External Cephalic Version

Yesterday was spent in the labour ward at the hospital having the external cephalic version or ECV. We arrived at 8.30 and finally left at 3.30 and the procedure only lasted 15 minutes! I couldn’t find much information about the technique and I’m glad I didn’t otherwise I don’t think I would have gone through with it.

First I had my temperature and blood pressure taken, the fetal heartbeat was monitored for 45 minutes and I did a urine test. A doctor did an ultrasound on a small machine to check the baby was still breech. Around 10.45 I saw the consultant who explained the procedure and said it would be done within half a hour and I signed a disclaimer. Then a cannula was fitted in my hand to take some blood samples and eventually give me the tocolysis to relax my uterus.

Then came a gap of what felt like a couple of hours whilst we waited for the consultant to come back. There was a clock behind my head so I spent all day clock watching – never a happy thing! After a couple of hours the room filled with people – the consultant, a midwife, a senior midwife, two trainee midwives (despite saying I didn’t want any students!), a doctor and trainee doctor. Now labour rooms are not huge and you can probably imagine how small the room felt after all these people traipsed in. Me and my poor husband felt like we were spectators.

After the drug was given the procedure had to start within 5 minutes so the consultant placed his hands on the baby’s head and bottom and started to turn it anti-clockwise. I was expecting it to feel strange but it was awful. I did my special NCT breathing throughout to make sure the baby had plenty of oxygen and to keep me calm but the pain literally took my breath away. Unfortunately the baby got stuck half way round and couldn’t be moved. I was monitored for another 45 minutes to check the baby wasn’t in distress, did another urine sample, got swabbed for MRSA (!) and was finally given some toast as I hadn’t eaten since the day before.

Our c section is scheduled for Thursday morning.