Marriage Confessions,  Pregnancy

Turn, Baby, Turn

36 Weeks and Counting
36 Weeks and Counting

This afternoon I had my 36 week doctor’s appointment to discuss what the plan of action is from here on out.  The little problem we are having is that the baby is breech.  And huge.  So, its hard for him to turn himself around at this point.  My doctor doesn’t deliver naturally (which is the word I use instead of the dreaded V-word) for breech babies, so today we scheduled a C-section for May 28.

I had been warned that this might happen, and so I had made my peace with a C-section.  To be honest, I was sort of relieved.  Having an exact date in mind just makes me feel more prepared.  And my family could plan to be in town.  I would know when I would need to have things at work wrapped up.  It just seemed like the easy answer.

But today, my doctor talked to me about doing a procedure called an external cephalic version (ECV).  This is where the doctor tries to manually turn your baby into the head-down position.  The thing about it is that it is only about 60% effective and there can be some serious complications for the baby.  His heart rate could drop.  The cord could get twisted around his neck.  The placenta could separate.  None of the things that you want to happen.  But that’s why the procedure is done in a hospital.  They will actually admit me and then during the procedure if there is any stress to the baby at all, they can do a C-section right there on the spot.

At first, I was dead set against an ECV.  The way I saw it, in the ECV all the risks were with the baby.With a C-section, the risks were all with me.  And I’d much rather have the baby all fat and happy than have him be the one who is uncomfortable or having stress on his body.  But my doctor was super nice about it and super calming.  He made me feel really comfortable about the procedure and explained that they only manipulate the baby to encourage him to turn ultimately on his own.  They don’t really force him into any position he doesn’t want to go into.  They just help him into the right position.  When he explained it like that, I felt much better.

So, the plan is that next Friday I’ll be in the hospital for the ECV.  If they are able to turn him, then they’ll continue to keep an eye on him for the next few weeks to make sure he doesn’t flip himself back around, but we will hopefully just be waiting for me to go into labor naturally.  If I go in and they can’t get him to turn during the procedure, then I’ll have a scheduled C-section on May 28.  If I go in and the baby has any complications during the procedure, they’ll do an emergency C-section that day.

I’m super not excited about the ECV for the selfish reason that it is supposed to be really painful.  But surprisingly, I’m not nervous or worried about it too much.

Have any of you had this procedure done before?  Did you have any luck?

30 Comments

  • andrea

    i did not have an ECV but i did end up having to have an unexpected c-section because the baby was so large (9 lb 10 oz), i never went in to labor, he was stuck and i found out i was having the c-section the same day i had the surgery, but it turned out terrific!! and i have to say i am very jealous that you are so far along and still able to wear your wedding rings. good luck with the procedure, it will turn out great whatever happens.

  • Chloe

    My mother had this procedure. I was the baby. In the middle of the procedure, the cord got twisted around my neck. But finally my mother could deliver naturally. And I’m still alive!! 😀

  • Jennifer

    No kids here but I personally wouldn’t have an ECV.

    *Something could go wrong when they do it.
    *He could become breech again. (this would suck b/c you went through the pain of an ECV and it didn’t ‘hold’)
    *If something went wrong to me an emergency c-section is scarier than a planned one

    I’m ok with a c-section and since you’ve made peace with it too I say just do that. Unless you really REALLY would like to deliver naturally.

  • Hilary

    I didn’t have a C-section or need ECV although my munchkin was transverse (?) until about two weeks before I delivered. I think you should do whatever you want. I will say a prayer that everything goes well for you and the Bean!!

  • Catherine

    I have a friend who had an ECV (performed by two huge men), and it didn’t end up working. She ended up having her scheduled c-section afterall.

    Whatever happens, it’s great that you’ll get to meet that Bean soon! So exciting!!

  • amanda

    Hi i’m a mum of four from over here in Australia. Intsead of just lurking i thought id say hi and i wish you & your husband all the very best with your new bub. What an exciting time for you guys! Love the blog…makes for a very funny read..so thanks! All the best..Amanda

  • Laura

    I hope that he turns! Gooner was breech for SO long we were looking at this procedure as well. With all the monitoring I think it would make me feel safe. PLUS, an emergency C-section is planned because they know that if Bean’s heart rate lowers or ANYTHING happens, there will be a c section and you can have your bean!

    But no matter what, I support your Mommy’s intuition!

  • mom of one

    I have never had one done.. but a friend of mine did and said number one it hurts like HELL and number two it didn’t work… but ultimately it is up to you.. you will know what to do.. your the momma… and momma’s always know what to do…

  • Lori

    I am glad that you and your doctor have a plan of action for the next few weeks. I will be thinking about you and sending good thoughts your way!

  • Liz, JM, and Leo

    Hey Katie, Praying for you guys! I’ve heard mixed results with the ECV – which makes sense given it has a 60% success rate, right? But I’ve also heard that it’s definitely worth a shot to turn that little Bean. Trying to avoid a C-section is worth it – it would be to me anyway… I want a LOT of kids and multiple C-sections don’t sound fun, and there are lots of benefits to laboring and delivering naturally for both mother and baby. BUT – that said, my mother-in-law has 7 children, all of them via C-section, and she is a rockstar and the babies are all healthy – and my sister-in-law is the same – 3 kids so far, all C-sections – all uncomplicated. So… follow your intuition here… as others have said.

    I’ve also heard there are lots of natural things and exercises you can do to try to turn a breech baby. A few friends of mine had breech babies who didn’t turn until 38 or 39 weeks or so – but they did turn. So you could tell them to schedule the C-section when you are closer to full term – and give the baby more of a chance to turn on his own. Perhaps the doctors are being a bit preemptive here.

    Here’s a website that has techniques for turning babies: http://www.spinningbabies.com/techniques

    Also, I’ve heard acupuncture does amazing things too for breech babies! I’m sure some of the music students or professors know of a good acupuncturist in town who would be able to help you.

    If you google turning a breech baby I’ll bet you’ll get a million and one ideas – some good – some crazy… but hey – it may be worth a shot to get that baby turned.

    Praying for you Katie! And no matter what – everything will be alright!

    Love,
    Liz

  • Whitney

    Oh girl! The time is near!! I’m sure everything will happen perfectly for you and little Beaner will be here before you know it. 🙂 Be sure to keep us updated! I need step by step instructions from you since you are due a few weeks before me! 🙂

  • Laura

    listen to MY Mom’s story and feel good about yourself:

    my Mom is Swedish, so when she found out she was knocked up she wanted to have the baby in her home country so she could have the support of her friends and family, etc. so about a month before she was due she got on a plane headed for Sweden. a 15-HOUR PLANE RIDE from Seattle to Stockholm.

    it gets worse.

    everything was going fine, my Dad has flown in from Seattle. they had been staying at my grandmother’s place, which is about an hour away from the closest hospital. they were going on a scenic drive and my mom starts goes into labor in the car. so they go to the hospital, and my mom contracts some kind of airborne bug from another patient while they’re waiting and gets sick immediately. she developed a fever and the doctors told her she was too weak to give birth naturally, so they were going to have to give her a C-Section

    IT GETS WORSE.

    they also inform her that the mixture of the drugs they have given her and the painkillers she would need for the C-Section could potentially kill her, so she just didn’t take the painkillers…

    and still had the C-Section.
    so basically she could feel everything as they were cutting her open and taking me out.

    it was only after hearing that story that i stopped wondering why my little brother is her favorite.

  • Kayla

    Hey Katie!
    Um, you don’t know me, lol. I found your blog through a friend of mine. I have no kids nor am I pregnant, but I was delivered the same way as your Bean will be (even on May 28th!) though I turned around during birth. They had to act fast, but my mom stopped dilating so that helped them out too. So, not to worry, breeched C-Section babies born on May 28th turn out fine.
    Good luck for you, Chris and the Bean!

  • Rachel Bruce

    I second Liz’s recommendation of the SpinningBabies.com website. Two friends have used these techniques with great success.

    Two other friends went through manual version attempts(unsuccessfully) and both said to me that because of the pain involved and the risk to the baby, they wished they had gone ahead with the C-section, but each person’s pain threshold and circumstances are different.

    Personally, I was all set for a “natural” birth, but Sam decided not to come on his own. I made it 26 hours on the highest level of Pitocin with no pain medication whatsoever. I ended up having a C-section with spinal anaesthesia. (Having the spinal instead of the epidural was the best decision I ever made.)

    Many women go one to have subsequent children via natural childbirth after a C-section. Whatever you decide, good luck and my prayers are with you!

  • Deborah

    Hey! My best friend had twins in February and I got to be there for it. One was breech, so the plan was deliver baby #1, turn baby #2, deliver both naturally.

    What happened? Delivered baby #1, tried extremely hard to turn #2 (they push soooo hard!), baby’s heart rate dropped, had to deliver by c-section. The c-section was so rushed that she wasn’t even numb w/the first incision. My bff was so sore from them trying to turn the baby, and of course in addition to that, was sore from natural + c-section deliveries.

    So, take what you want from that. There’s always good and bad stories out there. Good luck!

  • Emily C

    Okay, I’ve never been pregnant so I can’t offer you any advice – sorry. I just wanted to say that I think your picture was very pretty. You have that “glow”. 🙂 Hang in there!

  • Gina

    Same here, no kids and I was born regular..so good luck to you, chris and the bean!!

    By the way, what does Chris think about the EVC? Would he rather a C-section?

  • Maria

    I just found your blog and read this post. I did have an ECV almost 3 years ago. It worked in my case. Yes, it was uncomfortable, but not so painful that I wished I would die. 🙂
    I was able to make it until our little guy was due. It was a chance I was willing to take because I totally trusted my doctors. I did hear many views from many people before I did it though and it has to be a personal choice. The worst part was not being able to eat for 12 hours before the procedure!! Good Luck and I hope it all turns out well 🙂

  • Karen

    When I was pregnant with my first, they told me she was breech, and suggested doing a version. Went to the hospital for the procedure, but it was unnecessary since she’d turned on her own in the meantime! You’d think you’d FEEL something that big turn around!!

    Anyhoo, went into labor on my own a few weeks later, but never progressed beyond 4 cm, so they ended up doing a c-section anyways. Good thing, because my baby girl was 9 lb 1 oz! Having a c-section is a TOUGH recovery, let me tell you. My son, born almost 3 years later was born “naturally”, and even though labor is PAINFUL!!!!! the recovery is sooo much quicker and easier.

    God’s blessings on your growing family!

  • Mandy

    You don’t know me and I am really not sure how I ended up on your sight, but I started reading your post and my heart dropped and I knew it was for a reason. 13 years ago I was in CA with my husband 37 weeks preg. and she was breach. They tried a ecv (the most excruciating pain I’ve ever experienced.) Sent me home because it didn’t work. Keep in mind this was a Naval Hospital they did sooooo many things wrong. A week later I noticed a decrease in fetal movement went in to the hospital and they couldn’t find a heartbeat. If you do try this procedure and it is unsuccessful make sure they deliver the baby by c-section that same day!

  • Donna

    I had this procedure twice last June, due to a stubborn baby. The procedure is unconfortable for the mom (I would not call the pain excruciating–but I have been told I have a high paid tolerance), but they do monitor the baby throughout and you stay afterwards (at least I did) for additional monitoring of the baby.

    I would highly reccomend trying the ecv, just becuase it is easier to recover from a natural birth than a c-section. I have had both. Everytime I would go to get up from a laying down position after the c-section, it would like my insides were sliding around inside me, which to me was the grossest and wierdest feeling I have ever felt. A pillow held up against my abdomin would help with this, just in case you do have the c-section.

    Good luck I hope it all goes well.

  • Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com

    Wow. I think I need to sit here and just swallow that post down for a little while. I don’t even know what to think. To be honest, I cannot even begin to put myself in your shoes. I have no idea what I would do if those were my options. Good luck; I hope the ECV isn’t overly painful and that it doesn’t put the baby in harm’s way.

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