Pregnant with her second child, Vanessa Fisher and her husband were determined to have a home birth. 

 

They created a birth plan, deciding on having a midwife present and avoiding the hospital if possible. 

 

However, at 28 weeks, Fisher found that her baby boy was in breach position. 

 

Instead of ditching the home birth and having a Caesarean in a local maternity hospital, Fisher opted for the third option.

 

 

The mum-to-be, consulting with the midwife and doctors, decided to try External Cephalic Version (ECV), a procedure in which the boy is manually turned in the womb before birth. 

 

"The ECV was a relatively new concept for us," Fisher told CafeMom. "At that point I was afraid to have a breech delivery based solely on information that I had read online. In a discussion with [my midwife], she explained that breech birth was natural and not any more painful than delivering baby in a head-down position."

 

 Still determined to deliver at home, Fisher tried for an ECV, despite having qualms about the procedure. 

 

"Although fascinating, it sounded painful, and since my baby [had] been in the same position for so long, there were sore spots on my stomach that I didn't even like to touch myself," she said. "But the thought of him not turning -- along with my misconception of breech delivery - had begun to cause me anxiety by that point, and I was open to the options."  

 

 

To perform an EVC, the health-care professional applies firm pressure to the abdomen in an attempt to have the foetus "roll" into a head-down position. It typically performed between 36 and 38 weeks pregnant. 

 

The EVC, captured on video, is fascinating- but not for the faint-hearted! 

 

 

Speaking after the successful flipping of the baby, Fisher said:

 

"Physically, there was a lot of pressure; it was unpleasant... I knew that I was in good hands, and he was done so quickly I was very impressed.

 

The peace of mind that came with the success of the procedure was priceless." 

 

What do you think? Would you ever attempt an ECV? 

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