https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:23:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ecv-with-epidural#post-2101586 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 22:10:39 +0000 marionberry 2101586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not have an epidural with my ECV but I did have a shot of some sort of muscle relaxant in my IV right before the procedure started. I did not fight the doctor and nurse wrenching on my belly but he didn't budge anyway. The ECV was done in a triage room down the hall from the OR. They did ensure the OR was open though in the event that baby had an issue during the procedure.</p> <p>I'm not sure that I would have wanted to induce right away if the ECV had been successful. That would have meant baby coming much earlier than he did and he was only 6lbs 4oz at 39 weeks. I would've rather taken the risk of him turning back and allowing him the additional time for him to keep growing - just my opinion. But if they could attempt your ECV on the day of your c-section perhaps that would be a good option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ecv-with-epidural#post-2101305 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:05:43 +0000 Rockies11 2101305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have pain meds, but they gave me a shot of nitroglycerin to relax the uterus before they tried. It did hurt, but I would not rate the pain as unbearable by any means, and it's only for a minute or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ecv-with-epidural#post-2101166 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 17:47:33 +0000 Kemma 2101166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lulu22: I didn't have pain meds for my ECV but I was given IV Subutimol / ventolin to relax my uterus. The risk level I was quoted was 0.05% (1 in 200 results in an emergency c-section) and the procedure was carried out in the delivery ward after I had fasted for twelve hours. </p> <p>My ECV was successful and completed in about thirty seconds - fastest one the OB had ever done! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ecv-with-epidural#post-2100857 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 14:07:44 +0000 lulu22 2100857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: thanks for sharing! it totally makes sense that it would be more successful if your muscles are relaxed. </p> <p>@Banana330: That's so interesting that your hospital does that, I was just saying to DH yesterday that such a scenario would make sense! I really like the idea of this, doing it all at once seems way less daunting than going through two separate ordeals! I am going to talk to my OB about this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ecv-with-epidural#post-2100759 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 13:16:48 +0000 Banana330 2100759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was told at my hospital that if they do the ECV they will induce right away (so the baby doesn't flip back), so the epidural would be the one you'd have to deliver with. They also do it in the OR in case you need an emergency c-section due to heartrate drop etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ecv-with-epidural#post-2100745 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 13:06:31 +0000 rachiecakes 2100745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lulu22: no experience with the ECV, but my son flipped to posterior when I was in labor - my water broke and when I stood up his whole body turned and dropped. They gave me the epidural to relax my muscles and try to turn him.<br /> I think the idea is that when you are in pain your body tenses up and can work against the doctors. If you are relaxed they have a better chance of the ECV being successful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ecv-with-epidural#post-2100741 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 13:02:55 +0000 lulu22 2100741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone had an ECV with an epidural or any other pain medication? I've been looking at many of the old threads on ECV's and while lots of bees talk about the experience and the pain, I can't find too many accounts of ladies having their ECV's with pain meds, so I'm wondering if this is common? </p> <p>I am 36 weeks and my OB would like to try a version at 38 weeks if baby doesn't flip by then. I've been told that it's common practice at my hospital to have an epidural for an ECV and that it can increase the effectiveness. I had planned on having an epidural with a vaginal delivery but something about having 2 epidurals in 2 weeks makes me feel a little funny. I am still in two minds about the whole thing and not yet committed to having the ECV just yet. Would love to learn more about others experiences with having pain meds for ECVs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062525 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:41:25 +0000 marionberry 1062525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: I don't think any parent ever knows what they're doing but I guarantee you know more than I do at this point!</p> <p>@grizz: Yes I am excited to know exactly when he's coming and the one thing I hadn't thought about is now I get to know exactly what to pack, specifically for a c-section versus trying to cover the bases of both a c-section and vaginal delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062448 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:22:54 +0000 Boheme 1062448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry it didn't work, but you know you tried everything you could! And it's exciting to know the date you'll be holding your new baby boy :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062298 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:44:03 +0000 JoJoGirl 1062298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry: Yay!! :) Am happy to offer any, not that I know what I am doing :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062294 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:41:39 +0000 marionberry 1062294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cookie_dough: @leeenie: Thanks so much! It's nice to know you think that labor felt worse and that the c-section recovery isn't too bad.</p> <p>@jojogirl: hey missie! Missed you! I'm about to join your world of parenting. I will be back to asking for lots of advice again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062189 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:19:05 +0000 JoJoGirl 1062189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck!! And hi, stranger! &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062185 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:17:58 +0000 leeenie 1062185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry - sorry it didn't work and that it was so painful. Good luck with the c-section. The benefit (hopefully) is that you won't have to feel labor pains (which were worse than the Ecv to me). I won't lie, the c-section recovery was hard, but I feel mostly normal again a few months later. I wish you the best! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062080 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:44:51 +0000 cookie_dough 1062080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry: Awww, I'm sorry that it wasn't successful and that it was so painful :-( But as you said, at least you can rest easy knowing that you tried! Hoping that everything goes well with your scheduled c-section! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062060 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:40:07 +0000 Ash 1062060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry: Understandable!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062053 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:37:32 +0000 marionberry 1062053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ash: I would be open to it but honestly it's not about him being stubborn but literally about being stuck. The doctor couldn't free his head or his butt from my ribs and pelvis. I would really doubt anything will move him at this point. I probably should've tried other alternative methods earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1062003 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:20:28 +0000 Ash 1062003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry: would you be open to trying acupuncture? I've heard that helps babies turn! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1061926 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:58:58 +0000 marionberry 1061926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@leeenie: @cookie_dough: my ecv was unsuccessful. Honestly the most pain I've ever felt and they couldn't get him rotated at all. I feel good knowing I can say I tried but I think I just have way too small a torso and he was too big to budge. I'm now scheduled for my c-section. Thank you for your advice and stories! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1055472 Fri, 30 Aug 2013 11:45:27 +0000 marionberry 1055472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Thanks!<br /> @leeenie: @cookie_dough: I will make sure to update you both after the ECV on Tuesday! Here's to hoping I'll have something positive to share. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1055220 Fri, 30 Aug 2013 10:38:26 +0000 cookie_dough 1055220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, definitely let us know how it went! Hoping baby turns for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1055062 Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:52:25 +0000 leeenie 1055062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Come back and let us know how it goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1055003 Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:30:12 +0000 blackbird 1055003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1054980 Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:22:38 +0000 marionberry 1054980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cookie_dough: @leeenie: Thank you both for sharing your stories. I have heard that they may be very uncomfortable and I'm a bit scared at just how much (especially since I don't have a squishy belly, it's really pretty hard). I'm hoping I'm strong enough to get through the pain so that we can at least try to turn him. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be pretty nervous on Tuesday! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1054942 Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:14:28 +0000 cookie_dough 1054942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My experience sounds pretty similar to @leeenie. I had an ECV done around 37 weeks I think? It was not at all what I expected. I was in tears about 10 seconds in because I found it so painful and I couldn't understand how it wouldn't hurt the baby to be pushing so hard on my stomach (I was being pretty irrational!) Baby didn't budge at all and I ended up having a planned c-section at almost 40 weeks. I think that if I ended up in the same situation next time, I would pass on the ECV. And I'm definitely not trying to scare you! I just had NO idea what to expect. If someone had told me ahead of time that it would be very uncomfortable, I would have been more mentally prepared. My OB gave me zero information ahead of time, so I thought I was just going in to have them nudge my stomach a bit ;-) I didn't have any IV or anything, just the ultrasound machine going. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1052434 Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:29:49 +0000 leeenie 1052434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did get an US before the ECV, but only thing they checked was that baby was still breech (was a cursory check by the doctor and not by an US tech). I asked about the cord possibly being wrapped, and they didn't/wouldn't check. Supposedly cords move all the time and being wrapped doesn't mean they can't turn, or maybe they can't see to that level of detail to determine if the cord will prevent turning. I think they still would have tried the ECV if they had known the low fluid. I didn't know about the low fluid until the detailed US (by an US tech) immediately after the ECV. We didn't know about the cord being wrapped until the baby was born. In retrospect it was kind of scary, especially because they can't monitor the baby while they are doing the ECV, only before and after.</p> <p>I had the C at 39 and 2. I could have gotten it anytime after 39 weeks, but wanted to let the baby bake longer while hoping I didn't go into early labor. Also, the doctor I wanted was on call that day. If the doctor I wanted were on call later, I think I would have waited until 39/5 or so, but that's only because I didn't think I would have gone into labor earlier (this was my 2nd baby...but it could have been bad if my water had broken and the cord was wrapped around his neck). If you go into labor before your scheduled C, you will just have a C when you get to the hospital, but it's not considered "emergency" unless there are other issues.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1050815 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:57:17 +0000 marionberry 1050815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@leeenie: This sounds much more like what my OB implied. Were they unable to see the cord and fluid issues via ultrasound before they started? My understanding is they always ultrasound before starting the ECV. At how many weeks did they end up doing the c-section? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1050800 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:50:44 +0000 leeenie 1050800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an ECV at 36 or 37 weeks (can't remember). Baby had been head down the week before, but then turned breech. It was a huge surprise to me and the only issue that arose during the pregnancy. My ECV did not work, and it was extremely uncomfortable/painful. I couldn't breathe and I had to close my eyes and try really hard to think of something else while they were pushing. I didn't watch but my DH said they were pushing so hard their muscles were shaking. It turned out that in addition to me having low fluid, my baby's cord was wrapped twice around his neck which prevented him from turning. They tried turning him again immediately before my c-section and after my epi so I couldn't feel it, and that didn't work either. I don't mean to scare you, but it definitely was not painless for me. I hated the c-section recovery, but the ecv was unpleasant and didn't work so I'm not sure if I would do it again. I also tried inversions, putting an ice pack near his head, etc.<br /> good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1049023 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 09:54:21 +0000 marionberry 1049023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: Thank you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1048997 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 09:47:37 +0000 LovelyPlum 1048997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-an-ecv-painful#post-1048995 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 09:46:44 +0000 marionberry 1048995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: That's exactly why I'm doing it! I'd like to at least try for a vaginal delivery and if it doesn't work, at least I put in the effort. :wink: </p>