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Said bombshell having arrived today with the latest (week 39) exam and scan telling us that baby is back to breech and extended breech at that. That means that her little legs are tucked right up with her feet by her ears. The hospital, who’d been reasonably supportive about a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) immediately scheduled supermum for a C-section on Monday, unless the baby turns again. Or labour begins.
I said a few weeks ago that the main thing was to come out the other end with a healthy baby and a healthy supermum but it’s hard for supermum after all the crawling, gym-ball work and classes she’s put in. And I do feel (selfishly) a little sad that we probably won’t get to experience a natural birth, no matter how illogical that sounds. Still…
MONDAY! We’re kind of ready for this but…
Meanwhile, I spent lunch writing an entry on Red Medicine for the first time in ages – a review of Twelve by Patti Smith.
Filed under: NaBloPoMo, breech birth, family | Tagged: breech birth, family, NaBloPoMo, Patti Smith, VBAC
Sadly, I know that feeling of disappointment. I know how helpless she feels about something that is going on in her own body that she suddenly has no control over. And missing out on all of those adventures of having the baby come on its own — naturally. But, this is the way the baby’s coming. And yes, when it’s all over, you’ll feel nothing but joy. It’s just all the waiting and anticipation right now that leaves your hands tied with nothing else to do but wait. I can’t wait for both of you!
Great work on NaBloPoMo!! One more post!!
Wow, Monday.
I’ll always feel sad on some level for not having experienced “natural” childbirth. But having my kids here with my is much more important.
I’ll be thinking about you guys all weekend.
I’ll be thinking about you all, as well. FWIW, I think that it’s a kindness to have these days to adjust and recalibrate expectations. It’s a question of acceptance, in part, but also in finding the light in any situation. She’ll be a healthy, full-term baby.
Thank you! – we’re nearly there, as you say. And the fact that it’s scheduled probably is a blessing. Meanwhile, we need to somehow explain all this to dudelet
Good luck! In the end, the healthy baby and mom are all that matters!
It’s much, much, much, much better for the baby to be safe. I have done the “natural” birth thing and will probably be permanently mentally scarred by the fact. Not a day goes by when I don’t wonder: “If I’d had a caesarean…?” although thank God Kiko is alive and seems to be on track developmentally.
Monday, December 3rd, she will be a diddle Saggitaurius! All the best for the big day.
Wow, so close! I remember well that feeling of anticipation, knowing my life was about to change, again…for the better. Good luck, and I hope it all goes well. (I ended up with a second c-section as well, hard to take at the time, but it fades)
Hello! We’re a bit more together about it this morning (and have told dudelet who wanted to know if he could help the doctor take the baby out. And have a magazine from the hospital shop!) – Helen, I remember reading about your experience and completely empathise. And we also know that there just aren’t that many obstetricians who’ve got proper experience of breech births. Supermum really just wants to get it over and done with now, and I think I agree. Jennifer, you’re so right. Life is about to change again in a big positive way (though most of all for dudelet – at least we’ve been through having an addition to the family. First time for him!
Monday. Okay! I’ll be keeping all four of you in my thoughts.
Over here, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the people with the most experience in vaginal breech births are the direct-entry midwives who serve the Amish, who won’t go to hospitals for childbirth. These midwives practice without nursing licenses–delivering breech babies vaginally is outside the “standard of care” that licensed nurses or doctors must conform to or risk their licenses.
So the skills necessary to deliver breech babies vaginally have been licensed out of the mainstream of medical practice.
Congratulations! Here’s to a healthy baby and mummy.
Thank you, Lizzy. Sheila, I’m shocked but not surprized. Midwives in the UK seem to be under all-out assault from medicine. Men and power and fear of women…
December 3! What a lovely sounding date for a birthday. I’m glad you’ve had time to get yourself into a new place on this — as others have said, the most important thing is a safe and healthy birth and it sounds like your situation is exactly what this particular medical intervention was meant to be used for. December 3 is going to be a very, very exciting day. Congrats to all of you! Love, BL
Monday eh? Blimey.