I wasn't too concerned going into today's OB appointment. Baby had been "oblique" or just a little to the side at my last appointment, but I was fairly confident he had turned to the proper position since he felt much more upright now. I was correct that he had turned, but I was wrong about the direction. Baby is now completely breech. Little stinker. This is more and more likely as I have more babies since the uterus is less tone and baby has more room to move about. The good news is just that though--he still has room to move about. Hopefully he will either turn head-down on his own or the doctor will be able to turn him without much effort.
Unfortunately, I saw a nurse-midwife today instead of an OB, and at this practice the nurse-midwife is not allowed to even schedule an ECV (external cephalic version--an attempt to turn the baby head-down by pressing on the baby from the outside). So I have to go back to talk with the OB on Friday morning, at which time she will schedule the ECV (if he's still breech), hopefully for early next week before baby gets too big or too lodged to turn.
Until then I will be hanging myself upside down multiple times a day, playing music at the lower end of my abdomen, and using hot and cold packs to try to lure the baby to turn his stubborn head southward. And in a drastically new change of attitude, I will also be hoping NOT to go into labor, since the doctors will not attempt to turn a breech baby while I am in labor, nor will they let him arrive bottom-first through the normal route--it would be an automatic, fast C-section if my water broke or labor set in right now. Alas, more drama. Lets just hope he gets his head in gear and doesn't try to exit until then.
Praying for you!
ReplyDelete♥ Becky
Becky, if this comment posts from "anonymous" it's because blogger has no trouble letting me post to other people's accounts, but can't seem to figure out who I am on my own blog. Anyway, I do read all of your comments and appreciate them. Thanks for your prayers. --Kathy
ReplyDeleteOh look! It worked this time! Go figure.
ReplyDeleteKathy, check out www.spinningbabies.com I am guessing you know most of the techniques, but it doesn't hurt to try everything. I know people wont like me for saying this, but you don't have to consent to a c-section, they can't do it against your will. Thankfully in Canada the obstetric organization changed their position and have now declared vaginal breech birth to be safe (go figure). I love you friend and will be praying baby turns or that you have a successful ECV and induction so there isn't any extra stress. -Janine
ReplyDeleteJanine, I did two "inversion" excercises from their website already today! (No turning baby yet, but I'll keep trying things.) I'm pretty optimistic about the ECV since it worked well with Hannah. What I've heard about vaginal breech birth is that it could be safe if the baby was frank breech, but mine is not. He is complete/footling. Also the OBs in USA are not even trained in breech vaginal delivery anymore, so what could be safe if the baby were positioned "frank" and the OB was trained in breech delivery could be very unsafe with a complete breech/footling presentation and an untrained OB. I'm weighing the safety of refusing to SCHEDULE a C-section and just hoping the kid will turn before or early in labor if the ECV fails. The biggest fear there is that feet don't cover the cervix well, so if my water broke I could end up with a prolapsed cord. Lots to think about!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear ECV has worked before, definitely increases your chances of it working again. I didn't realize baby was footling, yeah the recommendations here are only for frank. A lot of the OB's here aren't trained either, they had to start a huge campaign to get the older OB's and midwives to train the others on how to safely deliver a breech baby. I have always said that if I had another breech I would wait until labor and not schedule, but cord prolapse is one of my biggest fears (even in normal pregnancy) so I totally understand trying to mitigate for that. Has you water broken before labor with your other kids, or do you usually get contractions first?
ReplyDelete