What is your experience with these? I am going to need one as my baby is currently transverse (side to side, was diagonal). I'm a nurse (posting under my mom's screenname) as well and know *just* enough OB to make me dangerous. :rotfl:
I have had extensive abdominal surgery and I have Crohn's Disease, so preserving the integrity of my abdominal wall by avoiding a c-section is optimum.
I've read various articles about the effectiveness of the ECV and am wondering what the experts think. I've heard everything from "it's fine, no worries" to "our practice won't even perform them". I've read that it's around 65% effective, that it hurts like an MFer :uhoh21:, that there can be cord issues (my biggest concern) etc etc.
My particular practice acts like a "vert" is no big deal. They will attempt it first without the epidural and then if it doesn't work will try it WITH the epidural. I also have polyhydramnios (likely the reason for the breech in the first place) so they will turn the baby, rupture membranes and administer pitocin to get me delivered.
Sorry for the life story, but I figure the more history you have, the better you understand the conundrum. (sp)
I had been having contractions on and off since 30 weeks. I was starting to dialate at 32 weeks. I had a history of pre-term labor having delivered my first at 34 weeks unexpectantly. Also in the NICU... I had been in anti-partum for about a week when they did the version. They kept me to make sure things were ok, and I dialated to 5-6 by morning, hence the section at 35 weeks. I never had an amnio. I don't think I would have consented for one anyway due the situation. I believe I would have delivered anyway, even if they hadn't done the version. Just FYI, my third baby was born at 37 weeks! She was the only one that got to come home with me. I finally realized what it was like to have your baby in the hospital room with you. :)
Thanks, that explains things! I am so happy for you that you were able to make it to term with your 3rd baby! That is my dream, after having a 32 and a 33 weeker, to be able to take a baby home with me from the hospital and only have to worry about typical baby issues would be heaven.
I have a 6 month old baby girl. She turned breech at 38 weeks and I had a version done. It was so unbelievably easy. I think the doctor had his hands on my tummy for less that 90 sec. It wasn't really painful at all. I would describe it as slight discomfort while he was pushing on her head and my skin and muscle was squished between his hand and her head. I think the moral of the story and the others posted is, all babies and tummies/pelvises etc. are different and it could be a very easy version as mine was or difficult and uncomfortable like other's have posted. I think you should definetly give it a try as long as you are in a facility where an immediate c section can be performed if needed. My doctor told me the risk is the placenta can be dislodged from the uterus causing fetal distress and emergent c section. He also told me in his 30 years of OB he's never seen that happen. I was given an IV and Terbutaline before the procedure, then I was monitored for at least an hour following the procedure. Good Luck and let us know how it goes.
I had a version- my daughter was in a transverse lie as well at 38 weeks and had been for quite a while. They did the version and I felt it was unconfortable but not thankfully as bad as some other's experience has been. I didn't have any drugs or terb. It worked for about 3 days, they she went back to transverse, they sceduled another one and when they looked she was vertex but they still induced me. .. .. 22hrs later my sweetie made her debut.
If I had to do it again, seeing as how they offered me either a repeat version or a scheduled c- sect- I would still give it a try and do the version. Most important is getting someone who knows what they're doing. I was at a teaching hospital and made apoint of saying that the resident could assist but the primary needed to be the perinatologist I was seeing. Other than that-- give it up to whomever the maker is for you and best wishes. Your baby will be great
wannabeL&D73
110 Posts
Thanks, that explains things! I am so happy for you that you were able to make it to term with your 3rd baby! That is my dream, after having a 32 and a 33 weeker, to be able to take a baby home with me from the hospital and only have to worry about typical baby issues would be heaven.
Shannon