Not Quite According to Plan........

We had an appointment last Wednesday to get the Group B strep test and an ultrasound to see if Baby J had moved into the correct position. Unfortunately that little guy stayed breech (head up). Since we are more than 37 weeks along, it's not very likely that he will flip into the correct position (head down) on his own. Our options were then to schedule a C-section for sometime after 39 weeks or schedule an external cephalic version. We decided months ago that we really wanted a non-medicated, vaginal birth and a c-section was our last option, so we made an appointment for the version. The success rate of the external cephalic version is only about 58%, which we knew going into the procedure. This is an oversimplification, but here is how the maneuvering is supposed to go:

The doctor places his or her hands on the abdomen, moving the baby up out of the pelvic bones.

The baby is turned either forward or backward ...

until the baby is in the vertex (head-down) position

Justin, my mom, and I go to the hospital at 8:00 AM. I was hooked up to a machine that monitored the baby's heart rate and the activity in my uterus (to be sure that I wasn't having contractions). Unfortunately the babies that were born on Saturday morning needed some extra attention from the doctors so they didn't perform the version until 11:30. The doctor and her resident were amazingly warm, kind, and informative. They told me that it would be painful and that there were a few things working for me (never had a c-section, being thin - even though I would disagree with that at this point) and a few things working against me (never had a baby, tight abdominal muscles). They put turbutaline in my IV and lubed my belly up with plenty of gel. Terbutaline is an interesting drug - the purpose is to relax the uterus but one of the side effects is a increase in heart rate. My heart started pounding (I felt like I was running hills) and they got to work. The two doctors poked, pushed, and manipulated as best they could, but that little guy just didn't want to move. Because of the risks involved I had to stay hooked up to the monitors for a few hours after the procedure to make sure that the baby didn't go into distress, my uterus didn't start contracting, and there was no placental detachment. I was not allowed to eat or drink anything (even water) past midnight on Friday just in case they have to do an emergency c-section so I was pretty darn hungry/thirsty by the time that we got out of there at 3:00!

Even though the version was painful and unsuccessful, I wouldn't have done anything differently. Together Justin and I tried everything we could to have a natural, vaginal birth but it didn't work out that way for us this time. We scheduled a c-section for Thursday March 10 at 8:30 AM so sorry to those of you who chose dates after the 10 in our baby pool:( We are very grateful that we have a healthy baby and are SO excited to meet our son!

Also - my long-term sub cancelled on me Sunday morning so I am once again on the hunt for someone to teach my classes while I am gone!