but they can't be 100% sure as to what they are turning...

 

[xprincessx]

I had an ECV on wednesday and i can honestly tell you it is the most painful thing i have ever been through in my life and i don't mean to scare you but i wouldn't ever do it again if i was offered...two days later and i feel bruised all over (and it was unsuccessful)

- baby can become distressed meaning it needs to result in an emergency c/s
- the pressure of them pressing on your belly can break your waters
- your placenta can abrupt (especially if you have an anterior placenta)
- the success rate is quite poor...50% but obviously individual factors will alter this
- it is painful
- baby can move back into breech position

mine was a complete waste of time and i wish i never got talked into it. i honestly wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but that's just me and some people have had successful ones and been happy with them

i fainted 3 times during my ECV and all for nothing it was just horrific

 

[LilDreamy]

Ouch! :S

I don't think I will get one if offerednow.

That sounds even scarier than I expected.

I'll risk a csection before risky an ECV...

 

[xprincessx]

oh and there is also a risk of cord entaglement

 

[charima]

I do think mine is going to be unsuccesful, baby is on the bigger side, he's extended breech, and it's gonna be made somewhat late (I'm going to be 38w+3 by then). Sometimes I just think "why bother?"

 

[xprincessx]

my babies head is stuck under my ribs so where mr obstetrician with his big beefy hands man was pushing on it he has bruised my rib =(

the c-section sounds less scary to me tbh x

 

[Wanta2010baby]

My baby finally flipped by my 37 week appt this week....but no telling if she'll stay head down b/c she's been such a lil monkey! But I had decided that I would not try an ECV if she was still breech for the exact reasons mentioned above. I watched one on a birthing show and honestly, it looked ridiculous and painful. The one I watched was unsuccessful and ended up in a c-section too. Seems alot safer to just have a c-section and skip all those risky things that can happen

 

[charima]

I've only talked to a consultant and he was pretty convincing!

 

[xprincessx]

so was mine hun and that didnt turn out so well lol x

honestly it is worse than it looks AND sounds. I hated being told it would be a little "uncomfortable" so i like to be 100% honest to anybody thinking about trying something so they don't feel cheated and lied to. The ob had to press so hard that i couldn't breath properly and i was literally near tears on the bed. I nearly kicked the midwife in the head for saying "yes, it can be a little uncomfortable"...stupid woman!" lol x

 

[Hobnob]

I've been offered an ECV too and did loads of research on it but decided that I was going to decline having it done.

My LO has been breech all along, every scan I've had has clearly shown her head up, and I really didn't like the idea of 'making' her move. She clearly wants to be where she is, either that or she is stuck, head under my ribs, bum wedged into my pelvis and feet up by her face.

I wasn't willing to put myself through the trauma of having an ECV when the odds of it actually working at my hospital were only 15% chance of success. The midwife said it would be unlikely to work for me because of baby's position and because I'm a first time mum to be and my stomach muscles wouldn't be as stretched as those in a mum to be of a 2nd or 3rd baby.

 

[Tulip]

I was thinking about ECV just yesterday (no idea why at 30w ) and my primary worry was cord entanglement, especially with a homebirth planned. I won't accept one if offered - would rather give up the whole hb idea and go for a planned c/s x

 

[emmi26]

i know of 3 people who've had one not one has worked and all said they would never have another !!!! i think i would take the c section x

 

[charima]

when the odds of it actually working at my hospital were only 15% chance of success. The midwife said it would be unlikely to work for me because of baby's position and because I'm a first time mum to be and my stomach muscles wouldn't be as stretched as those in a mum to be of a 2nd or 3rd baby.

May I ask why is that?

They tols me at my hospital that it was a 50% chance!

 

[Hobnob]

when the odds of it actually working at my hospital were only 15% chance of success. The midwife said it would be unlikely to work for me because of baby's position and because I'm a first time mum to be and my stomach muscles wouldn't be as stretched as those in a mum to be of a 2nd or 3rd baby.

May I ask why is that?

They tols me at my hospital that it was a 50% chance!

I'm not entirely sure to be honest but I googled the stats for my hospital.

Have a look, you'll need to scroll down quite a way

https://www.birthchoiceuk.com/Birth...k.com/HealthCareCommissionTrustSurvey/RCD.htm

After reading that it more than made my mind up! I wasn't willing to put myself or my baby through it.

 

[charima]

according to that website, I have a 47.5% chance... which isn't incredibly high, but at least closer to the 50/50.

I can't decide and it's taking all of my time!

 

[MrsJ08]

Charima - I think that a lot of the risks that have been discussed i.e cord entanglement are assessed by a scan prior to the procedure. They check the position of the placenta and the cord and it's flow, if they have any concerns about the position they won't do the procedure. They also monitor movement of the baby via a scan during the procedure. At my hospital the MW told me that the biggest barrier to success of ECV is the mother's fear of pain rather than an inability to turn the baby. If you go in expecting it to hurt and accepting that it will do (but not as much as labour obviously) then you have a better chance of success. It's such a shame that your hospital didn't offer Moxibustion. Ultimately. I think you should go with your gut feeling as that will always be the right one. Wishing you the best of luck whatever you decide to do

 

[charima]

Yup, it's a pity that my trust didn't have any alternative treatments. I don't fear a c-section I just fear the recovery!

Specially since I'll be on my own (no paternal leave for DH), my family lives accross the pond and his is more than 2 hours away!

 

[xprincessx]

they dont check the position of the cord as they didnt at mine and my placenta is anterior and it made no difference to them when they usually recommend you dont have it done with anterior placenta.

 

[MrsJ08]

I think it depends on the hospital. At my hospital they definitely do a scan prior as they went through the whole procedure with me and I asked lots of questions x