Breech Baby - Version (ECV)

leksiL · November 2016

Hi everyone! Received the bad news that baby is breech at 36W today. They are scheduling a version for me next week. Does anyone have any experience or advice about this? We were planning (I know) on having a natural birth so this is very upsetting to me. My doula is sending me a bunch of new age type stuff to do like go to a chiropractor and I'm like eh. I am just so lethargic about the whole thing now and need to get motivated to do what we can to flip and avoid a cesarean if at all possible.

slartybartfast · November 2016

I'll find out this evening - I'm possible breech right now. If I'm breech my current group and whole hospital do not do vaginal births. We met with our doula last night and she knows of an OB in the area with high success rates for versions and even breech deliveries so we will look into that option.

Im nervous about it but was encouraged by the info!

wynterwaddell · November 2016

I read something the day before yesterday about different positions that you can get in to help flip the baby around the right way. Like getting on your hands and knees with your butt elevated in the air and balancing yourself on your elbows and moving back and forth in a rocking motion. I'm not sure how effective they are but they may be worth a try

tinattt23 · November 2016

Sorry for the bummer news! No personal experience, but I know ECV is usually about 50/50 success. I'd give everything you're doula recommended a shot. I've heard great results about chiropractors. And all the spinning babies stuff. If it were me, I'd try anything and everything in the next week before the ECV. Maybe it'll help. Maybe not. But at least you'll know you've done everything you could. And even if the ECV doesn't work, I'd keep up the other stuff until the last minute. You never know. Good luck!

AbriannaO · November 2016

No experience, but when I spoke with one of the doctors in the practice about breech information, he said that ECV have a high rate of bringing labor on early and that's why they wait until 36.5 weeks (at least at my practice) because they want the baby to be considered full term in case the ECV causes early labor. During my L&D class, the nurse teaching said that it can be painful.

penelope4612 · November 2016

I would ask your doctor how successful they are specifically at turning babies. My LO was breech until my 36.5 week ultrasound which confirmed he was head down. My doctors told me they have about a 50% success rate with ECV. It seemed that they had a pretty low rate of inducing labor but perhaps that is because they don't tend to be super aggressive about getting the baby to turn. They also said it can depend upon how much fluid you have and whether this is your first pregnancy, because that can affect how easy it is for the baby to turn. I have the sense that how successful doctors are with this procedure varies a lot. I have heard of babies turning right up until labor. I did some of the spinning babies stuff when this guy was breech but idk if that helped.

maamawaabangi · November 2016

Oh gosh, isn't that discouraging! I'm so sorry. I've been in a similar place and know how horrible and discouraging that feels. I didn't have a version, because I think it was at 34/35 weeks and baby ended up flipping down on it's own by 36 weeks. But, I was still very worried and started "spinning babies" to help.

For starters I would check out spinningbabies.com (https://spinningbabies.com/) and go into full mode of doing everything you can to coax little one to be head down! I was about to do the whole gamut... acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, moxibustion... the whole deal! I felt it was worth it to avoid a generally needless surgery. Sometimes they have plenty of room still and it's fairly common for them to not flip until closer to 36 weeks or after given your body type and how big they are in the space provided.

Sometimes there is a reason they need to be head up (as you likely already know) ... but after trying what you can, in your power, I'd give it up and trust your baby and your body.

Also, I'd likely require an additional US prior to agreeing to a c-section (just before it) to make sure the baby didn't flip... just in case. You never know... even after labor starts they can often decide head down makes more sense.

And FYI this baby was breech for a few weeks... at my 33 week appointment it had thankfully gone south (and I never felt it do a drastic flip). My MW said that often they inch their way down with out it being very obvious to a mama.

leksiL · November 2016

@slartybartfast ugh I'm sorry you are dealing with this too. I hope you get good news tonight. Right now I'm just sitting here staring at the pile of stuff compiled for our delivery which is now basically useless. Yea I know I'm a ray of sunshine today!! I'm even more annoyed because DH missed the appointment this morning because he had a bid due (he worked until who knows when last night and then was up before dawn today) and now he is working on another bid due tomorrow so he said that he would "try" to get home for a normal time (6:30) and meanwhile I'm "working" from home and feel so alone and helpless.

@tinattt23 I did leave a message with the chiropractor for an appt. I'm supposed to be doing inversions 5x/day, and will continue doing the cat/cow stretches too. I'm not sold on the acupuncturist though.

At the end all that matters is the baby is safe, right?

@AbriannaO Yep next week is 37w for me but they want to do it before they get too big to flip! I know it's going to be painful not really excited about that either. My Dr. had her entire hand up my vagina today looking for the baby's head which wasn't very pleasant either.

leksiL · November 2016

@penelope4612 thanks for the positive story! Hopefully we can get this baby to turn. I will do the spinning babies stuff. Maybe if I yell at her some more - bad baby!! (just kidding) She said they have a 50% success rate too.

@maamawaabangi you are so encouraging thanks

yep my doula is pushing all of that on me and I'm willing to try anything! I can't do inversions 6x/day because I have to work but I will do my best. The lighting incense thing next to my pinky toe? IDK...

My Dr. did promise that they would be checking her position right before the scheduled c-section via ultrasound - they know my wishes for a natural birth and will try everything they can to help me!

I just finished "working" for the day and I'm going to take a bath. Luckily DH should be home at a normal hour and I told him we should go out to dinner to celebrate him winning his construction bid...celebrating something positive could be really good today

ashleaf2018 · November 2016

No advice on the ECV but I will say that I went to a Young Living essential oils class and I asked if there was anything to stay away from specifically, and I was told peppermint EO can flip a baby, so not to use it if they are already head down. But if they are breech you can try and see if it flips the baby head down. If that's a feasible option for you I would look into it!

maamawaabangi · November 2016

Yeah, I know, the incense seemed ridiculous to me too. But, then again it has a lot of antidotal evidence and I would probably have given it a try (because it can't hurt). But, maybe as a last resort... and for peace of mind that I tried everything... But, you're right I thought "They do what??? To my pinky toe???"

Know you're in my thoughts.

tinattt23 · November 2016

My doula mentioned something about the oils and your pinky toe! Sounds nuts, but I agree with @maamawaabangi I'd probably give it try just to cross it if the list. Can't hurt.

Don't blame you about the acupuncture though. I might skip that one just because needles freak me out.

My advice...just don't stress out about it too much. Do what you can within you time and energy constraints. That's all you really can do. Maybe baby will flip, maybe they won't. These little guys have a mind of their own already. I promise on your baby's graduation day they won't complain that you only did 3 inversions a day instead of 6.

penelope4612 · November 2016

I agree with @tinattt23 - try not to stress too much if you can. I felt really anxious after all 3 appts where they said baby was breech. I felt like trying to do all the spinning babies all the time often made me feel worse instead of better because it made me feel like I was doing all this work and "failing" because he wouldn't turn. I think for some, feeling like you're doing everything you can feel good, but for me it didn't. So just also keep that in mind - try not to make yourself miserable for weeks on end if you can help it.

jastock20 · November 2016

I'm in the same boat as you at 36 weeks they found my baby was frank breech. my dr won't do a ecv as baby is to big. I am trying everything in my power to naturally flip her. I have a lot of extra fluid so I am hoping that helps a bit. I wish you lots of luck on spinning your baby. hopefully come time for delivery we will be surprised and they will be head down!

leksiL · November 2016

@jastock20 I'm so sorry you can't do an ESV

! They are supposed to be painful and I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm glad we are going to at least try. Let me know how it goes - what is your EDD? Mine is 12/14 but I have a cesarean scheduled for 12/8 if we can't flip.

jastock20 · November 2016

My due date is 12/8 and I'm scheduled for 12/8 she told me they will give her till the end to flip.

leksiL · November 2016

My version is tomorrow morning!! Will update fingers crossed!! ❤️

slartybartfast · November 2016

Good luck @leksiL

gowenc · November 2016

Good luck! Will be thinking of you, labor buddy.

SmashJam · November 2016

Good luck!!

penelope4612 · November 2016

Good luck!

H4aPartyof5 · November 2016

Good luck @leksiL!

Christinaruth74 · November 2016

Just catching up on this... good luck at the ECV!

DD turned transverse at 39 weeks (ouch) but within 24hours (and some spinning babies techniques) she went back to head down so even if the ESV isn't successful, all hope isn't lost!

jastock20 · November 2016

What techniques did you use in the 39th weeks I'd love to know I'm trying everything!!

maamawaabangi · November 2016

Turn baby turn! Ts and Ps!

Christinaruth74 · November 2016

@jastock20 check out the spinning babies website! There are a bunch of options. Definitely do them when your SO or someone else is around... I needed some help getting into (and out of) positions. The one that seemed most successful for me involved my knees up on the couch and elbows on the ground. I stayed like that for a bit and I think I even repeated it a few times.

leksiL · November 2016

So the ECV did not work out as planned! The doctor tried to flip baby FOUR times and I did my best to try to relax but it was a LOT of pressure - at times I could not breathe. The last time she got the baby flipped 90 degrees and when she took her hand off to re-position she immediately bounced back to her original position. The doctor said there was nothing that she could do to get the baby to flip, so we are having a cesarean 12/8. They will of course double check immediately prior to make sure she didn't flip but given how tightly tethered she is in there I have given up all hope of her doing so!

I guess silver lining, my last day of work is now Friday.

I truly appreciate everyone's support and well wishes! No matter what we will have our baby safe and that is all that matters xoxo

tinattt23 · November 2016

Sorry the version didn't work.

But seems like you're in a good place about it. Who knows, maybe baby will surprise you with a last minute flip. If not, at least you have time to get comfortable with the idea of the planned CS.

slartybartfast · November 2016

@leksiL - booo to the outcome. I know that's disappointing... but hey! There are some pluses to a scheduled c-section for sure! And as of December 9th, your little girl will be in your arms

jastock20 · November 2016

I'm so sorry it did not work I feel your pain now both our baby girls will make there grand entrance on Dec 8th!!!!!! good luck I've been doing all this research on c sections and some things put me at peace others make me crazy don't read to much into in. I'm also a nurse so being I have a medical background you would think I'd be more calm but it is worse. all that matters are the babies are safe and we are safe to!!!

penelope4612 · November 2016

I'm sorry it didn't work, but I am glad that you will get to meet your baby soon!

leksiL · November 2016

@jastock20 we are going to watch some videos on youtube to prepare - yikes. More for DH who is on the side of not watching me be cut into, but maybe it won't be that bad?

At L&D today for the version they had three people trying to get the u/s machine to work and I was like noooooo....losing faith. I'm not the best patient...luckily DH is very nice and people like HIM haha.

jastock20 · November 2016

Videos are tough I made my husband watch too... but at least I now feel comfortable knowing he probably won't pass out

dmontgo · November 2016

@leksiL I'm sorry that your birth plans had to change. I know that's tough. Even though a CS was not my first choice, my DH was very surprised how quickly it goes. Within 10 minutes, and then baby is here. You will likely have a smooth recovery too.

dmontgo · November 2016

@leksiL I'm sorry that your birth plans had to change. I know that's tough. Even though a CS was not my first choice, my DH was very surprised how quickly it goes. Within 10 minutes, and then baby is here. You will likely have a smooth recovery too.

karmba · November 2016

@leksiL my DH was so not into being in the room during the C/S. We were very upfront with my OB about it and they didn't bring him in until I was fully prepped. He sat on a stool by my head and focused on talking to me and didn't see anything. Baby was out in about 5 minutes, then DH got to hold him after he was checked out while they finished on me - about 45 minutes. Honestly, watching C/S videos might freak him out.

maamawaabangi · November 2016

I'm sorry. That is frustrating... but you did all you could and there's probably some reason your little one needs or wants to be heads up that badly. I hope you feel peace and at ease about it. Hugs!

leksiL · November 2016

Thanks everyone!! It's nice to know I'm not alone in this. @karmba I will watch them and discuss it with him some more. He has no problem with blood or anything - he just does not like to see me hurt. No matter what he'll be with me during the surgery (unless they force him out) it's just does he want to see the baby come out? I know I do! It will be a "gentle" csection so I think I have the option. Plus it will make me feel more like it is actually my baby. It still hasn't hit me that there is a baby in there!!

Want a personalized experience?

Breech Baby - Version (ECV)

Re: Breech Baby - Version (ECV)

Choose Another Board

Search Boards