External Cephalic Version was somthing I had heard of, but not as ECV. It was a way of saving mums and babies in days gone by. The Doctor would Turn the Baby in the womb during labour with a high degree of mortality.
When My Consultant suggested that the
safest way for Piglet to be born was to turn her, I balked.
I had a condition called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction from which I had not recovered, since Roo was born some 4 years previously. The pubic join had loosend further causing chronic pain in my hips, legs and some nerve damage to my spine. The worry was that by performing a c-section, the muscle structure holding my hips in place would loosen, causing permanent nerve damage and possibly the use of my legs. The other option was to do the c-section, then wire my hips at the same time. This however brought its own risks of damage.
My Consultant explained that she had performed ECV's on a number of bubs and all had been succesfull. She layed out the pros and cons and asked me to seriously consider allowing her to do the procedure. I went home and discussed the situation with my hubby.
Pros if succesfull:
- Natural delivery------Minimal risk of further nerve damage-------No Anisthetic needed----------No stiches or extended healing as in c-section.-----60-70% success rate.
Cons if unsuccessfull:
- The baby turns back-----1-2% Risk of Mortality-----The Umbilical wraps round bub------Placenta Abruption------Preterm Labour------Waters break during turn-------pain.
Now comes the preassure decision. Piglet turned on her own. The pain of her turning was hell so I was whipped up to the maternity hospital by hubby. It was decided to that I come in and start labour incase she turned back, I was 37 weeks. They stuck the hormone in an asked me to walk the wards. Which I duly did. I slept well and comfortably but on waking the pain came back. I lay crying but could not speak. The midwife was saying, honey I'll get the doc you dont have to suffer, we can give you pain relief. She poor girl thought I was in labour, and if I opened my mouth to tell her otherwise, I would have scared all first time mums into hysterics ,because all I wanted to do was scream. Bless though, by the time the doc came I was sitting up as cheerfull as anything, no pain but a body full of endorphines. I informed the bemused chap that my bub had gone breech again. He actually groaned. Poor chap. He really was worried about having to do an ECV.
My Consultant was called and she halted the hormone treatment untill she could get to the ward and talk to me. Crunch time. If an ECV was going to happen it had to happen today. Why?
1 ECV's are not performed after 37 weeks as baby has grown too big and the risks to Mum and Bub go up drastically.
2 The amniotic fluid decreases after 37 weeks ready for the birth.
Now that I think back, I agreed to go with her advice because i wanted a natural delivery and anisthetic makes me very sick. All thoughts about the risks flew away and I just wanted to meet Piglet. So now it begins.
I am moved to a Labour room next to theatre. An anethitist comes and gives me a talk on what he will do if the worst happens, he puts a line in my arm ready to administer anisthetic should the cord wrap round bub etc. A whole team of nurses troop in and explain they are on theatre duty and will break my waters in theatre as soon as baby is turned. Two will hold my legs, two will be holding and pushing bub down into the pelvis as soon as the waters break. One will have the portable scan to ensure the cord does not tangle and two will be there to hold my hand as hubby will be getting scrubbed in after the ECV. ? Ah! hold on, what about the low risk. This is the NHS, they are constantly under staffed. I'm seriously worried now.
My consultant turns up in day clothes with two nurses, a young House Doc and a portable scan. I launch, you said this was safe,blah, blah,blah. Oh Honey this is safe, but if something went wrong and we are not prepared, you will sue. The Hospital Trust are nervous since the chap up in medical died of a knee infection. If I felt any worries I would be scrubbed up, but I'm not because all is going to be well.
My ECV starts. The consultant scans bub to get the position. Once they are sure and have a plan, they lay hands on bubs bottom, shoulders and head. They gently push and pull through manipulation. Once bub starts to move they continue to scan each few seconds to ensure that all is well. Some bubs move fast, some more slowly. Piglet moved slowly, they did not force her, but gently prevented her from moving back into the previous position. Once she was in position the Theatre nurses came in and held piglet in position as I was wheeled in. They broke my waters, pushed piglet into the pelvis and smiled. Your bub will be coming tonight.
I am still waiting for the pain of bub being turned. It was painless, just a pulling sensation and no discomfort. Back to Labour Ward, intravenous drip to speed up labour and four hours later Piglet arrived all 71/2Ibs. I asked the young House Doc how many ECV's she had done, she smiled beautifully and said "this is my first". I asked her how many the consultant had done, "four, all successfull. All done at 36-37 weeks. She will not do an ECV before because if you dont induce straight away, the bub could turn breech again.
My Advice is to seriously consider this method of turning. However dont allow them to turn bub unless you are ready to go straight into induced labour. Turning can cause distress to the bub, in some cases and if done too early baby can be born premature. Piglet was resusitated at birth because the speed of turning to birth was fast and did cause a little distress.
I would not risk an ECV then go home, as if done before your delivery is set, then bub could move back to their comfortable position. Breech babies can turn in minutes right up untill natural labour starts. However the risks are still less than with a c-section or natural breech delivery, for bub and mum, so it is worth having as an option if you really want a comfortble natural delivery.
I hope this story helps someone who may be considering this method of turning.
Best Wishes. Winnie.x
