ECV, Section - UPDATE 1st Post - Good & Bad News!

samantha.xo

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My little boy has been breech for a very long time now, and no one really thinks he's going to budge because he seems very happy up there lol.

I have an appointment with my consultant tomorrow where they will offer to book me in to move him (ECV) or I can decline this and go for an elective section.

I've done loads of research on ECV's, and to be honest, I'm more than likely going to decline having it done. I'm totally not comfortable with it - I'm super paranoid, and with a 50% success rate, I'd rather not put munchkin in danger or be in pain myself. Though I'm pretty set on my decision, I'd like to know if anyone's been in this situation before, had it done, or didn't have it done and what happened?

I'm worried about a section as well. I've heard some horrible stories about the recovery time and am really worried that I won't be able to bond with my son. I'm really worried about all the housework (OH is useless), and just worried about being so incapable of doing anything. I'm also a bit gutted that I might not be able to experience the excitement of having my waters break, and going into labour, rushing to the hospital and experiencing a vaginal delivery. Of course I want what's best for my little boy and I, and I want to go about it all in the safest way possible; but it still doesn't stop me from feeling a tiny bit gutted :nope:

I understand that before an elective, they have to scan the baby again just to make sure he's still in the breech position. If he isnt, then I'm pretty sure they send you home to await natural birth.

Is anyone else in this situation?

Is anyone else having an elective section? How do you feel about it and do you have any tips?

I will know more tomorrow when I talk to my consultant as well, but I know they push you to have the ECV.

For those who have had sections, how bad is it really? I know it depends on the person and their healing times, but I mean really more to the emotional side - what is it like? Is it super hard to do anything? How about bonding etc?

Thanks ladies :flower:


UPDATE:

I've been for my appointment! Turns out baby is head down! :happydance: I think all my upside down/crawling on all fours worked lol. I really really really didn't think he would turn at all, I thought he was super comfortable up there. The consultant mentioned that the midwives can get it wrong from time to time, so it could be that he's been head down all this time! Yesterday though, after the all fours and upside down time, he did poke out more than usual, so perhaps it encouraged him to turn!

So happy news there! Won't be needing a c-section or ECV after all! Is it likely he will turn again? Or do babies at 35 weeks generally stay head down?

BUT with good news there's always potential bad news -

He's really small and I have to go back next Tuesday for a growth scan :nope: I'm so worried! The midwife a few weeks ago did mention he seemed small but it wasn't anything to worry about! But now the consultant is all like 'make sure you check and keep an eye on his movements etc'.......:cry::cry: What does this meannnnnn?

I've looked on my notes and at 33+3 the midwife wrote 32cm, and then today it's 30cm at 35+1 :nope::nope: Fair enough give or take a few cm, but is that small!?!? Do I dare look at google?!?! :wacko::wacko:

Oh I'm so worried :cry:

We had a quick scan of him, and his heart is beating away, and he's comfy and looked so great, I really can't wait to meet him!

Has anyone had a growth scan? What do they do?
 
My LO is transverse/oblique and I think I would probably say no to an ECV too (especially since my placenta is at the front and I am worried they might damage it!)

Have you researched accupuncture/moxibustion for turning your baby? There are also different exercises you can do which you might already know about but I thought I would mention.
"spinningbabies" is a very good website all about baby positions.

:flower:
 
My bubs was breech at my last scan (3 weeks ago). They want to deliver early as baby is measuring big so I'll be either induced or be having a c section a week after my next scan which is this Thursday.

Noone has mentioned to me about doing an ECV, but I read up on it just in case and I have to say I don't want one either (I actually read that's it's only 40% success rate). My MIL lost a baby to a difficult delivery and my mum had an ECV and had to have emergency c section as the cord got wrapped around my brother's neck - so all in all I'm against them.

I don't particularly want a c section, but I would rather have an elective than an emergency cs, at least it's all planned, dealt with in an orderly and calm fashion, rather than rushing around and panicking; and having my baby arrive safe and sound is ultimately the most important factor, more important than how it arrives.

I'm not saying it's right for everyone but it's what is right for me and this bubs.

As for dealing with things like housework after baby is born - heck, that's not important, the house is not going to fall down if you don't wash up straight away or do the dusting! I'm sure friends and family will help out and everything else can wait until you are up to it :hugs:
 
I spent a week in hospital with a girl who's baby was all over the place. Initially she was looking into having a natural vaginal breech delivery but it was a footling breech so it was too dangerous for her to go into labour naturally.

She used to spend ages and ages talking to the consultant over her different options and asked every question going. In the end she tried ECV which failed. The way she described it was that it was 'intense' but not painful to her. After that had failed they moved onto booking her in for an elective section but they gave her the opportunity to try ECV again. She did try it again and they managed to turn the baby but he ended up with his head and his feet and a hand in her pelvis so it had to be a section in the end anyway!!

I guess what I'm saying is that she tried it twice so it can't have been too awful. She did a lot of homeopathy, hypnobirthing type stuff as well and had been originally planning a home birth so any form of intervention was not her plan. She took absolutely everything into consideration, got all the info she needed and made her own decisions.

Everyone is different in how they feel about it so make sure you have asked all the questions you need to before you settle on a decision.
 
My lo is still breech at the minute, but my mw said she wont do anything until 36 weeks when she'll send me for a scan. Also, I understand he still has plenty of time, and room to move.
There was a thread on peoples experiences of an ECV on here a few days a go, I'll see if I can find it.
Also, spinningbabies is v v good. Spend as much time, as upside down as you can get.
Kneel at the top of the stairs, and walk down the top few stairs with your hands so your bum is higher than your head. You can do it by kneeling on the sofa too.
Lean an ironing board on the sofa, and lie on it so your head is near the floor.
Kneel on the floor with your head and hands flat to the ground.
Also, crawling around with alternate and opposite arms and legs moving helps to open the pelvis, as does bouncing on an exercise ball.
Have also heard great things about acupuncture
Good luck.

https://www.babyandbump.com/pregnancy-third-trimester/463407-ecv-experiences.html <-- There you go :flower:
 
:hi:, I was in the exact same position. For personal reasons I opted against ECV and am booked in for C section tomorrow. I was worried I would have a battle on my hands with the consultant but I really didn't. I told her why I didn't want the ECV and she just booked me in for the section! I am very nervous for the operation but feel that it is the right decision for baby and myself. good luck :flower:
 
:hi:, I was in the exact same position. For personal reasons I opted against ECV and am booked in for C section tomorrow. I was worried I would have a battle on my hands with the consultant but I really didn't. I told her why I didn't want the ECV and she just booked me in for the section! I am very nervous for the operation but feel that it is the right decision for baby and myself. good luck :flower:

Wooohooo you get to meet your munchkin tomorrow! Congrats!

How do you feel about the csection? You'll have to come back here and let us know how it went :flower: I'd love to know as I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to have a section! Good luck hun :hugs:
 
Thanks hun, I will definitely update here if you want me to :flower:
I am very nervous but obviously excited at the same time!
 
Crikey, crawling down the stairs on your hands and knees, head first, sounds a bit dangerous to me! As does the ironing board - what if it slips?!
 
Crikey, crawling down the stairs on your hands and knees, head first, sounds a bit dangerous to me! As does the ironing board - what if it slips?!

Sorry, meant to add, you'll need your OH - I dont recommend it on your own :D

You dont crawl down the stairs, just stay with your knees on the top landing, and your bum up :flower:
 
I was in the exact same situation!

I went for the ECV reluctantly & she couldnt do it as my tummy was to tense lol:happydance:

She booked me in for a section & believe me it was completely different to all the horror stories you hear!

They will scan you the day of the section to make sure bubs is still breech, if he isnt they'll send you home & you do it naturally.

As for recovery time, i was up & walking the same night carrying the cathetar bag around with me:blush::haha:
The midwifes help with the baby ie: changing & passing him/her to you:flower:
The day after the cathetar comes out & i was walking around fine & looking after Lucas.

I was out of hospital on day 3 & we went shopping :haha:

My advice is keep taking the pain meds cause believe me they work!

I had my stiches out on day 6 i think and didnt hurt at all.

I was back to my normal self within a week of having the section

Sorry for waffling, want to reassure you as much as i can hope all goes well:hugs:
 
Not had a chance to read all the replies so sorry if I'm repeating!

I was the same as you, baby breech from 20 weeks. I went up to the hospital for my consultant appt armed and ready to fight my corner because I didn't want an ECV and actually it turned out they couldn't do one because there was enough amniotic fluid.

Had my elective c-section last Thursday, out of hospital by Friday night, am sore and slow moving, but apart from that, it's not that bad at all. I am frustrated about not being able to move quick enough when he is crying and stuff, so just keep him very close to me in his moses basket while I sit on the sofa!! DOn't worry about the bonding etc, I am so in love with my little boy and we are bonding well. He is so lush!!!

Please make sure you have someone around to help you at home, I wouldn't be coping if my husband and Mum weren't here!!! Remember, it is a major op and you need time to recover!

EDIT, forgot to add:
Of course it is sore, coughing KILLS and getting in and out of bed is a bit of a nightmare, but it's really not as bad as I thought it would be!! Get up and about at hospital as soon as you feel ready, I was begging for my catheter out at 4am on the Friday!!! However, another lady (an auxillary told me this!!) who had a section same day as me took 25 mins to go to the loo and back and was crying all the way. I feel for her, but it really truely was not that bad for me. I was so determined to get out and be home though. Oh and take whatever painkillers whenever they give you them! I had some oral morphine it was lush, tastes like baileys hahahaha!!
xxx
 
Hi hun

I have no experience of bubs measuring small for dates but just wanted to send you hugs and I am sure everything is fine- sometimes they are just small babies!

Great news that he is now head down- lets hope mine moves down soon or that they have mine wrong!
 
Do not google!!!!!!!!!!! Stay away from the search engine!!

I've got no expereince on small bubs but at least it is being monitorred and the docs will do what is best for you both. The measurments can also be so misleading - try to stay positive and keep doing what your doing.

Good luck!
 
dont google !!!!
big mistake !!!
if baby was head up when you measured 32cm and is now head down and yr measuring 30cm its his shift in position thats caused yr measurement to change the head sticks out more when babys breech making yr bump seem bigger my mw told me that.
so he hasnt shrunk. there is no way they would leave you till yr scan next week if they thought he was in any danger at all hun i know yr worried but try and remember that. he will probably just be a small baby.
so pleased hes head down for you at least thats one less thing to worry about x x
 
My little girl measured small at 32 weeks. the u/s is very long and detailed. Atleast an hour maybe longer. Turns out my baby stopped growing at about 30 weeks. She was born 9 days early weighing 4lbs 13 oz. She was very healthy thou and didn't need to go to intensive care or anything. She was just tiny. I also had emergency c-section wth her because her heart rate dropped and she didnt handle labour well. The section was a breeze for me, nothing at all like i was expecting. Sure it hurt but pain meds were good.

I will have another growth scan at 33 weeks with this baby because IUGR is more common in second pregnancies if you already had it once.

I dont suggest google for anyting pregnancy related. You ALWAYS get to read the worst case scenario first and by then you dont want to read anymore so you never find the good stories. I was HORRIFIED because of google and thought my baby was giong to be so sickly and possibly die. But she was perfect....tiny but perfect.

Wish you the best and hope baby is growing good for you!!!!
 
I'm having regular growth scans - every 2 weeks, now every week. They dont last long, sonographer only measures baby's head and abdominal circumference and how much amniotic fluid there is. I'm 39 weeks tomorrow and I have a heart condition, been prescribed betablockers few months ago and those medication can slow down baby's growht at the end.

Until a few weeks ago it was everything fine, but now little ones head is measuring small 32 cm at 38 weeks and has grown only 3mm in 2 weeks time. Average HC for new born is34 cm and I was quite worried too but my doc said nothing to worry about until all other measurements are OK. And it's all within a norm. Plus she said babies born small normaly catch up with those bigger ones up to a year after the birth.

So don't worry in advance. Just go, have your scan and enjoy it, it's an extra opportunity to see your baby again :)

Ah! And dont worry about them saying to keep an eye on babys movements cause they said that to mee too, so they probably do to everybody :)
 
Aw Hun try not to worry. Different midwives and doctors measure in different ways... I swear depending on bubs position the measurement could easily be a few cms out... As someone else said if they were really worried then they'd have you in sooner. :hugs:

Great news he's turned by himself though :happydance:

X x x
 

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