Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I am currently 34.5 weeks pregnant. I went to the OB yesterday and discovered my baby has turned breech, after being head down since about 27 weeks. This is my 3rd baby, but my first 2 went head down and just stayed that way and I had 2 successful vaginal births. My OB said he doesn't become concerned with position until 36 weeks, which will be my next appt. At that point, if the baby is still breech, we will discuss the possibility of doing a version to try to turn the baby. I have done some research on the procedure and I know that it doesn't have the greatest success rate (averages about 58% from what I've read), but I'm wondering what other people's experiences have been, as I don't personally know anyone who has had one. If you had it done, was it successful? Feel free to share anything else (positive or negative) about the experience too. TIA!

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I didn't but a friend of mine did. It was unsuccessful and she said it was really painful. I don't want to scare you, so I'll just leave it at that.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

My first was breech. My OB will not even do versions. He said they are dangerous in his opinion and not worth the risk. I ended up with a CS.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

Both DS 1 and 2 were breech. With DS #1 I found out at my 39 week appt. I scheduled a version for 3 days later but my water broke and I ended up with a CSection.
DS#2 I found out around 30-31 weeks he was breech. I was very upset as I had wanted a VBAC. I even started going to a chiropractor to see if he could help. (You may want to check into it- many people say the webster technique works-did not for me and my OBGYN kind of rolled his eyes when I mentioned it.)

At 35 or so weeks I was told by one doctor that no, I couldn't try a version because I had had a CSection. I was upset but t spoke to another doctor and he said he would consider it. Around 38weeks when It was obvious DS wasn't budging, we scheduled a version.

I won't lie, it was kind of painful. The doctor who did it is very proficient and had a very good track record. I was hooked up to a sonogram machine and other monitors so I felt comfortable. He told me he would make 3 attempts and if it didn't work, that was it. So he did - on the third one he moved the baby all the way around. But, as soon as he let go, the baby flipped back.

So, I ended up scheduling my c section for the following Monday and that was that. I am glad I tried it even though it didn't work out because it was important to me.

Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

My sister had one and also my dhs step sister. Both were not successful. I honestly have never heard of a successful one.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I did not but my good friend did. She said it was the most painful thing she has ever experienced (and this is a person who gets kidney stones regularly so she knows pain) and it did not work. She had also done a lot of research asking people of success stories, and no one was successful with it.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

my baby was breech and my doc said babies are breech for a reason ie..cord around neck..if you try to turn the baby its very dangerous. i had a scheduled c and it wasn't bad at all. all the complaints i hear about c sections are those that are unscheduled. I felt better after a week. HTH and good luck

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I had one. It was unsuccessful. I don't really regret doing it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. It was painful. My belief is, if the baby wants to move they will. If they aren't moving, there is probably a reason why.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

My chiropractor specializes in seeing pregnant women & babies. She does the Webster technique. You should look it up. It's so gentle & the adjustments are so relaxing. I went every week during my pregnancy.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I had an unsuccessful version too...I had tried all the old wives tail tricks to get DS to turn and he never did...in the end I accepted I was having a C-section and was actually very happy it did work out that way.
Version was painful and they got him turned 1/2 way before I made them stop and 15 minutes later he popped right back into the breech position. I wouldn't recommend it to be honest...

Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I had an unsuccessful version. It did hurt and I was sore the next day. I'm still glad I tried because I had really wanted to try for a natural birth so I wanted to try to avoid the cs. In the end the cs wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be. And dd ended up healthy and happy and that's really all that matters. The most annoying part of having the version done for me was that I was supposed to have it done at 8 am but I didn't get it until like 6 pm because I kept getting bumped for emergency csections (obviously they come first). My OB said he couldn't try the version until the operating room was free just in case I went into labor and they had to do an emergency cs on me. So it was a loooooong day of waiting and starving since I had to fast in case I needed the emergency cs, all for my dd to stay breech.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I found out at DD was breech at my 37 week appointment.

Since my appointment was the day before Christmas Eve, he told me I needed to have a decision made on whether to have a version done the day after Christmas or a scheduled c-section after NYE by the next morning (Christmas Eve).

I went home and looked up videos on an external version and was not going to go through with it. From what I saw and read it was not worth the pain or the possible chance that my DD would turn.

I was going to call in the morning and let him know I wanted the c-section, but my water broke early that morning and I had an emergency c-section a few hours later (DD's foot and leg was in my vagina).

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

My DD was breech from 32 weeks on. She never turned. The doctor discussed the option of a version, but I had heard they weren't successful and didn't want to bother going through it. We scheduled a C-section and I am veer happy with that decision. My cousin also had a breech baby and she did try the version. She said it was extremely painful and was unsuccessful. She wound up having a C-section as well.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

Not personally, but a friend of mine did! She was fighting for a VBAC and really wanted to avoid a repeat C if possible. She tried chiro, acupuncture, and everything on the spinningbabies website. Her midwife did a version and she was set!

If it makes you feel any better, DD2 was transverse until 34 weeks, when she graciously decided to flip. It's not over yet!

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I had one with DD (second DC) and it was a success!

DD was head down until about 34 or so weeks then she went breech. I was pretty upset. I had a very easy time delivering my son so I wanted to do it again the same way. I tried chiropractor, acupuncture, etc. with no success. Had version - success! It literally took less than 3 minutes and did not hurt at all. They did it in the hospital just in case of any problems. It was done by a perinatologist in the practice and he basically said - it's going to work or not work and we will know right away. He wasn't going to force anything.

So they gave me a drug to relax my uterus, waited for that to kick in, the nurse kept the sono on the baby to watch what she was doing and how she was reacting and the doctor literally did it in just a few minutes.

FM me with any questions!

So I am your direct success story!

Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

My OB said I was too fat for it, lol. But seriously, he said the most success is with very thin ladies. Ds flipped at 35 weeks though.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I've posted about my experience numerous times. You can do a search or reach my birth story, but the shorty story - DS was breech and I was offered a version but turned it down. Went into labor earlier than my planned c-section. It turned out the cord was wrapped tightly around DS's neck 3(!!!) times. The version would have been extremely dangerous for him, to put it mildly.

IMO, if the baby doesn't turn naturally, there's a reason why.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

My first born was breech. I never even considered it. My doctor wouldn't do it either. She felt if everything was going smoothly with the pregnancy, there was a reason she was breech. You run the risk of the baby's cord getting wrapped around, the baby could turn again and I heard it was very painful. Wasn't worth the risk at all.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

Jack was breech and we discussed version. He turned at 38 weeks and he was close to 8lb at that point! BUT,my fluid was high which could have aided in room to turn.

They can turn on their own up until the day you deliver.

I was against version after all the research I did.

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I answered on the other board also, but adding here. I had a SUCCESSFUL version. Situation like yours-- turned breech very late (39+ wks, in my case) in the game. My midwife said that as far as the version goes, that is a good thing, since it means there is room to move, and the probability of a complication is less.

My experience:

Went to L&D, with the midwife and her back up OB. They monitored the baby via ultrasound (the OB did this). I was very comfortable that the baby was absolutely fine the whole time, b/c the OB was there, observing his heart rate, etc.

No pain meds (I had read online that some places give them). I didn't need them.

She sort of pushed on the top of my belly, I think near where his shoulders were, until he was transverse. Then, they took a moment (her to rest, and the OB carefully monitored DS).

Then she pushed again, probably another 15 or 20 degrees, and then he kind of popped back into place. I could feel immediately that he was right again.

The entire time the OB was monitoring via ultrasound.

Once he was back in place, they monitored his heart rate via the belt they use when you are in labor. They had to wait quite a while, b/c they want to see a normal heartrate, with three incidents where his heart rate rises, and then you can leave. DS was not in any distress at all, and we had trouble getting the heart rate to rise-- the midwife wound up having to give me some OJ, and then jostled my belly (like the US tech sometimes does if the baby is in the wrong position).

The version itself prob took around 15 mins, and then I was there for at least another 45 mins trying to get him to have those spikes in heart rate.

All in all, it was mildly painful, but nothing (I guess, since I have never had one) compared to a C/S. I had some mild bruising on my belly (they have to push really hard to get the baby back in place). In comparison to childbirth, it really was nothing, and completely worth it to have a natural unmedicated birth.

I should add that DS was a big baby too. Over 9 lbs.

Hope that helps, and let me know if you have any questions!!!

Re: Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

I had 2 breeched babies and never considered doing an EV for the following reasons:

1) They are done at the hospital so they can monitor you should you go into labor.

2) It might not work.

3) It might work, but then the baby might turn breech again.

Too many variables lead to the same outcome.

Has anyone had an external version done to turn a breech baby?

Thank you all for the feedback! I appreciate it!