External Version????? - Page 2

[JessBB]

Originally Posted by GoGoGirl

The midwife said that if the baby doesn't turn, I can expect the doctors to try to bully me into a c-section on the spot.

If my little 38-week breechling doesn't turn, I'm looking at at c/s too - but DH and I have decided that we will NOT consent to one before either 41 weeks, or spontaneous labor. Don't forget to mention that HUGE longitudinal study that came out recently showing much greater outcomes for c/s after 39 weeks, with after 40 weeks or spontaneous labor even better. If you google it, you should be able to track down many news articles. And our doula helped us come up with a great c/s birth plan I'd be happy to share with you, just PM me. Good luck on your ECV!

[GoGoGirl]

It worked! The baby turned!!!! : : :

I did end up drinking tons of water overnight, and just lying about it, hehehe. It's a good thing I did--we got to the hospital at 8:30, and they didn't even do the version until 3. That's enough time with no water!

The version itself wasn't really what I was expecting. I thought it would be firm, but gentle pressure. Instead, the doctor threw his WHOLE weight into it; he really had to push hard! He checked her position with an ultrasound before we started, and then pushed her a few inches at a time, while a nurse followed the baby with the ultrasound so the doctor could see her position. (They were surprisingly frantic-sounding about it...The doctor kept yelling, "Check her head! Her HEAD! NOW!!!)

I couldn't tell if it either really hurt, or was just a feeling that I was totally unaccustomed to. (Not really sharp PAIN, but kind of like a sharp PUSH? Kind of like someone elbowing you with all their weight in a tender spot of your body.) It was uncomfortable, that's for sure, but it only lasted 3 minutes. I did deep breathing, and tried to stay focused on relaxing. I wasn't sore at all afterward.

The baby did well, and was still head down a few hours later. My stomach feels totally different (and even LOOKS different), like she has more room in there. And her head is *finally* out from under my ribs!

Good luck to you ladies who have upcoming versions! I'm sending you wishes that your babies are slippery little fishes who slide around to vertex, and then stay there until you have your dream births. :

PS: I have some mugwort for moxibustion left over, if anyone wants it I'd be happy to mail it to you!

[nalusj]

YEAH! That's great news. You must feel really good about things. Let's hope I have a similar outcome on Thursday.

::::::

[joyfulgrrrl]

Congratulations, that's so great! I remember that sense of relief after my DD was turned, and not having a little skull wedged up in my ribs was heavenly!

It's definitely more of a physical procedure than I had expected as well. Congrats again!

[amybird]

gogoirl - That's great news! Thanks for sharing your experience. It helps to know what to expect.

[JessBB]

Yay!! I have to say, I am a little jealous . Now you just need to do a gazillion squats to make sure she stays that way. Good luck on the rest of your pregnancy, now that you have a noggin to put some pressure on your cervix it might not be too long!

[GoGoGirl]

Thanks, everyone, for your congratulations! :::

Nalusj, Amybird, good luck tomorrow! Let us know how it goes! Turn, little babies!

[nalusj]

Well, I am a bit bummed to share that the version was not successful. The Dr. tried both directions for about 10 minutes and stopped. You are right about how PHYSICAL the procedure was. It HURT. I felt like they were making progress but baby kept going back to his or her comfy spot. SOooooooooooo,
I am meeting with the ONE Dr. who will do a vaginal breech delivery tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to continue the acupuncture and inversions. Baby still has about 3 weeks until due date to do an amazing flip and put us in the birth center.

[amybird]

Nalusj, I'm sorry it didn't work for you.

I am so grateful for my wonderful midwife and the obstetrician she works with. Everyone, including hospital staff, had nothing but good things to say about their skill with external versions.

It worked...when I left the hospital, baby was vertex. There has been some wiggling since, and I'm pretty nervous about the big movements. My mantra has changed from "Turn, baby, turn" to "Stay, baby, stay."

It's been a tiring day, emotionally and physically. I am immensely relieved.

[GoGoGirl]

Nalusj, I'm so sorry it didn't work! Wow, I'm impressed you were able to stand it for 10 minutes. You're a trooper!

Good luck with that doctor tomorrow. And hopefully your baby will figure out how to flip around all on her/his own!

Amy, hooray! What wonderful news!

[lila2801]

nalusj I'm sorry it didn't work. Hopefully baby will figure it all out right before so you can still have a birth center birth.

[cairomama]

I'm glad you have the possibility of a vaginal breech birth. Keep us posted on what you decide.

[nalusj]

I met the Dr. and he seemed like a pretty good guy. Old and very matter-of-fact but seemed very comfortable with breech births. They measured my pelvis and want me to do an MRI to make sure baby will fit. I am not sure what to do. I really think it's important for baby to come when he is ready but the hospital birth I will be walking into is really nothing like what I had hoped for. Epidural (required in case of emergency c-section), episiotomy, forcepts... vs. C-section on the 24th. At this point I just want to take the safest route for baby. Anyone want to make the decision for me?! J/K

[amybird]

nalusj - That's a tough set of circumstance to choose between. Does this doc have a high rate of successful breech vaginal deliveries?