Sunday, July 08, 2007

The Home Stretch

It seems as though, in these last few weeks of pregnancy, I should be surging toward the finish line with my last burst of energy...stretching forward and extending further than ever I have before. In actuality, I find myself barely limping (literally, stupid sciatic nerve pain) along, dragging my feet, and procrastinating the whole way. I haven't packed my hospital bag. The nursery really isn't ready. I'm really not mentally prepared for this new arrival, and yet I find myself hoping that he's getting here sooner than later!

Sorry for the long silence, but as per usual, I've been busier than ever at work and at home. I am covering call for my partner, as he is taking his annual 2 week long vacation (if this doesn't put me into labor, I'm not sure what will). We've had visitors for the last 3 weekends in a row, and while wonderful, it has been exhausting. I wanted to thank each and every one of you for all of your helpful comments, well wishes, and hints about flipping my stubborn breech baby! I promise, I've not been holding these comments hostage, rather, I've just not had a chance to get them all published until today. First of all, I did check the website to find it to be the same one I've directed patients toward in the past, I did do the knee-chest reposition manueuvers, the inclines were just too much blood rushing to my face, and I didn't have immediate access to a swimming pool deep enough in which to do handstands (without embarrassing myself at the public pool by having my stubbly legs waving about in the air, that is), but I did suspend my belly between two rafts in my daughter's oversized wading pool. I did not do moxibustion. I wasn't really sure where to get the candles and wasn't certain enough about the technique to order them from the internet. I barely have time to make my own OB appointments, so seeing a chiropractor was not a real possiblity, although I do have patients that have had success in this arena. As far as visualization/hypnosis stuff, I think it ended up more like begging, pleading, and cajoling the Bean...pleeeeaaaassssseeee turn around, c'mon, I'll buy you a pony, etc. The fact of the matter is, I don't think any of the traditional techniques had one iota of influence on my stubborn child. The evening before my second ultrasound, I could palpate his hard head right below my ribcage, and I had resigned myself to making the decision for version or elective section (because I am too a'skeered of the risks associated with vaginal breech births). Then, my 20 pound girlcat took matters into her own paws. She leaped upon my belly, positioning herself directly over the caput of my stubborn son, and proceeded to activate her very loud purrbox. She hatched my belly and purred for about an hour, and boy, did the baby respond! He wriggled and kicked like crazy, it was, at times, almost painful, but after that hour, I could no longer feel his head in my upper belly. The ultrasound the following day confirmed that I had, indeed, had a successful cephalic version via kitty, and vertex he has remained ever since. So much for traditional methods of flipping breech babies! If I were to try to rationalize why this worked when nothing else did, I guess I could say that it is close to vibroacoustic stimulation like we use to "wake up" sleeping babies on non-stress tests. Who knows? All I know is that he is now vertex, and getting way too chubbly (hopefully) to turn back around now.

As for his estimated weight, a good 7 pounds as of a little over a week ago, of course I'm taking it with a grain of salt. The limitations of ultrasound in predicting weight accurately in the third trimester are not lost on me, but what woman doesn't cringe a bit thinking about the possibility that, indeed, the measurement is closer to correct than not, or, worse still, is off by a pound in the positive direction? I'm trying not to think about it too much and trying to trust that I don't feel like I'm carrying an almost 8 pound kid at this point. We shall see. My BP has been holding steady 140s/80s, no protein, normal labs. I even lost a pound this week. (Whee!) This next week, we are going to try to take professional belly/family photos, so I must find some inoffensive similarly colored shirts for Mr. Whoo, CindyLou, and me. We have a to-do list a mile long. I thank you all once again for checking in on me and all of the encouragement. Now I must get into the hospital to round (I've started to deliver some patients whose due dates are *after* mine, and there is very little in my life as an OB/GYN that is more discouraging than that!), continue to wash baby clothes, and maybe, just maybe, pack my own hospital bag. Just like a real pregnant person.

27 comments:

dr. nic said...

Yay for vertex babies. I'm happy the kitty version worked. As someone who is not yet pregnant, but hopes to be very soon, I have been reading your updates very carefully. Hope all goes well for you.

Kristina said...

Congratulations, and tell your little feline "good kitty"!

In my comment I forgot to mentions that, yes, babies can turn to get closer to appealing sounds, but they have also been known to turn to get away from less appealing sounds. Perhaps that purring vibrato was a little abnoxious-sounding to Bean from the inside?

No matter how it worked, I'm so glad for you that it did. Now I'll have to add your story to my turning breech babies spiel...

Awesome Mom said...

I am so glad that Bean finally turned. You cat was very nice to help you out with that. Maybe if you have a patient that needs a baby turned you could bring the cat in with you to work her magic.

Amanda said...

Incredible story about the kitty version!

Amanda said...

I can't wait to hear when this little guy comes and how much he weighs!

Best wishes to you and yours.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi,
I'm new at your blog. I hope you don't mind if I give a comment of your post. I find it very informative and entertaining too. You gave us an insight of an ob-gyne doing her own preparations for her scheduled delivery. What amused me most was how your cat actually helped you in repositioning your child. I laughed at your description of how your baby reacted to the presence of the cat at your tummy. He was guarding his territorial right in your body with the tenacity of a predator cat. How cute.

Thanks for the very entertaining and informative post. I really enjoyed it. May I invite you to visit my blog?

God bless you with all the best things in life.

Anonymous said...

Hello! I just happened upon your blog the other day, and I want to say I love it!!! I'm an L&D nurse and enjoy your stories....I also enjoy hearing about your life. Sometimes it's hard to have a life out of work, that's for sure. Anyway, congrats on your new baby and good luck!!! Laura

afc said...

does this sound plausible?:
i had my final 40 wk appt, w/internal; the baby was head down (this was a thursday).
monday, i presented at the hospital at 8 cm with a breech baby (who was 9lbs 5oz at birth). there's no way he was vertex at the 40wk appt, right? i mean, how in the world can a 9.5 baby flip at 40wks? unless it happens, then maybe you should be worried? but really, i don't think it does (could my ob really have mistaken a butt for a head), so i think you're in the home stretch!
:)

Taking Heart said...

Vertex is a wonderful thing. so glad for you. praying a safe, pink et screaming delivery your way.

http://fundusfirmlochiasmall.blogspot.com/

Trope said...

Whew! It's so nice to hear an OB say these things about not being quite ready and being a little concerned about the birth. It makes me feel normal...
I gave birth a little over four weeks ago and now have an angelic little son who even sleeps long enough to let me check blogs occasionally! So (though I suspect you've popped by now) let me add my wishes for your successful delivery. You're probably all done with it by now and enjoying some much deserved rest!

This version-by-kitty tale is awesome, and would be the hit of my pregnancy forum (I can just see women resting tuna fish on their pregnant ribcages to entice the cats over). Take care of yourself, and we can't wait to hear baby stories when it's time!

Anonymous said...

I can see it now-

"Mrs. X, your baby is still unfortunately breech, but before I recommend a C-section there is one more thing I'd like to try. I just have to go the carrier and the can opener."
"Let's just spread that tuna around on your belly and and see how it goes. Here, kitty kitty kitty..."
I bet you'd be famous if you could get that to work!

Working Girl said...

Oh congratulations on your kitty version! Will you be incorporating this technique into your practice? Good luck to you with the delivery!

Anonymous said...

OH my gosh, how crazy that the cat purrs flipped the Bean around! Wow! It just proves to me that kitties are the best pets ever. xoxoxo Big hugs from Philly!

Alison said...

Go Kittycat! Oh goodness, that's funny. And wonderful. Best wishes to the whole family from here.

(From a mother of four.)

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I didn't quite catch Blogger in time there. My new blog addy is www.spindyeknit.com , not at Blogger.

CappuccinosMom said...

That has to be one of the funniest pregnancy stories I've ever heard. Whatever works, huh?

Shawnee said...

I am glad he is vertex via kitty! Maybe you should start suggesting that to your patients? haha

Anonymous said...

Off topic cool c-section story, in my lay person opinion.


http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/191265.html

You may have to copy and paste....

Dawn

Anonymous said...

I know a few women who could use your cat!
Wanna rent it out for when the ecv's don't work?
Hope you are doing well and babe is stuck to the breast as opposed to still in utero!

Jenny said...

I hope that if my babe is breech and I need him/her to turn around, that maybe one of my kitties can help me out with that, too. I really enjoyed this post, and I hope you have a pleasant birthing experience!

Lizzie said...

We haven't heard from you in a while. Has "The Bean" arrived?! Hope all is well.

Anonymous said...

I hope the little one is here by now and that all went well.

mitchsmom said...

Good luck with your birth and enjoy your babymoon!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

You are getting so close. I am going to be 33 weeks along tomorrow, and I know you're ahead of me! My OB suggested non-stess tests 2 times a week. At first, I didn't want to be the paranoid mom, so I said, "it's okay." Then, I decided to do them. They aren't invasive, and if something did go wrong I have a higher chance of knowing early so we can get the baby out and cared for. It's hard to juggle child care for 5 children, but we'll make it work. Bonus is I get to listen to my little one two times a week. That cannot be a bad thing.

Blessings on your last weeks pregnant and on your delivery (fast, crazy easy, near pain free!).
Dawn

Anonymous said...

I found your blog a while ago through a link from Tundra Medicine Dreams, and I've been reading since then. I hope all is well with you and your new little one; hopefully you've had him by now!

Anonymous said...

Ack!
I've had non stress tests, the first was good, the second was hopefully a napping baby. It took 2 hours for the nurse to let me go. Baby was kicking but with anterior placenta and other issues (maybe the baby turned funny) the monitor thingy had to be placed above my right hip to get the heartrate measured part of the time...it kept sounding like it was drifting away. Baby didn't react enough to make the nurse happy, but she said she had two accels that "counted." Today I had my 34 week OB appointment and the word c-section was used on me for the first time ever. Baby was in transverse lie at a sonogram a month ago, so we're hoping a sono in 2 wks shows baby head down or a version will be done and then if no change, a c-section. Ugh. I am not too worried yet as this baby moves a lot. My OB will be gone in my 37h and 38th weeks, so I am hoping against all hope that she will be around for a version???I know they like to induce when baby is in position, but I plan to say no if I'm only at 37 weeks with my OB out of town...because baby may be a week off since he/she has been measuring smaller on all but the first sonogram, I don't want to risk bad lung development...

Unknown said...

Dr. Who - I am not particularly blog literate but am fascinated to have googled "ob/gyn board prep" and got your blog. I am also an ob/gyn, had my second child July 20th and have an almost 3yo. I am also trying to study for boards and feeling particularly overwhelmed today-hence the google. Your blog made me laugh - haven't done that in awhile. Anyway, I guess you never know what fate and google will throw your way! -swbcmd@hotmail.com