Transverse @ 39w- help! *update*

[WindyCityMom]

This baby, who was posterior, is turning transverse! Aah!

On Tuesday, my midwife said that the baby's head was very low and that my bag of waters was bulging. I lost my plug on Wednesday, some more on Thursday, and today (Friday) have had increaced mucous with blood in it but I wouldn't call it bloody show because it's not a ton of it and it's not bright red bleeding. I check my own cervix and I'm at around 1cm (butter soft) with some effacement.

I'm *pretty* sure baby is transverse. I can in no way shape or form feel a head from inside my vagina. I can feel limbs and poke them out of the way (vaginally), but not sure what they are. I'm pretty sure they are feet, because I had been having feet and kicking all up and down my left side.

I can NOT find a head. Anywhere- including through palpation. Here is a paint image I drew of my belly- mapped it. Could someone help figure this out?

http://i45.tinypic.com/33o1ic9.png

baby is not being very active today which worries me that she's getting a bit too comfy in there.

eta: baby seems sort of diagonal (moreso than the picture portrays) at times. I'm worried that baby will turn breech- but even breech is do-able.. whereas transverse isn't. TIA!

[miriam]

The baby gets quiet right before delivery...the baby seems to know something is happening, so they get quiet and wait!

You will be fine.

[Rejoicing]

I amin the SAME boat as you, except I am 40+3.
Sometimes I d feel the baby snuggle down, but then sometimes heops back up and goes diagnal on me. I'd say that your baby's head may be near the one. Could that be the shoulder you are feeling? Otherwise the headwould have to be at the 3 and that would be he bum. If you find a bump/bulge that when you push on it, you can move it independantly of the body, that is the head.

I've been trying not to worry too much. The way I see it, is if they can pop up into a transverse position, then they will be able to pop back down when they are good and ready. Hopefully our babies and our bodies cooperate! LOL!

[WindyCityMom]

I was thinking number 1 could possibly be a head.. but I'm really not sure because it really doesn't move- at all. It's very stationary and doesn't bobble. The rest of the lumps move- not sure if in unison or not but they do. I was thinking number 3 could be the head or the head could be tucked inside of my left hip somehow.

I'm just kind of hoping baby will get back into head-down asap.. my bag of waters is bulging and I really want her head there to stop everything up- prevent cord prolapse- you know?

[WindyCityMom]

I took a warm bath, relaxed, did some inversions, and baby is now head down! Feet are still low, so I'm wondering which will win the race to the exit. Any ideas? Head isn't quite engaged yet.

[kltroy]

Whew! Glad baby is in good firing position. It will be out before you know it. Just walk around a bit and do some squats to get its head engaged enough to "stick" it. Good luck!!

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks I'm just nervous as to whether or not I'll accidently push the feet down lower than the head and end up birthing a breech. We'll see! Anytime I check my cervix I poke at them hoping that baby will just scrunch up her legs.. but the feet always come back!

[Astraia]

She could be like a frank breech position, just vertex - you know, feet up by her face?

I know someone whose baby was vertex but the mom was super confused because she felt all the movement on the bottom. Turns out he was a toe-sucker, lol. Once he was born and started sucking his toes, she went, "ah-ha, that makes more sense!"

[WindyCityMom]

Astraia- that's what I was thinking- something like instead of a nuchal hand.... nuchal feet? Aah!

What the heck would happen during birth, I wonder? Hmm. Anyone know?

eta- I found this thread about a nuchal foot

[MsBlack]

Would you please, pretty please? please stop driving yourself nuts for no good reason whatever? Cuz sister, it really seems that you are doing just that

Maybe instead of continuing to investigate/research every move of the baby and every sign of your body so vigilantly and tirelessly, you could consider simply addressing your anxiety directly? Well, I guess what I'm saying is that to me it all adds up to anxiety.

It's ok to feel nervous about your upcoming birth. No matter what your birth plans, I think it's pretty normal to have some jitters as birth approaches--maybe more for you because of your intention to UC. I can't help but think that if you keep your hands out of your yoni, (and keep your mw's hands out of there as well), and use them only to touch the baby belly for loving contact w/baby (as opposed to 'investigative purposes'), and talk to baby and yourself with love and trust, that you will help yourself and baby far more. Oh yeah, would be great to use those hands for pleasure purposes too! Arousal and orgasm are many wonderful things for you and baby--including a great way to counteract angst.

It's normal for many babies to bob around, up, down, a little sideways, during late pregnancy once a mom has had at least one baby before. Many 2nd and beyond babies do not fully engage until active labor.

Find trust....do what you need to do to find peace for body and soul....focus on nurturing yourself and baby as well as possible with food, drink, rest, talk, touch, acknowledge your angst and work through it for what it is: a mental/emotional issue that is so common for any woman approaching birth, which is after all a hugely important life and death kind of thing in our lives! Love on your dd, your baby, yourself and dh....do whatever you can to help the warm cozy cheerful feelings rise and shine each day!

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks It's just that oh man, this hurts! I get the feeling of pushing a baby out, sharp cervical pains, having to pee and poop at the same time.. and man is it ever painful! I found out that there's really hands down there and her head is in my left hip. She just hasn't really been moving her legs at all, which are at my right side.

[turnquia]

I hope you take the time to listen to what Ms Black said. She sounds quite wise. Take this time and enjoy your last few days/hours being pregnant. Once its gone you will miss it and quit over thinking things. Also no more hands up there! lol unless its for fun :P

[HollyRhea]

Hi, WindyCityMom,

Does your belly seem pendulous - like, does it hang forward a lot more than your first pregnancy? If so, getting a belly support belt could help keep this baby in a good place. My experience with women who have bobbing babies is just that there's so much more room in subsequent pregnancies, which can be even more dramatic if you're tall. It could also help you in labor, keeping the baby directly on the cervix. PM me if you want to talk more.

But yeah, good advice above: breathe and be.

Warmly (even though I'm in Chicago, too),
Holly

[ACsMom]

WindyCity: I'm only 36+ weeks, but for what it's worth my MW said that it's completely normal for baby to be "diagonal" at this point and even up to the birth. Mine tends to sit with her head on my left hip, facing my right, and her little arms and legs reach out and tickle my right side. That's her favorite spot these days! I want to thank you for posting - I read the whole thread and got a lot out of it, cause I'm one who tends to angst about every little thing, and I've been working on that during this pregnancy (I'm planning a HB).

I'm sending warm, happy, easy birth vibes to you! Bet everything goes perfectly!

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks Baby is in either one of two positions
1. breech.. head in upper right of abdomen and bum in my left hip, feet inside of my pelvis kicking

2. vertex.. head in left hip and hips in upper right of my abdomen- no real kicking because she's in cramped quarters, and hands are doing the punching. OR a variation of this with the whole vertex version of frank breech.

I'm really guessing that it's the second, vertex, because I still feel hiccups in my lower left section and hip (and around pubic bone).

HollyRhea- nope, belly is much tighter this time around and baby seems to do as she pleases Which is fine by me but I still like to be in the know of things

[turnquia]

Just wondering if baby is here yet ( I see you haven't posted in a bit) and how everything went?

[NettleTea]

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...php?p=14830568

[WindyCityMom]

sorry! yes, baby arrived 12/22/09 via c/s. thanks for asking