Well, the baby stayed breech until the end. We made the decision to transfer care from our hb mw to an OB, one who has a high success rate for versions and who is a good surgeon (in case we needed a c-section). The plan was to go to the hospital and try the version. If it was successful, we would induce immediately. If not, we would proceed to a c-section. This was all decided on Monday and it was to take place on Wednesday. Let me just say, this was the most stressful week of my life. It was hard to wrap my mind around so many changes of plans.
Anyway, we had the version and it worked! The doctor did a great job. It was painful, I'll admit, but he was very gentle with the baby's body as he massaged her into position. He stopped frequently and monitored her the entire time. There wasn't a single dip in her heartbeat--she was great.
He broke my water and started pit. It was rough. Very rough. I dilated slowly and after 6 hours, I'd gone 2-3 cm. With my second baby, I went from 5-10cm in an hour, so we'd hoped that I would do the same this time. I may very well have, but my energy and motivation was just gone by the time I reached 5 cm so I asked for an epidural.
My dh and mw were worried that I would feel disappointed in myself later on, so they tried to encourage me to push on for just a little while longer. I just couldn't though. And I'm very grateful for that merciful break in which I could get control and relax. Ironically, I dilated from 5 cm to 10cm in just 30 minutes after the epidural. I'm not sure if it's because I was able to relax or because I would have done it anyway, but I had them shut it off at that time, so I would be able to feel to push. My legs never got numb and I could feel quite a bit (enough to feel that lovely "ring of fire"!), so I pushed in a side-lying position and dd came out in just 9 minutes. The doctor did a great job supporting my perineum and helping me to ease her out slowly (but ouch!).
She was 8 lbs 5 oz (at 2.5 wks early!) and 20 in. She's beautiful and sweet and a great nurser! We are so blessed.
The whole thing was not ideal. Everyone here knows how I agonized over the breech issue for months, but I think it turned out the very best it could. We feel very lucky
Anyway, we had the version and it worked! The doctor did a great job. It was painful, I'll admit, but he was very gentle with the baby's body as he massaged her into position. He stopped frequently and monitored her the entire time. There wasn't a single dip in her heartbeat--she was great.
He broke my water and started pit. It was rough. Very rough. I dilated slowly and after 6 hours, I'd gone 2-3 cm. With my second baby, I went from 5-10cm in an hour, so we'd hoped that I would do the same this time. I may very well have, but my energy and motivation was just gone by the time I reached 5 cm so I asked for an epidural.
My dh and mw were worried that I would feel disappointed in myself later on, so they tried to encourage me to push on for just a little while longer. I just couldn't though. And I'm very grateful for that merciful break in which I could get control and relax. Ironically, I dilated from 5 cm to 10cm in just 30 minutes after the epidural. I'm not sure if it's because I was able to relax or because I would have done it anyway, but I had them shut it off at that time, so I would be able to feel to push. My legs never got numb and I could feel quite a bit (enough to feel that lovely "ring of fire"!), so I pushed in a side-lying position and dd came out in just 9 minutes. The doctor did a great job supporting my perineum and helping me to ease her out slowly (but ouch!).
She was 8 lbs 5 oz (at 2.5 wks early!) and 20 in. She's beautiful and sweet and a great nurser! We are so blessed.
The whole thing was not ideal. Everyone here knows how I agonized over the breech issue for months, but I think it turned out the very best it could. We feel very lucky
Congratulations!
