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Has anyone had an ESV to turn the baby?
I found out at 36 weeks that the baby still is still breech and the doctor suggested an ESV to attempt to turn the baby. I did a little research online and consulted with the doctor and ended up making an appointment for the ESV this Thursday. I was just wondering if anyone had a personal experience with this that they could offer? It seems to work about 50% of the time.
Thank you,
Julia
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Has anyone had an ESV to turn the baby?
If you are looking for people who have done this then I would skip my post...
My LO was transverse (sideways). I asked my dr. to do this (heard about it on The Bump). She told me she did not think it was a good idea, that it often leads to complications. When I said this on TB people were like "you should get another opinion, etc." but I trusted my dr.
When they went in for the c-section, turns out my LO had cord wrapped around his neck 3 times - dr. said she's never seen anything like that. If I had gone for the version it would have ended up in an emergency c-section. I'm glad I didn't interfere with nature.
Now with that being said, it's entirely up to you. I would gauge your decision on the comfort of your dr. Mine was not comfortable with it, so then I wasn't. I'm glad we made that decision.
Good luck!!
IMHO I would never do it as my thinking is there is a reason that the baby is breech/transverse. My daughter was breech we did not know it so I ended up laboring for almost 8 hours and ended up with a c-section. My c-section was great and my recovery was just as good.
There are way too many risks with this. I had a friend just try it and she said it was so painful and her insurance did not even cover it and it did not work. To me it is just not worth it.
What is so risky about it? Why is it more risky than major surgery? I don't get how a c-section can be so much less risky that try to manually turn your baby. You are monitored the whole time and they use ultra-sounds to see how things are going. You'll sit in L&D for a couple hours afterwards to be monitored. If something goes wrong, they will take you in for a c-section. There is a small possibility of complications which could end in a c-section. Unless you try to turn the baby, you WILL have a c-section and all the complications that can go along with that. Like an ECV, some women have great c-section recoveries and some don't.
I attempted to have a ECV done. However an u/s revealed that there was a cord around the baby's neck so we did not try it. I'm glad I at least went for the opportunity! Much more comfortable with the c-section after that.
I'm not saying that a c-section recovery is less painful, but in my opinion I would not choose to have a ESV. That is my opinion and what I would choose to do. If my Dr. had given me the option for a ESV - I would have opted for the c-section anyday. Again in my opinion there is a reason that child is breech and I would not be testing it. I might be monitored and everything, but I would not be on board for a ESV.
I can speak for my c-section recovery only and I felt great after 3 days. Was it painful at first yes, but it's something you have to push through. I will also say I took no pain meds either - did not feel the need. I understand everyones pain tolerance is different and everyones experience with a c-section is different, but my choice between a ESV and a c-section you bet I would be opting for the c-section.
Gottcha. I just couldn't understand why people are so worried about the risks of a ECV but don't see a c-section as risky, We actually did attempt a ECV in the office around 35 weeks but it failed. It was not comfortable by any means! But having been through both a vaginal birth and a c-section, I was willing to try anything to avoid another c-section. i did wind up having another c-section which was much better than the 1st one but no where near as easy as the vaginal birth. I had a tough vaginal birth too but the following morning I felt good as new - just a slightly sore bottom! I was in a lot of pain after my 1st c-section. It took me 20 minutes just to get out of bed. I couldn't see just opting for the c-section without at least trying for a vaginal birth. The ECV is only going to take a couple minutes. It either works fairly easily or they give up. I agree that there is often a reason the baby is breech so they will try to turn the baby but if the baby doesn't flip easily, they won't force him or her.
OP ~ you could also try something non invasive like chiropractic (The Webster Technique) or acupuncture. Both of those have a greater success rate in helping babies flip.