

Are people aware of the dangers of ECV?

(91 Posts)
himynameisfred Fri 17-Aug-12 15:54:21

I want to warn people that it's not safe and could result in death and not worth the risk x

lisad123 Fri 17-Aug-12 15:55:06


himynameisfred Fri 17-Aug-12 15:57:31

ECV Having a breech baby turned, it's what they're doing now, instead of cesarian or breech birth.
I was led to think it was safe when I had it a couple of months ago, it ended badly.

lisad123 Fri 17-Aug-12 15:58:40

I'm sorry to hear that sad
I have had a few of my teenage mums I work with have their babies turned too. I thought it was weird as always remember being told its dangerous.

guanosoup Fri 17-Aug-12 15:58:41

you need to be more specific, sorry!

sundaesundae Fri 17-Aug-12 16:00:32

I assume you have had a bad experience? Studies have shown that it is very safe procedure and fairly large studies have been done. Oxford did a large study of 800 ECV's which gave rise to a rate of 0.5% for emcs following the procedure and no deaths.

I am very sorry if you have had an upsetting experience.

sundaesundae Fri 17-Aug-12 16:01:12

External Cephalic Version, manually turning a baby.

guanosoup Fri 17-Aug-12 16:01:15

I apologise for my silly post, and sad to hear that things went wrong for you. xx

himynameisfred Fri 17-Aug-12 16:01:50

External cephalic version

Does that explain anything? :p Having the baby turned.

I had my baby turned and this is how it ended, my birth story.


himynameisfred Fri 17-Aug-12 16:02:31

it's not about me, this thread, I just wanted to say it's not so safe and not worth the risk!

himynameisfred Fri 17-Aug-12 16:05:32

sundae sundae, do you think the statistics could be misleading?
as small placental abruptions that are initially caused my ECVs can because major placental abruptions when contraction later start.
The ECV can be fobbed off as not being related as the baby being in dissress wasn't immediate, but I'm not so convinced.

himynameisfred Fri 17-Aug-12 16:05:49


3littlefrogs Fri 17-Aug-12 16:09:34

When I trained and worked as a midwife back in the 70s we were taught that ECV was risky. Not just because of the risk of placental abruption, but also cord entanglement.

I didn't realise it was even done these days.

himynameisfred Fri 17-Aug-12 16:14:46

The reason I think ECV causes more harm than documented, is because my daughters MRI scans were shown to not only addenbrookes doctors, but the leading specialist in the country.
And they both said that the damage was not an accute event and they suspected decreased oxygen supply for at least a few weeks previous to the birth.
I believe the placenta became minorly abruption after the ECV.
Labour contractions caused the placenta to completely break up.

We will never know, as the doctor performing the ECV only checked her heartbeat and said she was fine afterwards.
The heartbeat being fine after ECV doesn't mean there has been no damage done, as I think my case has proven.
How many others does this happen to? but they don't link it to the EVC as it wasn't immediate?

sundaesundae Fri 17-Aug-12 16:16:14

Sounds like what you went for was horrific. With these statistics there are always going to be people that are sadly in the 0.5%, which of course does not help those who are in it.

I am so sorry for your loss, I can understand your desire to tell people what has happened to you, which is a complete tragedy.

3littlefrogs Fri 17-Aug-12 16:19:38

himynameisfred. I am so sorry about your terrible experience.

I don't know how the statistics regarding ECV were compiled, or when/by whom.

However - it is possible to make statistics say whatever is required, depending on what information is collected, how the study is designed and interpreted.

Maybe someone who knows a bit more about it can shed more light.

Once again - my heartfelt sympathy to you. sad

C0smos Fri 17-Aug-12 16:22:46

I live overseas, it's not allowed here, I'm always shocked when I read about people having this done, it sounds barbaric, my baby was breech and c section was the only option offered to me, quite rightly IMO

lisad123 Fri 17-Aug-12 16:25:31

Just read your story, so sorry for your loss sad

Margerykemp Fri 17-Aug-12 16:30:16

I have always known that ecv was dangerous, but probably only because I did a lot of extra research during pg.

If my baby had been breech Im pretty sure I would have refused it. I think it's appalling that they didn't offer you a breech vaginal birth.

I hope you sue the arses off the hospital/doctors involved and that the people responsible for this negligenced are punished.

Boggler Fri 17-Aug-12 16:40:18

himynameisfred I read your story earlier and it's so very sad.
I know that ecv is very dangerous from talking to a midwife friend of my mothers, my baby is transverse and when I told her that I'd been offered an ecv she almost choked. She's an experienced older midwife and she's of the opinion that it's too risky to contemplate and a c section although a major op for mum is the best and safest course of action for baby. Needless to say I declined the ecv and my transverse baby is being next week by elcs.

himynameisfred Fri 17-Aug-12 16:45:37

thanks, there's no negligence though, they said placental abruptions just happen naturally.

I think it's caused by ECV, from what I've said.

I feel bad for the doctor who performed it, he came to be after I woke up from the crash section and held my hand and said he was sorry.
He just started performing ECVs about a year ago.

I don't think they're linking it to the abruption, but I am, based on what I've said.

himynameisfred Fri 17-Aug-12 16:50:56

I'm glad you were warned Boggler, it worries me that even minor abruption could happen during ecv, cutting off some oxygen supply, that may then repair itself, but may later be to blame for cerebal palsy, where celebal palsy often has an unknown cause, they say that they must have gone without some oxygen while in utero.
It needs more looking into..

Boggler Fri 17-Aug-12 17:48:03

Personally I'm all for avoiding unecessary risks, I know c sections come with their risks but on the whole they are known such as haemorrhage or DVT and precautions can be taken. Having known 3 people whose babies have died from avoidable causes it makes me mad to hear people championing natural childbirth and home births as being the best options, very often they are not best and can lead to delays if things don't go to plan.

rubberducky24 Fri 17-Aug-12 18:41:53

Hi - this thread appeared at the the right time for me. My baby has been breech for the entire pregnancy and a scan today confirmed she is extended breech. I have to see the consultant on Wednesday to discuss an ECV but reading this thread has made me decide I don't want one. I am perfectly fine with the thought of a c section, I did want a water birth but will happily forego this for a healthy baby! Thank you for posting your stories.

panicnotanymore Fri 17-Aug-12 18:55:34

Thank you for posting, I had never heard of this and am grateful for the heads up.

I am so sorry to hear about your awful experience.

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