Baby frank breech - scheduled ECV and c-section

Ace6050 · December 2012

Hello! I'm 37 weeks and my baby has been in the frank breech position for a while. My amniotic fluids are measuring on the "low end" of normal, and baby is measuring a little bigger. We have an ECV scheduled for Friday.

I have two questions:

1. Have any of you had an ECV for a frank breech baby? Did it work?

2. Whether or not you had an ECV, how late did your frank breech baby turn if they did? I'm starting to get pessimistic that we've passed the mark for him turning on his own

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

tiff012982 · December 2012

I just wanted to say that my first was frank breech from 30 weeks on. She was staying put! I also had GD and was getting an u/s every week and had low fluid (around 7). They said that because of this, plus DD was smaller, the ECV would have a lower success rate <30%. With the risks involved, we decided against it and had the section when I went into labor on my own 10 days early. I was glad to know that she wasn't even going to turn once I went into labor. My girlfriend just 2 months afterwards tried the ECV with her first and it was not a success. Apparently first pregnancies are less successful as well. Good luck to you and I hope he turns!

KatieKim0815 · December 2012

There is still lots of time for your baby to turn!! However, I don't know what to say about your fluid levels. I didn't have an ECV but I DID do accupuncture and chiropractor (you want one that specializes in the Webster theory).

LO turned at 36 weeks.

I have to say...my hospital will deliver a FRANK breech baby vaginally. Will yours not? Might be good to check with them? This is the only kind of breech (there are many breech positions) that they can deliver vaginally @ my hospital.

AmyRI · December 2012

KatieKim0815:

There is still lots of time for your baby to turn!! However, I don't know what to say about your fluid levels. I didn't have an ECV but I DID do accupuncture and chiropractor (you want one that specializes in the Webster theory).

LO turned at 36 weeks.

I have to say...my hospital will deliver a FRANK breech baby vaginally. Will yours not? Might be good to check with them? This is the only kind of breech (there are many breech positions) that they can deliver vaginally @ my hospital.

This, especially the bold! My baby was transverse at 34 weeks, and after 2 adjustments with a chiropractor using the Webster technique, s/he flipped. Definitely worth a shot. https://icpa4kids.org/Find-a-Chiropractor/

bdutton0005 · December 2012

I do not know about the ECV I've never had it done but as PP said try a chiropractor. Also babies, in general, can turn untill the are engaged for labor so there is still time even if it doesn't work. Also a lot of ladies on here swear by spinningbabies.com. GL

NicoleWI · December 2012

My baby is complete breech (not frank), but we did an ECV last week. I was a good candidate as a 3rd time mom with slightly HIGH fluid, but it didn't work. I am glad we tried it. Baby tolerated it well, I thought it was completely manageable the way my OB did it (except that I got very lightheaded and almost passed out from lying flat on my back and not having had anything to eat or drink), and I am much more "at peace" with the c-section now. I just feel that if baby still didn't turn during the version, maybe he/she is really in the breech position for a reason.

I have a c-section scheduled now for 12/12/12, unless baby suddenly decides to turn, or unless I go into labor first (then it would be a c-section that day).

Good luck!!!

Ace6050 · December 2012

Thanks everyone! Yes I've been trying everything under the sun - yoga moves, ice packs on my belly, acupuncture, moxibustion, etc. He's just staying put.

I've heard from a number of moms how painful ECVs can be, but my doc has assured me it'll be more "uncomfortable" than painful and she'll stop after a minute or two if he doesn't flip out of the gate. I think she's learned it's not worth it to be overly aggressive or something?

While I'm hesitant about the procedure, I think I'd always think "what if" if we decided to skip it and go straight to the c-section.

Here's hoping this kid has better plans!

kxp004 · December 2012

You should try spinningbabies.com

They should have stuff to help turn your baby though some of th positions might be uncomfortable at this stage, but considering I was doing head stands during labor to adjust the baby they can't be that bad lol

kerbear135 · December 2012

kxp004:
You should try spinningbabies.com They should have stuff to help turn your baby though some of th positions might be uncomfortable at this stage, but considering I was doing head stands during labor to adjust the baby they can't be that bad lol

This! My LO decided to turn breech somewhere between 34 and 36 weeks. I did spiningbabies all last week, and today she had turned head down again! It may not work, but it doesn't hurt to try. My OB told me again today that while it gets less likely for them to move after 37 weeks, it's not impossible, so don't loose hope just yet! Good luck!

kimbber · December 2012

Question... I've been breech for about 12 weeks now. Although I'm only 29 weeks, and there is time, do you KNOW without an ultrasound if your baby turns on its own? I'm concerned also since she is staying put

PeonyPumps · December 2012

Another vote for the chiropractor here! DD was breech for as long as I could feel her position and she flipped while I was on the table at my third chiro appointment!

sbevmc09 · December 2012

kimbber:
Question... I've been breech for about 12 weeks now. Although I'm only 29 weeks, and there is time, do you KNOW without an ultrasound if your baby turns on its own? I'm concerned also since she is staying put

Babies tend to settle head down by 32 weeks if they want to be cooperative (that's a big IF It can certainly happen later than that) so you still have plenty of time before you even need to start worrying about baby's position.

Personally, I was able to tell when this LO flipped. It happened over a weekend and I went from feeling kicks in my cervix to feeling kicks on my side for a day or two and then kicks in my ribs. It was confirmed by my MW a few days later that baby was in fact head down. This was week 31. In most cases, even if you can't feel on your own how baby is positioned your provider should be able to tell you without an U/S.

drewiekc · December 2012

I had an ECV 37w for a frank breech baby (in addition to trying accupuncture, chiropractic, and every other method recommended by our Bradley instructor and doula), and the ECV did not work. DD was (and still is!) a stubborn little thing and kept sticking her feet out to brace herself against my ribs when the doctor would try to turn her. I had a c-section at 39w3d.

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