Friday 26 January 2018

Breech baby birth preparations

I start posts and then don't finish them and they feel out of date after a few days. I finally have a slack day, and can't concentrate on anything else, so here goes, I'm going to start and finish a post.

We've done our best to keep our options open with Sprite and she is happy to keep us guessing! I think we have a plan now....and I'm ready for her to be here. I hope my body gets the message my mind and emotions are sending.

Update:

  • Last week (just last week??) I met with the breech birth team at New Hospital. They did a detailed ultrasound that showed Sprite still footling breech. That meant we were not candidates for breech birth, but they offered to 1) continue to monitor with weekly ultrasounds 2) attempt a 2nd ECV with spinal anesthetic. We decided to try the 2nd ECV. (We'd already tried ECV without anesthetic at my regular hospital and the OB was not able to turn Sprite all the way). I was super busy that week finishing up at work, and the decision was made quickly. I am not sure what I expected, but generally I thought this ECV would  be easier. Yes....and no. I did not feel pain but the procedure was both physically and emotionally intense and I struggled with the spinal anesthetic: I positively hated the feeling of being paralyzed and not feeling my body.  I was fighting panic throughout it. I had an epidural when AJ was born and I do not recall having that overpowering icky feeling, but an epidural is not quite as strong I suppose. Mr. Turtle observed that I handled the pain and discomfort of the first ECV much better than being anesthetized. As for Sprite, they turned her head down successfully....twice. And she turned herself right back to breech....twice. So that was that. However, it provided some information: 1) Sprite isn't keen to turn for whatever reason, and 2) I know what I have to prepare for if I do end up in a c-section with another spinal.
  • Sprite continues to be breech at 39+ weeks, BUT an ultrasound yesterday showed she has moved into frank breech position (bum down feet up). She is around 7 pounds, healthy, has a normal amount of amniotic fluid, and chin is tucked in (flexed). So that made us a candidate for vaginal breech birth at the newest hospital in our city. At present that is plan A. 
  • I had a c-section scheduled  for the due date mid next week, but after breech birth became an option, we decided to put that off a few more days.  I could schedule as late as 10 days after due date but I'd rather not: I don't want to rush this birth but don't want to wait a really long time either. Personal preference/gut there.
  • I continued chiro/acupuncture this week. We have an active, mobile baby but she doesn't want to go head down. However, my pelvis is nice and mobile apparently!
Heh, so how am I feeling? I really feel ready to have this baby one way or another. I am a bit sorry it is not a conventional vanilla birth. When it comes to this baby stuff, boring is better in my view. But we have been getting great support from everyone and I feel good about the decisions we are making. I am glad we have actually been given options. It is not super common to try a breech birth, but it is good to have an option other than surgical. They are very strict about whom they allow to try and under what circumstances, so we are in good hands. If there are issues we can still have a c-section (in a nicer hospital environment, so that's another plus).  Of the people whom attempt a breech birth at New Hospital, overall 50% have a vaginal birth and 50% have a c-section. However, with second time moms it's more like 70% have a vaginal birth and 30% have c-section. So, the odds are it can happen.

The hospital bags are packed...mostly, finally. The laundry is all done. We're ready! (Except Mr. Turtle has another cold/sinus thing going on. Bleah.) I'm not totally freaking out. I had a lot of braxton-hicks today and they did a membrane sweep at New Hospital. Not sure if that will do anything but I'm ready for action and ready to be done speculating. And ready to meet someone very special!  Fingers crossed.

12 comments:

  1. Sending so many good thoughts for an easy delivery. Eagerly waiting the good news on the other side when you meet that very special person :-)

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  2. I'm so excited for you! I agree, it seems boring is best when it comes to birth... how interesting that Sprite is so stubborn and wants to turn back around! I didn't realize that you could do a breech birth if there was bum first, do they turn as you labor or does she literally come out bum first? It's amazing how flexy those little babies are. I'm glad your pelvis is ready, and I hope that however it happens, you have an uneventful birth for Sprite (and do okay with the spinal, eeek that sounded awful). Can't wait to hear all about her!

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    1. Yes, if you have doctors who know how to assist, a baby can be born bum first. There are a bunch of criteria. What they don’t want are the feet going first because then you can get cord entrapment and other parts stuck if dilation is not complete. It’s a much more monitored birth than usual and if things don’t proceed, then a cesarean section is done. But seeing as I am a good candidate and Sprite changed her position, we decided to try as an alternative to surgical. I have to go into labour on my own though: no induction or labour augmentation. If not, c section it is.

      Some babies do turn at the last minute but I have my doubts this one will: who knows why! It would be a nice surprise but I’m happy with the options we have, although the antsy part of me would like the rubber to hit the road already.

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  3. Anxiously awaiting your news and Sprite's arrival. Fingers crossed you get the birth you want, but in any event you'll have the baby you want which is most important! Hang in there.

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    1. Yes, it’s been a flurry of decisions. Which can be stressful but I remind myself that we are lucky to have choices. We are going to do this and have a baby! Have a hard time believing that sometimes.

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  4. I hope delivery goes smoothly! I have only had two c-sections myself and while I was disappointed that I didn't get to vaginally birth my kids, in the end, it only matters that everyone comes out healthy....so if you have to go in for a c-section, try not to get too upset about it.

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    1. Thank you! Birth is a fait accompli: and I’m totally in awe of how it went: update soon

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  5. Just realized my reader was out o date and this post is a week old now, which means Sprite should be here...!!! Hope everything went well and everyone is happy, healthy, and recovering... however it happened!

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    1. Thank you! Yes she is here: I’ll write it up soon. Everything went great!

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  6. oh I just see your comments above, congratulations!! :) I'm excited to read your update! Hope the birth went well in the end.

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