35 Weeks and Waiting

The baby wait is nearing an end!  Here is my belly at 35 weeks (on Saturday) pregnant.  Yes, you can see the stretch marks that came AFTER my due date with my first gorgeous baby girl.    Seriously, I thought I had made it with none! 

Anyhoo, I was told by my high risk OB that this lovely and yet unnamed lady will come between 37 and 38 weeks due to being in a frank breech position with low amniotic fluid levels and lack of fetal movement.

Frank Breech is not terrible and many women have successfully delivered this way.    A baby in frank breech position has her butt down (you know towards the va jay jay) and her legs and head are up.   Sometimes the arms and the chin are tucked.  My little one seems to have her arms up over her head, which is a little odd.

My OB will not deliver a breech baby vaginally voluntarily.  Yes, I have spoken to midwives and doulas but I have decided that I want to have a hospital birth and that I want to stick with my OB,who I like and who has delivered both of my babies.  I think I will be less scared if anything goes wrong with her there.  She has been very understanding of my fears and concerns and deep desire for a natural childbirth, if possible.  So, at 37 or 38 weeks, depending on the baby’s fetal movement between now and then and my fluid levels, she has agreed to attempt an External Cephalic Version.  We will only have 1 try at this because of my crappy fluid levels.  Therefore, I will be unable to have an unmedicated birth.

Basically, ECV’s are more successful with an epidural and since I will have to have a c-section anyway if this does not work, I am going to schedule the ECV and have the epidural and then the procedure to have the best chance of success.  The baby will be closely monitored and using ultrasound to see her position the OB will attempt to turn her my firmly massaging my abdomen while observing how she moves in the uterus and my amniotic fluid.  If we are successful my OB will administer pitocin and we will work towards as natural as possible vaginal delivery.   If not, I will be moved to surgery for the cesarean section.   

I cry every day about this possibility, but I have been told that given my situation I have a 50/50 chance of success and that due to concern for the baby they are nearing the point where they would rather have her “out” than “in”.    So, I am doing my research and preparing for either possibility and a slightly early baby.  The only way they will let me go into natural labor is if my fluid levels return to normal and the baby turns and starts kicking in there like a normal little one.

If you have been patient, you will now be granted the funny pictures.  I make myself feel better by telling my self the baby is almost ready.  With all my kids I know my time is near when…

1.  I have gigantic pains in my va jay jay.  Yep – I have em.  They say her butt is dropping early.  GREAT!

2.  My spine feels like it is in the wrong place or is too big or too small or something.  Yup – alien spine is here!

3.  My Restless Leg Syndrome is so bad that I do not sleep.  Check – near insanity people!

4.  My belly button pops out like a turkey timer.  I have provided you with a close up.  This does not happen for everybody and for some it happens really early but all of mine have been in the last few weeks.  This just happened on Christmas!

 5.  Nesting Urges – Let’s just say I am the ultimate mama bird right now.  Knocking out projects left and right! 

6.  I can no longer keep “it” groomed myself.  Physically impossible.  If you don’t know what I am talking about, good.  If you do, you totally get it!

6.  I can’t see my tootsies!  I will prove it.  Here is me, looking down.  I don’t have big feet but I am not that big anyway and in the past, I know I should start reading for baby when my little piggies disappear!  You can also see in the picture that her head is on the side with the moles.  Yep – that little extra luggage is her noggin.  SO not in the right place, huh?

See, the baby is almost ready and she WILL be okay, even if she is a little early.

A Quick Apology

I am now going to the OB at least once a week and sometimes twice given the weekly ultrasounds and NSTs so between that and the holidays and the fact that I have 2 little ones already who have no school this week I have been a very bad blogger and bloggy friend.  I am getting my act together but thank you for your support and your comments and all your love!  It has been very stressful and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful community to help me!

XOXO

Brittany and “Frankie”

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