I was about 34 weeks when my Doctor told me
that my baby was breech (from external massage etc - although I
*KNEW* she was from where the kicks felt etc. As I had already had
one baby 2 yrs before *NOT* breech, I could tell the difference) and
he said that at the next visit we would check and if still breech
set up an external version (as I expressed that I was *NOT* going to
have a scheduled C-section and would try to deliver breech if needed
etc) He said he was very experienced at versions and we would
address it the next visit.
At the
next visit, the lady doctor who saw me (as mine was delivering at
the Hosp) did an internal(36 wks) and said "Oh the baby is head down
I can feel the head" ... I was thrilled but REALLY suspicious as I
hadn't felt anything different in the kick area so to speak, and I
asked for a sonogram to check...
The nurse
did one and confirmed *MY* belief she was breech (the lady Dr had
felt her BUM not her soft (hairy) head!! Hence I didn't have much
confidence in the lady doctor.
Right
about that time My lovely, sweetheart Dr came back from the Hospital
to see the results and me - we set up the external version for 4
days later (Tues) when I would be 37 wks)
Finally
the bit you are waiting for!!! ...................
We got
there at 8am (the Hospital - it is done there because sometimes you
go into labour during the process) My Dr was quite willing to try
what I wanted, which was to do it without an IV or any "muscle
relaxer"
- BUT it
was too difficult and the uterus was TOO tight and wouldn't let him
manipulate it..SO in went the IV and the Muscle relaxer - YUK this
was really horrible - It obviously did relax my uterus, but it made
very other muscle in my entire body (including the biggest one - my
HEART) *RACE* like I was on some weird speed drug (as I have never
been on any of these drugs, it is just what I IMAGINE it to be :-)
The Dr
then dug his hand (MAKE SURE THE DR CUTS HIS FINGERS NAILS FIRST
!!!! I had tracks in my belly from his nails - it's a good job he is
so cute!!) down into my pelvis (from the outside :-) to get a hold
on the BUM and then proceeded to do the turn.
Meanwhile
there was a sonogram going fulltime (by a nurse) to monitor the
turn, the umbilical cord etc. He got about 25% of the way around -
(WEIRDEST feeling) and then lost his grip and the baby *SHOT* back
into the breech position and I almost THREW up - my DARLING hubby
was so sweet and came close to my face to say, "Are you okay?, what
can I do?"
- TROUBLE
is he had just had cup of coffee and so his breath *ALMOST* threw me
over the top of the nausea and I ALMOST let loose all over him :-(
As it was all I could do was wave may arms frantically at him,
hoping he would understand!! This is when Burigo chimed in, "I think
she's feeling a bit nauseous - give her some breathing room - sorry
about that by the way"
Back to
try #2 - This time it was successful and the Dr got the baby past
the 180 degree mark and then the baby SWOOSHED at what seemed like a
MILLION miles an hour into the CORRECT position - WOW what a head
rush - the blood rushes or something, but I got really faint and
weak and nauseous (not helped by my poor unsuspecting coffee
breathed hubby hovering by my face concerned at why I wouldn't speak
back to him!! - I knew if I opened my mouth - even to say "get your
disgusting coffee breath away from me" I would puke!!!
As a side
note, as the turn was being monitored her little tush went RIGHT by
the scanner and so we then KNEW she was a little girl!! (having a
2.5 yr old boy at the time made us thrilled it was a she)
I was
kept there another hour to be monitored in case I went into labour
etc and to let the muscle relaxer in my system dissipate or whatever
and I went straight to work - felt fine except for my tracks from
his nails on my belly -
After
about 3 hrs or so (3pm by now) I started to feel like I had been run
over by a MACK truck and was really sore and to boot the little
monkey was trying her hardest to get BACK into the breech postion
she had loved for 8 mths!! I went home I felt so bad and even stayed
home the next day too (WED)
She tried
CONTINUALLY for about 24 hrs and kept lifting her head out of the
pelvis and trying SO hard to turn then realized it was a no go and
gave up, and gave in to her new position!!
The Dr
*HAD* warned me that often the babies go RIGHT back to breech (hence
why they wait until near to end to do it) but I even said then
(right after having gone through the version) that I would be back
to try again if she did - and I meant it.
I
actually had the baby 5 days after the version (MON and my last day
at work was FRI :-) - this was 2 weeks early - but I don't attribute
that to the version as my son was also 2 weeks early and none of
this happened at all with him.
I had a
REALLY easy birth (30 mins labour - but that's another thread!! -
Women with fast, easy labours and how we hate them :-) my son was
only 2 hrs too ;-) My Dr (who delivered them both) joked that with
the 3rd we'd have to bring me in 14 days early and say go and be
ready to catch the baby !! 15 mins or less he predicted!!
Her cord
WAS wrapped around her neck, which may have been caused by the
version, One push to get the head out, the Dr just reached in when
the head was out and pulled it over her head, next push WHOOSH out
she came!!
Good Luck
to anyone that is in for this - it's *REALLY* worth it HONEST!! I
hope you managed to stick it out and read this far!!
