What should you know about the external cephalic version procedure?

You usually attend a maternity unit, where the team confirms the baby’s position and checks your wellbeing. An ultrasound may guide the assessment, and a monitor records the baby’s heart rate. The clinician places their hands on your abdomen and applies pressure to the baby’s bottom and head, guiding the body through a forward or backward turn. The attempt may be stopped if it is too uncomfortable, the baby’s heart rate changes, or the clinician decides continuing is not appropriate. The baby is checked again afterwards.

Follow the unit’s instructions about food, drink, medicines, and arrival time. Wear comfortable clothing and arrange support for getting home if you feel sore or tired. Tell the team about previous uterine surgery, bleeding, fluid loss, contractions, reduced fetal movement, or pregnancy conditions. Discuss what happens next if the baby turns, turns back, or remains breech, including whether Caesarean Section may be planned.

Seek urgent maternity advice after the procedure for bleeding, watery discharge or suspected waters breaking, severe or continuing abdominal pain, regular contractions, or reduced fetal movement. Do not wait for a routine appointment when these symptoms appear. Before the appointment, call the maternity team about any new concern so they can advise whether to attend sooner.

Ask how the procedure will be monitored, what sensations are expected, whether pain relief is available, how long you will be observed, and what the alternative birth plan would be if the turn is unsuccessful.