This is a procedure in which a doctor, or specialist midwife attempts to the turn the baby into the correct position using gentle pressure on your abdomen with their hands.
ECV is successful in about 50% of women and is generally safe. One in every 200 babies will need to be delivered by emergency caesarean after an ECV, and your baby will be monitored before and after the procedure to ensure they remain well.
From 36 weeks pregnant, your baby should turn to the head down (cephalic) position in preparation for birth.
A small number of babies will not be in this position, and may be either breech (bottom first) or transverse/oblique (lying sideways across your abdomen). If your midwife suspects that your baby is not in the head down position, you may be offered a scan and appointment with a doctor/specialist midwife to discuss your options. These options can include either attempting to turn your baby (see related links below), vaginal breech birth or planned caesarean birth.
If your baby isn’t head down, don’t worry – there are many options available to you and your team will help you to make any decisions regarding your care moving forward.
When you choose to stop work is a matter of personal preference, but it is worth considering your commute, your working environment, your proximity to your maternity unit and allowing time to prepare for your baby’s arrival. You can discuss this with your midwife or doctor.
Towards the end of pregnancy you may feel quite tired and uncomfortable, and therefore may need help from friends or family to get things done, particularly if you have other children. It’s important to stay active but to also make time for rest, particularly if you aren’t sleeping too well. 
Massaging the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) in the later weeks of pregnancy has been shown to reduce the likelihood of tearing during birth, and of needing stitches or an episiotomy. You can start this from when you are 34 weeks pregnant and practice it daily/every other day until the birth of your baby.
How to massage your perineum:
Towards the end of pregnancy, you may feel a variety of different emotions as the birth becomes closer. You may feel excited, anxious or even scared – this is all normal. There are things that you can do to help you prepare for birth.
Completing a birth preferences plan can help you and your birth partner to think about your choices and preferences during labour and the birth of your baby. During your pregnancy you will have the opportunity to meet with your midwife/doctor and discuss the plan – try and do this around the time of your 34 or 36 week appointment. This will help your team understand the kind of birth you would like.
Read the in app content about labour and birth, then using the birth preferences plan in the Personal care and support plans section write down your thoughts and preferences. See below for what options to consider.
Some women may find it helpful to talk to someone about their birth options. This is especially true if they have had a pregnancy, labour or birth that was difficult previously, or if something unexpected happened. It is not unusual to be unsure about your options or what effect any choices may have on this pregnancy and birth.
You can speak to your midwife, and if needs be she will refer you to a birth options clinic, which is normally run by the consultant midwife at your chosen maternity unit.
If you are considering requesting a planned caesarean birth, this decision would be made with you and the specialist midwifery and obstetric teams. Ask your midwife to refer you to the appropriate clinic, where you will be able to discuss your options.
Safety is always the priority, so if you have certain needs or complications with your health and/or pregnancy it may mean that giving birth on a labour ward is the safest option. Your midwife or doctor will discuss this with you if it is their recommendation.
If this is your first baby, and your pregnancy is considered low-risk, it is just as safe to have your baby in a midwife-led birthing centre as it is to have your baby in a labour ward. Research shows the risk to the baby is slightly increased when planning to give birth at home.
If this is your second or subsequent baby, it is just as safe to have your baby at home as it is to have your baby in a midwife-led unit or in a labour ward. Women who give birth at home, or in a midwife-led birthing centre are much less likely to require medical assistance including caesarean section, instrumental delivery, blood transfusion and episiotomy.
This is a decision you will make following discussion with your midwife or doctor at around 34-36 weeks of pregnancy, but it is helpful to start thinking about your preferences before this time.
