What is the meaning of ECV

External cephalic version, or ECV, is a maneuver your doctor may use when your unborn baby is set up to come out bottom first or feet first. Those positions are called a breech birth, and they can make a vaginal birth more difficult.

Is an ECV painful?

To perform an external cephalic version (ECV), the doctor needs to apply firm, steady pressure over the distended belly. Hence, a moderate amount of pain is felt during the procedure, which is tolerated by most women.

Is ECV safe for baby?

Is ECV safe for my baby and I? ECV is generally safe, however, like any medical procedure, rare complications can occur. A small number of women may experience bleeding behind the placenta and/or damage to the womb.

What happens during an ECV?

During an external cephalic version, your doctor will place their hand on your belly to physically push the baby into the optimal position. The procedure usually takes around 5 minutes and your baby’s heart rate will be monitored before, during, and after the procedure.

What is ECV in pregnancy?

External cephalic version (ECV) is an attempt to turn the fetus so that he or she is head down. ECV can improve your chance of having a vaginal birth. If the fetus is breech and your pregnancy is greater than 36 weeks your health care professional may suggest ECV.

Where do they cut for episiotomy?

An episiotomy is a cut (incision) through the area between your vaginal opening and your anus. This area is called the perineum. This procedure is done to make your vaginal opening larger for childbirth.

When is ECV?

ECV is usually offered when you are 36-37 weeks pregnant, as we estimate that most babies should have turned on their own by this stage and it would allow time for your baby’s head to engage, ready for birth.

Do you need epidural for ECV?

Conclusion: The use of epidural anesthesia significantly increases the success rate for ECV for breech presentation.

Is an ECV worth the risk?

While ECVs are considered a safe option for some, the risks may not outweigh the benefits for others. Most providers will not perform an ECV before full term for a couple reasons. One, it could cause labor to begin or delivery could become necessary. Two, many babies turn on their own before being full-term.

Are breech babies more painful to carry?

Giving birth to a breech baby vaginally is not usually any more painful than a head-down position, as you’ll have the same pain relief options available to you, although it does carry a higher risk of perinatal morbidity (2:1000 compared to 1:1000 with a cephalic baby).

Article first time published on

Are breech C sections more difficult?

Cesarean section in breech or transverse presentation involves more complicated procedures than cesarean section in cephalic presentation because the former requires additional manipulations for guiding the presenting part of the fetus, liberation of the arms, and the after-coming head delivery; therefore, those …

How do I keep my baby's head down after ECV?

Long, brisk walks. Wearing a pregnancy belt. Doing Side-lying Releases on both sides daily (for a while), and then twice a week. Keep balancing (you’ve done good work, but keep going so tight muscles don’t return and create issues again)

How can I help my baby turn head down?

Sometimes, all your baby needs is a bit of encouragement to flip head down. Finding positions that give your baby room can be very simple and may do the trick. Good positions to try include hands and knees, kneeling leaning forward, and lunging.

Do breech babies have problems later in life?

Although most breech babies are born healthy, they do have a slightly higher risk for certain problems than babies in the normal position do. Most of these problems are detected by 20 week ultrasounds. So if nothing has been identified to this point then most likely the baby is normal.

What happens if you refuse a ECV?

If the baby does not turn or if you decline an ECV you may choose, after discussion with the consultant obstetrician, to: • Have an elective caesarean section. Continue the pregnancy with the baby in the breech position and have a vaginal breech delivery.

How do you feel after ECV?

You may feel some pain or discomfort during the procedure. You may also have nausea, and you may vomit. This procedure may cause labor to start, or cause premature rupture of the membranes (PROM). PROM means fluid leaks from your amniotic sac before labor begins.

Can baby still turn at 38 weeks?

This is common in early pregnancy. The ideal position for birth is head-first. Most babies that are breech will naturally turn by about 36 to 37 weeks so that their head is facing downwards in preparation for birth, but sometimes this does not happen. Around three to four babies in every 100 remain breech.

When is ECV not recommended?

Most women can have an ECV if they have a healthy pregnancy with a normal amount of amniotic fluid. However, an ECV is not recommended if: you need a caesarean for other reasons. you have had vaginal bleeding in the previous 7 days.

Can baby turn back after an ECV?

The chance of your baby turning back to breech after a successful ECV is about 2-3% (very low).

What is the success rate of turning a breech baby?

The average success rate for turning a baby out of the breech position was 58%. The overall complication rate was 6%, and the rate of serious complications (placenta abruption or stillbirth) was 0.24%. There were 12 stillbirths out of the 12,955 cases, and two of these deaths were related to the ECV.

Can I drive after an ECV?

Please plan to be at the hospital for up to three hours—this allows plenty of time for assessment before and after the ECV as well as the procedure itself. We recommend that you have someone to drive you home afterwards.

How do you poop after an episiotomy?

Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to). If your bowel movements are not regular right after surgery, try to avoid constipation and straining. Drink plenty of water. Your doctor may suggest fibre, a stool softener, or a mild laxative.

Do episiotomies make you tighter?

Regardless of whether a tear happens on its own or as a result of an episiotomy, it’s not even possible to make a vagina tighter with stitching, according to OBGYN Jesanna Cooper, MD.

Is episiotomy better than C section?

In some emergency circumstances where a baby needs to be delivered quickly, Levy said an episiotomy can be a lifesaving procedure that is less risky than a Cesarean section delivery, which is a major surgery.

Can you have a breech baby naturally?

Can you deliver vaginally with a baby breech? It’s possible to deliver a breech baby vaginally. It can be more dangerous for the baby and the risk of injury is much higher. If the umbilical cord is compressed during birth, the baby could be deprived of oxygen and this could harm their brain and nerves.

How does a doctor Flip a breech baby?

External cephalic version (ECV) ECV is one way to turn a baby from breech position to head down position while it’s still in the uterus. It involves the doctor applying pressure to your stomach to turn the baby from the outside. Sometimes, they use ultrasound as well.

What complications can occur with ECV?

• Reduction of blood flow and/or oxygen to the fetus because the umbilical cord is twisted.
• Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM)
• Placental abruption.
• Damage to the umbilical cord.

What does footling breech mean?

Frank breech: In this position, the baby’s buttocks are aimed at the birth canal with its legs sticking straight up in front of his or her body and the feet near the head. Footling breech: In this position, one or both of the baby’s feet point downward and will deliver before the rest of the body.

How soon after ECV did you go into labor?

Out of the 67 cases of successful ECV, five (7.46%) fetuses reverted back to either breech presentation or transverse. All of them presented in labour, between 9 and 24 days after ECV, and had emergency caesarean delivery.

What birth defects Can a breech baby have?

A baby who is breech may be very small or may have birth defects. Because the head is delivered last, breech babies are also susceptible to umbilical cord compression and asphyxiation. When the umbilical cord becomes compressed, there is diminished oxygen flow to the baby.

Why would a doctor choose a cesarean delivery?

To reduce delivery complications,doctors will choose to deliver babies diagnosed with certain birth defects, like excess fluid in the brain or congenital heart diseases, through a cesarean to reduce delivery complications.