External cephalic version (ECV)

Your baby is in a breech or transverse position. If a baby is positioned head-down at the time of birth, this is considered a favorable position. Unfortunately, it isn’t always the case and for that reason your midwife or gynecologist has decided to counsel you about the ECV. The ECV is a safe and effective way to turn the baby into a head-down position without the risk of major complications. The midwife will try to turn the baby by applying pressure on your abdomen from a breech position to a head-down position.

Your appointment will take approximately 30-45 minutes. The preferred term for the ECV is between 36+0 and 37+0 weeks.

The position of the baby will be assessed again prior to the ECV. Before and after the ECV the baby’s heart rate will be monitored with a doppler. The chances of success after an ECV are 30-40% for a first child and 60-70% for a second and subsequent children.

What if the ECV doesn’t succeed?

If the ECV fails, we can attempt a second time. That appointment will be planned a hospital where they will be able to administer some medications which will help relax the uterus if the need arises. This may help with the ECV. These medications can trigger some side effects for the mother. These usually last for a short while and settle by themselves. There are no side effects for the baby. If a second attempt at an ECV fails, the gynecologist will counsel you in having a planned breech delivery or an elective caesarean section.