yeowwwwwch!!!! so THAT's what a labour pain feels like!!! i laboured all day yesterday (june 16) from 4am until we went to the hospital around 8:45pm. my contractions were consistent at 5-6 minutes apart for a good hour or so. they had progressively gotten closer and closer together but without too much intensity. i could definitely walk and talk right through all of them. walking seemed to bring them closer together so i walked on and off allllll day.
i decided after doing a couple laps at the lake to go to the hospital just to check things out and see if i really was in labour and to see if i had made any progress compared to my appointment. i got to the hospital and they put me in the maternity triage area to monitor me. they did a non stress test on the baby and everything looked good with him. they monitored my contractions and confirmed i was indeed contracting every 5-6 minutes but because i could walk and talk my way through them all (they weren't tough at all), it was probably best that i go home and rest and see if they intensify or change throughout the night.
we got home around 10:30pm and had a quick bite to eat. i had a nice warm bath with mineral salts and creme bath and just relaxed. i crawled into bed shortly after the bath and attempted to sleep. right, so i'm probably a day away from having this baby and i'm supposed to sleep???
so here i sit, wide awake just before 2:00am on june 17th after being awoken by a REAL contraction. ouch ouch ouch! i thought i was dying! thank god (sort of) i haven't had another really bad one like that yet...there's many more worse to come my way.
it looks like this baby is finally on his way....yipeeeee!!!!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
we've got some dates!...or so they say
i had my 41 week appointment yesterday and it was pretty bittersweet. i still have yet to dilate to even 1 cm, so it looks like an induction is imminent. the doctor again was unable to even do a sweep so i'm going in for a cervidil induction first on thursday. i have to give the hospital a call to ensure they can fit me in on thursday. i guess how it works is i go in, they insert this little flap of medicated goodness up behind my cervix, i hang around for an hour or so to make sure baby is all good, and then they send me home. i'm sure hoping this does the trick on its own, but with the trend my body has made...i'm thinking it won't do it in which case i will be induced with pitocin hopefully on friday.
when i called the hospital to make sure i go home after getting the cervidil, the nurse made it sound like they attempt the cervidil more than once. well i sure hope she's wrong, because the doctor made it pretty clear that friday would be a pitocin/oxytocin induction. long story short, that means baby will be here by the weekend hopefully! normally i would just let my body take it's course and do it's thing, but because my dates were all messed up and we changed the due date to a date based soley on a ultrasound measurement i could be a little farther along than we think. either way...it's baby time!
my mom will be away in las vegas starting thursday night, along with one of my aunts and one of my uncles. i'm sure i'll have plenty of visitors while they're away...and baby martyn will still be here when they return. it's not like they're gone forever. i was absolutely ecstatic to hear my mother-in-law is coming home on thursday!!! she made it back for the birth of the baby. i couldn't be happier about that. she's actually coming with me (provided timing is ok) to get my cervidil induction at the hospital. her flight lands at 8:30am, so if it works out i'll have here there to hang out with me for a bit. either way, i'm sooo excited to have her home!
my waiting game just got a lot shorter :)
when i called the hospital to make sure i go home after getting the cervidil, the nurse made it sound like they attempt the cervidil more than once. well i sure hope she's wrong, because the doctor made it pretty clear that friday would be a pitocin/oxytocin induction. long story short, that means baby will be here by the weekend hopefully! normally i would just let my body take it's course and do it's thing, but because my dates were all messed up and we changed the due date to a date based soley on a ultrasound measurement i could be a little farther along than we think. either way...it's baby time!
my mom will be away in las vegas starting thursday night, along with one of my aunts and one of my uncles. i'm sure i'll have plenty of visitors while they're away...and baby martyn will still be here when they return. it's not like they're gone forever. i was absolutely ecstatic to hear my mother-in-law is coming home on thursday!!! she made it back for the birth of the baby. i couldn't be happier about that. she's actually coming with me (provided timing is ok) to get my cervidil induction at the hospital. her flight lands at 8:30am, so if it works out i'll have here there to hang out with me for a bit. either way, i'm sooo excited to have her home!
my waiting game just got a lot shorter :)
Monday, June 14, 2010
yes, i'm still pregnant!
well i'm still pregnant. officially i am 6 days overdue and still feeling as good as i did at 30 weeks pregnant! i'll hit 41 tomorrow and i'm so anxious to see the doctor and hear what he's got to say. i'm interested to know if i've made ANY progress in terms of dilating, etc. if not, i'm really going to push for this induction. i'm feeling really comfortable and can't complain about a thing in the world, but i really do want this baby out so i can start the recovery process. i want my body back, i want to be able to sleep comfortably at night, i want to meet my baby!!
i really do have an amazing husband. he's been my saving grace so many days. i've had a few days here and there where i feel down, just not quite myself. he's been so thoughtful to do anything he can to make my life easier. he brings me treats home after work, he hangs out with me in the evenings, he eats dinner at the table with me, walks with me, i just love him to bits. i always wondered how he would be when i was pregnant, and he's gone over and above any expectations i would have ever had!
the past six days have been fairly pleasant. i've questioned a couple of times if "this was it" but it never has been. i've walked more than i've ever walked before. i've enjoyed dates at starbucks with family and friends. all in all, i've just enjoyed life!
we cleared a bunch of junk out of the house so we're actually feeling like we're gaining space finally! cameron is eager to close in his garage, so clearing a lot of that stuff out was a huge weight off his back. he's worked his tail off getting the basement into shape, the carport cleaned out, everything organized. it's just been amazing.
we picked up a rocking chair for our nursery which i absolutely love. it's an old wooden rocking chair that has been painted a dark grey/brown. i bought a nice white fur rug (faux of course) to go underneath and it just ties the whole nursery together. i can't wait to rock our little prince in there and feed him in peace. we just need to find a few things to hang on the walls and we'll be set. some curtains would be nice...but we'll find those at some point down the road. it's all coming together nicely.
stay tuned, this baby is coming out soon whether he wants to or not! i dont imagine i'll be allowed to go past 14 days, so that's coming up quickly!
i really do have an amazing husband. he's been my saving grace so many days. i've had a few days here and there where i feel down, just not quite myself. he's been so thoughtful to do anything he can to make my life easier. he brings me treats home after work, he hangs out with me in the evenings, he eats dinner at the table with me, walks with me, i just love him to bits. i always wondered how he would be when i was pregnant, and he's gone over and above any expectations i would have ever had!
the past six days have been fairly pleasant. i've questioned a couple of times if "this was it" but it never has been. i've walked more than i've ever walked before. i've enjoyed dates at starbucks with family and friends. all in all, i've just enjoyed life!
we cleared a bunch of junk out of the house so we're actually feeling like we're gaining space finally! cameron is eager to close in his garage, so clearing a lot of that stuff out was a huge weight off his back. he's worked his tail off getting the basement into shape, the carport cleaned out, everything organized. it's just been amazing.
we picked up a rocking chair for our nursery which i absolutely love. it's an old wooden rocking chair that has been painted a dark grey/brown. i bought a nice white fur rug (faux of course) to go underneath and it just ties the whole nursery together. i can't wait to rock our little prince in there and feed him in peace. we just need to find a few things to hang on the walls and we'll be set. some curtains would be nice...but we'll find those at some point down the road. it's all coming together nicely.
stay tuned, this baby is coming out soon whether he wants to or not! i dont imagine i'll be allowed to go past 14 days, so that's coming up quickly!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
nesting, home renovations, and full-term baby!
well it's been a rollercoaster of emotions the past couple days and i'm glad i made it through!
my sister in law was due july 3rd with her 2nd little one and her water broke 2 days before my due date. it was the most bittersweet moment i've experienced in ages. i was so excited for her, so excited to be an auntie again, so excited that the martyn family (although she's an arn...) would be expanding, and of course very excited our little guy would have a cousin so close in age. the part that really got to me was that because she lives in calgary, that meant my mother in law would be gone for 2 weeks to help her out. i was heartbroken. i had a complete meltdown that lasted for quite some time. and thankfully, for cameron and a great friend, i made it through it all and saw the positive light at the end of the tunnel. it was so hard not to be selfish at that point...and it wasn't like i wanted her here for me, i wanted her here to hold her grandson in the hospital and all that fun that comes with a fresh delivery. anyways, i got over it and i feel so blessed to have her and the rest of my inlaws close by. i feel sad that my sister in law lives so far away!
after having her water break nearly 4 weeks early, morgan lynne paige arn arrived at a very health 6lb 10.2oz on june 6, 2010. as far as we've heard everything is well and good with the little arn clan...hopefully they can get home shortly...hospitals are never all that fun!
i spent the entire day yesterday cleaning our house...and not just cleaning, really cleaning. i washed light fixtures, went through old boxes, dusted everything, swept and washed all the floors, organized the laundry room, cut up all our fresh fruit so it's convenient and ready to eat, really...i cleaned everything! it felt amazing to check so much off my list of things to do! i wondered all day if this was what people call nesting or if i was just forcing myself to get everything done as time is quickly ticking away (well....not too quickly that is...).
cameron finished the floors last night!! we were up until 10:30 finishing them, but they look fantastic! the stairs are done, the railing is up, the moldings are all back up...it looks amazing! i was so happy to have them done. i could tell cameron was overjoyed they were done. he works so incredibly hard at work and home so i was really happy to see one more of his projects be checked off his list. my life would be so much more difficult if i didn't have him. i realize every day how much he actually does for me to make my life easier...he's an absolutely amazing partner in life and i wouldn't have it any other way. he's like my superman who constantly rescues me. i love him with every ounce of me.
i've officially reached my 40 weeks today. this baby is fully cooked and the world is now waiting for his arrival. i'm feeling anxious for him to come, and part of me feels like he won't come on his own. as much as i'm dreading an induction...something about it just seems like it's looming over me. i have a doctor's appointment today, so that will hopefully stir things up a bit. we shall see...
my sister in law was due july 3rd with her 2nd little one and her water broke 2 days before my due date. it was the most bittersweet moment i've experienced in ages. i was so excited for her, so excited to be an auntie again, so excited that the martyn family (although she's an arn...) would be expanding, and of course very excited our little guy would have a cousin so close in age. the part that really got to me was that because she lives in calgary, that meant my mother in law would be gone for 2 weeks to help her out. i was heartbroken. i had a complete meltdown that lasted for quite some time. and thankfully, for cameron and a great friend, i made it through it all and saw the positive light at the end of the tunnel. it was so hard not to be selfish at that point...and it wasn't like i wanted her here for me, i wanted her here to hold her grandson in the hospital and all that fun that comes with a fresh delivery. anyways, i got over it and i feel so blessed to have her and the rest of my inlaws close by. i feel sad that my sister in law lives so far away!
after having her water break nearly 4 weeks early, morgan lynne paige arn arrived at a very health 6lb 10.2oz on june 6, 2010. as far as we've heard everything is well and good with the little arn clan...hopefully they can get home shortly...hospitals are never all that fun!
i spent the entire day yesterday cleaning our house...and not just cleaning, really cleaning. i washed light fixtures, went through old boxes, dusted everything, swept and washed all the floors, organized the laundry room, cut up all our fresh fruit so it's convenient and ready to eat, really...i cleaned everything! it felt amazing to check so much off my list of things to do! i wondered all day if this was what people call nesting or if i was just forcing myself to get everything done as time is quickly ticking away (well....not too quickly that is...).
cameron finished the floors last night!! we were up until 10:30 finishing them, but they look fantastic! the stairs are done, the railing is up, the moldings are all back up...it looks amazing! i was so happy to have them done. i could tell cameron was overjoyed they were done. he works so incredibly hard at work and home so i was really happy to see one more of his projects be checked off his list. my life would be so much more difficult if i didn't have him. i realize every day how much he actually does for me to make my life easier...he's an absolutely amazing partner in life and i wouldn't have it any other way. he's like my superman who constantly rescues me. i love him with every ounce of me.
i've officially reached my 40 weeks today. this baby is fully cooked and the world is now waiting for his arrival. i'm feeling anxious for him to come, and part of me feels like he won't come on his own. as much as i'm dreading an induction...something about it just seems like it's looming over me. i have a doctor's appointment today, so that will hopefully stir things up a bit. we shall see...
Saturday, June 5, 2010
tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
it's been a great couple days. feeling the baby slowly drop again is such a relief. although the fears of labour still have yet to kick in...i know it will be better longterm if i can deliver the baby naturally. i'm so incredibly excited. every braxton hicks contraction i get i wonder "if it's time"...
i've been drinking red raspberry leaf tea, walking often, squatting often; all in hopes that this little guy makes his way to his final destination. the thought of being induced makes me a little nervous, just because it's all-or-nothing. i would rather my body take it's course and safely go through the process of labour. the thing i don't like about induction is that you're hooked up to an IV and it forces your body to do something it's not yet ready to do. trust me though, at 10 days past my due date i'm sure i'll be ready for that IV...
i managed to get our hospital bags packed yesterday. i put a list out for cameron and a list out for me of the last minute things we need to throw in our bags. this way, i hope we haven't forgotten anything. our camera battery is fully charged now so we'll have plenty of battery time for snapping photos. pictures are so important to me.
the whole reason i created this blog was because i have an awful memory. i don't know why, but i really don't remember anything long term...and i want to be able to look back and remember all the little details of our journey into labour, the amazing milestones our children make, the daytrips our children get to experience. i really don't remember much before i was 12 or 13...and i'm only 26, so that's not far away!
when i was in and around that age i was hit by a car while riding my bike. i ended up landing on my head (wearing a helmet thank goodness) after being thrown in the air. my helmet was totally cracked in half. scary, but perhaps that's where my bad memory came from. i've always wondered...
cameron has been working so hard getting the house projects complete before the arrival of our little man. the wood on the stairs is nearly complete, the front door is almost ready to be hung. he's got a few smaller things to work on once the big jobs are done and then our house will finally be almost where we need it to be. of course, there's always little finishing jobs that need to be taken care of as well...owning a 35 year old house means always having something that needs to be updated, fixed, etc.
while he fixes things around the house, i've spent most of my first few days of maternity leave just relaxing and trying to enjoy them before my life gets turned upside down. i was so excited this week as one of my favourite people in the world, my youngest sister mallory, left school early and we went to the states to just hang out. we had such a fun and relaxing day. we ate pizza, drank pop, shopped, and just strolled the mall looking at little things here and there. it was a lot of fun...i'll miss being able to just do things like that.
~ i love this girl ~
while in the states i finally picked up my breast pump and the adapter for our stroller so our infant seat fits nicely in there. i absolutely love our stroller. it is gorgeous! we decided to go with a red stroller and a red carseat. they look so nice! the stroller we went with was the uppababy vista. our best buddies have the same one in black...they love theirs, and we loved theirs. best investment yet i'd say. can't wait to walk all summer and try to burn some of this baby weight off!
i've been drinking red raspberry leaf tea, walking often, squatting often; all in hopes that this little guy makes his way to his final destination. the thought of being induced makes me a little nervous, just because it's all-or-nothing. i would rather my body take it's course and safely go through the process of labour. the thing i don't like about induction is that you're hooked up to an IV and it forces your body to do something it's not yet ready to do. trust me though, at 10 days past my due date i'm sure i'll be ready for that IV...
i managed to get our hospital bags packed yesterday. i put a list out for cameron and a list out for me of the last minute things we need to throw in our bags. this way, i hope we haven't forgotten anything. our camera battery is fully charged now so we'll have plenty of battery time for snapping photos. pictures are so important to me.
the whole reason i created this blog was because i have an awful memory. i don't know why, but i really don't remember anything long term...and i want to be able to look back and remember all the little details of our journey into labour, the amazing milestones our children make, the daytrips our children get to experience. i really don't remember much before i was 12 or 13...and i'm only 26, so that's not far away!
when i was in and around that age i was hit by a car while riding my bike. i ended up landing on my head (wearing a helmet thank goodness) after being thrown in the air. my helmet was totally cracked in half. scary, but perhaps that's where my bad memory came from. i've always wondered...
cameron has been working so hard getting the house projects complete before the arrival of our little man. the wood on the stairs is nearly complete, the front door is almost ready to be hung. he's got a few smaller things to work on once the big jobs are done and then our house will finally be almost where we need it to be. of course, there's always little finishing jobs that need to be taken care of as well...owning a 35 year old house means always having something that needs to be updated, fixed, etc.
while he fixes things around the house, i've spent most of my first few days of maternity leave just relaxing and trying to enjoy them before my life gets turned upside down. i was so excited this week as one of my favourite people in the world, my youngest sister mallory, left school early and we went to the states to just hang out. we had such a fun and relaxing day. we ate pizza, drank pop, shopped, and just strolled the mall looking at little things here and there. it was a lot of fun...i'll miss being able to just do things like that.
~ i love this girl ~
while in the states i finally picked up my breast pump and the adapter for our stroller so our infant seat fits nicely in there. i absolutely love our stroller. it is gorgeous! we decided to go with a red stroller and a red carseat. they look so nice! the stroller we went with was the uppababy vista. our best buddies have the same one in black...they love theirs, and we loved theirs. best investment yet i'd say. can't wait to walk all summer and try to burn some of this baby weight off!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
we shall call him...flipper
i received a call from the hospital this morning at 6:45am saying they had an opening for an ultrasound at 8:30am and instructed me to be there by 8:10. i found this extremely strange as i already had my other appointment scheduled for 2pm today. weird? does 6 hours really make a difference? i guess when you're over 39 weeks pregnant and they suspect your baby to be breech, this makes things urgent.
i quickly got ready and rushed down to the hospital...so very eager to see my sweet little baby on the ultrasound monitor. i haven't gotten to see him since our 3D ultrasound in january, so i was very excited. the ultrasound tech was super nice and we chit-chatted about babies and pregnancies. she put her magic wand on me and says "this baby is definitely head down!" i don't think i've ever been so shocked in my life!
it was very exciting to know that he had made his way back down to the correct positioning. to be honest, it was a little bittersweet because i had gotten used to the idea of a c-section, and i definitely got used to the idea that he would be here sooner than anticipated. but...this is also such good news. if i can deliver him naturally, that means a way shorter recover time, a much shorter hospital stay, and so many good things. i've also read a lot about babies born by c-section and how a different bond is formed between them and their mommy. either way, all i care about is that the little one arrives in a healthy fashion...however he may choose to do so!
i also asked the ultrasound tech if she could guestimate his weight. yah, ok...bad idea. he's already 8lbs. so now i'm a little fearful that i'll have a huge massive baby. she did say it can be plus or minus one full pound, so that could be only 7 lbs...BUT, it could also be 9! yikes. oh well, he was so cute, so chubby, and just so lovable. i can't wait to meet him now.
it's a little tough to see, but this is his profile shot. you can see his little button nose and his nice pudgy kissable lips...i can't wait to snuggle with this little man!
so i'm offically back to the big waiting game. i asked my doctor how long he'd let me go overdue and he said at my 40 week appointment he would do a membrane sweep and an internal exam (yay...). at 41 weeks we'll start talking about induction if he still hasn't arrived. so it looks like we're in this for the long haul now!
because he flipped and flipped back, it seems that he's sitting way high up floating in his comfort zone again. i've gone back to drinking my red raspberry leaf tea, walking, and doing things around the house. i took it easy the past couple days just because i was fearful i would go into labour with a breech baby and they would have to perform an emergency c-section. i'll have to start walking as well...if this awful rain would ever stop! seriously, it's june.
i felt a little productive today. more than i have been the last few days at least. i baked some delicious chocolate chip/skor/pecan cookies and banana oatmeal muffins. so if nothing else, i'll just sit at home and eat baking for the next 20 days and see how much weight i can put on. sounds like a great plan to me...
i quickly got ready and rushed down to the hospital...so very eager to see my sweet little baby on the ultrasound monitor. i haven't gotten to see him since our 3D ultrasound in january, so i was very excited. the ultrasound tech was super nice and we chit-chatted about babies and pregnancies. she put her magic wand on me and says "this baby is definitely head down!" i don't think i've ever been so shocked in my life!
it was very exciting to know that he had made his way back down to the correct positioning. to be honest, it was a little bittersweet because i had gotten used to the idea of a c-section, and i definitely got used to the idea that he would be here sooner than anticipated. but...this is also such good news. if i can deliver him naturally, that means a way shorter recover time, a much shorter hospital stay, and so many good things. i've also read a lot about babies born by c-section and how a different bond is formed between them and their mommy. either way, all i care about is that the little one arrives in a healthy fashion...however he may choose to do so!
i also asked the ultrasound tech if she could guestimate his weight. yah, ok...bad idea. he's already 8lbs. so now i'm a little fearful that i'll have a huge massive baby. she did say it can be plus or minus one full pound, so that could be only 7 lbs...BUT, it could also be 9! yikes. oh well, he was so cute, so chubby, and just so lovable. i can't wait to meet him now.
it's a little tough to see, but this is his profile shot. you can see his little button nose and his nice pudgy kissable lips...i can't wait to snuggle with this little man!
so i'm offically back to the big waiting game. i asked my doctor how long he'd let me go overdue and he said at my 40 week appointment he would do a membrane sweep and an internal exam (yay...). at 41 weeks we'll start talking about induction if he still hasn't arrived. so it looks like we're in this for the long haul now!
because he flipped and flipped back, it seems that he's sitting way high up floating in his comfort zone again. i've gone back to drinking my red raspberry leaf tea, walking, and doing things around the house. i took it easy the past couple days just because i was fearful i would go into labour with a breech baby and they would have to perform an emergency c-section. i'll have to start walking as well...if this awful rain would ever stop! seriously, it's june.
i felt a little productive today. more than i have been the last few days at least. i baked some delicious chocolate chip/skor/pecan cookies and banana oatmeal muffins. so if nothing else, i'll just sit at home and eat baking for the next 20 days and see how much weight i can put on. sounds like a great plan to me...
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
whoooaaaa, big change in plans!
last weekend i really felt the baby drop. he's been sitting so low. i was no longer able to do my jeans up, had difficulties keeping my belly contained in my shirt, and all i was thinking about was when the contractions would start so i could finally get to hold my baby! my doctor has been in cambodia on a personal trip since may 18th (my last doctor's appointment) so i've been hoping that the baby would hold off until at least he got back from his trip. he finally made it back so things should be all good to go now. or so you'd think...
i had my doctor's appointment yesterday at 38 weeks 6 days...8 short days until my due date! expecting to go in and get some good words that things are progressing just as they should be, my cervix is thinning, starting to dialate, baby is low...you know, all the normal stuff you would expect to hear at nearly 39 weeks. well, this baby had other plans.
the doc took my measurements which were all normal, then he grabbed his doppler and was listening for the heartbeat. it took him a few seconds to actually locate it where we always do which of course gets a first-time-mom's mind wandering like mad. i kept reassuring myself - you've felt him move like crazy the past few days (and hours), so everything is fine. doctor says that the baby's heartrate is great, but he for some reason can't seem to hear it well enough to hear valves opening and closing. we've gotten the heartbeat in the same spot for like 25 weeks, so what's changed?
baby has turned breech. yes, at 39 weeks he's flipped into a breech position.
we've got an emergency ultrasound scheduled for wednesday, june 2 at 2pm to confirm the baby's positioning. should he remain breech, it looks like we'll be getting a c-section.
after thinking about things and letting my mind settle, it all began to make sense. i've never been able to vision myself having a baby (like the whole labouring process, etc). i've maintained that throughout my pregnancy. i've said to my close family & friends many times that i know i'm pregnant, i feel pregnant; but other than that, i don't picture myself having a baby. and to think, i was still saying that at 39 weeks. i had no desire to do prenatal as i figured it just wouldn't benefit us...what couldn't we learn from books and the internet?
maybe i'm crazy, but i think subsciously my body and mind knew something like this would happen.
and who am i to complain? i've had an absolutely blissful picture-perfect pregnancy! i've not let anything hold me back. i went to las vegas, i had no morning sickness, i've been able to remain active, i've absolutely loved every second of it. so why complain now? i'm going to wind up with a perfectly healthy baby regardless...so i think it just seems right to let the baby gods do their work; regardless if that means c-section or natural delivery.
i'm anxious to get this ultrasound out of the way on wednesday. i know he's breech, i can feel him way up in my ribs again. his head is positioned right under my right ribcage...a place i haven't felt a foot in a couple weeks as he's been sitting so low. my jeans do up again without difficulties, and it seems baby is just content floating up top.
it's hard to describe the overwhelming feeling when you're 39 weeks pregnant and have had the baby's head down forever and then one week...ONE WEEK before your due date he flips. i'm not scared; i have an amazing support team. from my husband, to my parents, my in-laws, my friends...i know everyone will help me out with my recovery. i guess i just wasn't quite prepared to hear the doctor's words at that time. but...life goes on. c-sections happen all the time and everyone winds up with a healthy happy baby. and i'm going to be one of them!
i had my doctor's appointment yesterday at 38 weeks 6 days...8 short days until my due date! expecting to go in and get some good words that things are progressing just as they should be, my cervix is thinning, starting to dialate, baby is low...you know, all the normal stuff you would expect to hear at nearly 39 weeks. well, this baby had other plans.
the doc took my measurements which were all normal, then he grabbed his doppler and was listening for the heartbeat. it took him a few seconds to actually locate it where we always do which of course gets a first-time-mom's mind wandering like mad. i kept reassuring myself - you've felt him move like crazy the past few days (and hours), so everything is fine. doctor says that the baby's heartrate is great, but he for some reason can't seem to hear it well enough to hear valves opening and closing. we've gotten the heartbeat in the same spot for like 25 weeks, so what's changed?
baby has turned breech. yes, at 39 weeks he's flipped into a breech position.
we've got an emergency ultrasound scheduled for wednesday, june 2 at 2pm to confirm the baby's positioning. should he remain breech, it looks like we'll be getting a c-section.
after thinking about things and letting my mind settle, it all began to make sense. i've never been able to vision myself having a baby (like the whole labouring process, etc). i've maintained that throughout my pregnancy. i've said to my close family & friends many times that i know i'm pregnant, i feel pregnant; but other than that, i don't picture myself having a baby. and to think, i was still saying that at 39 weeks. i had no desire to do prenatal as i figured it just wouldn't benefit us...what couldn't we learn from books and the internet?
maybe i'm crazy, but i think subsciously my body and mind knew something like this would happen.
and who am i to complain? i've had an absolutely blissful picture-perfect pregnancy! i've not let anything hold me back. i went to las vegas, i had no morning sickness, i've been able to remain active, i've absolutely loved every second of it. so why complain now? i'm going to wind up with a perfectly healthy baby regardless...so i think it just seems right to let the baby gods do their work; regardless if that means c-section or natural delivery.
i'm anxious to get this ultrasound out of the way on wednesday. i know he's breech, i can feel him way up in my ribs again. his head is positioned right under my right ribcage...a place i haven't felt a foot in a couple weeks as he's been sitting so low. my jeans do up again without difficulties, and it seems baby is just content floating up top.
it's hard to describe the overwhelming feeling when you're 39 weeks pregnant and have had the baby's head down forever and then one week...ONE WEEK before your due date he flips. i'm not scared; i have an amazing support team. from my husband, to my parents, my in-laws, my friends...i know everyone will help me out with my recovery. i guess i just wasn't quite prepared to hear the doctor's words at that time. but...life goes on. c-sections happen all the time and everyone winds up with a healthy happy baby. and i'm going to be one of them!
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