I'm 34 weeks pregnant. Still due on New Year's Eve. But things seem to be different this time around... My OB thinks baby is planning to come early, based on some signs.... She dropped at 33 weeks. And (TMI warning!), I've lost the mucus plug four times so far (yes, it regenerates). And then there's the braxton hicks contractions... at least thats the only thing I can assume it is....
Books claim braxton hicks contractions are the body's way of practicing for birth. I never felt them with Nathan or Faith. But they're not suppose to hurt or have a pattern to them. Recently I've learned that may not always be the case... At 32 weeks, for about 5 days, every evening half my stomach got tight like contractions - but there was no pattern. It was very umcomfortable, but not painful. Until later in the evening some nights it hurt a lot. Then baby dropped at the end of that week, and the tightness disappeared. I assumed maybe all the tightness and tenderness (on just half my stomach at a time) was baby trying to turn??? Who knows.
After baby dropped at 33 weeks, the following week was wonderful. Except she still hadn't turned head down.... she was still breech. Not good. No one here will do natural births with a breech baby... unless I want to go 100% natural at home with a midwife. I'm not that brave! But I really don't want a c-section!
Friends recommended I try inversion-type exercises from spinningbabies.com. So I did, and nothing... baby would go transverse, but not turn. I had to wonder if her cord is stopping her from turning... that's something only time will tell. But I'm still going to keep trying to get her to turn in the mean time.
Another friend, who works at a chiropractor college, recommended I try a chiropractor trained in the "websters' technique". My OB was/is skeptical but said if I went, 34 weeks was the time to do it. So at 34 weeks, that's where I went.
Apparently it's hard to find chiropractors trained and certified in the Webster's Technique. But, guess what? There's one in our area. And he's 5 minutes away!! No one is 5 minutes away... everything's always a half hour. So this find was definitely a God thing. But it gets better....
The chiropractor is 100% kid friendly, not only can I take the kids with me (OBs here refuse to let kids even in the waiting room), the kids can go back with me AND the chiro is awesome with them!! His own kids hang out there during the day! And when Faith turned into a drama queen when I got on the table, the chiropractor picked her up and let her "help" - which made everyone happy :)
And it gets better still... Webster's Techique is supposedly not well known or practiced. And those that do it don't often do it regularly, so they may not have high success rates. This chiropractor is really big on natural family planning and births, he's the go-to man for a bunch of area midwives and he has only ever had 2 babies NOT turn!! Here's hoping my little girl doesn't give him 3.
What's the technique?? Essentially the idea is that when your hips, back or ligaments are out of place, the uterus is mis-shaped and the baby cannot physically move into position. Or it's uncomrfortable for her to. So by adjusting hips & back, and stretching round ligaments just right, the uterus takes its natural shape and baby can turn.
This pregnancy has been rough on my hips... a number of times I've thought I would have to resort to using crutches. But I've learned some exercises and techniques to do to help, so it's been managable. But I have to wonder... maybe my hip problems are the cause of baby not turning, too?! Makes sense to me. And makes trying to fix it worth a try!!
So far, I've seen the chiropractor once. And will go back two more times before my 36 week ultrasound. That ultrasound will determine if I have a scheduled c-section, or if I can have a normal birth. So please be praying with us that baby turns before then!! If she doesn't, I won't give up (as long as the ultrasound shows the cord isn't in the way) - some women have to see the chiropractor daily once they hit 38 weeks, but baby almost always eventually turns.
Well, I won't give up until baby decides it's time to come. Which I fear may be a whole lot sooner than New Year's Eve... possibly even sooner than Christmas... Two days ago I had, what I can only assume were braxton hicks contractions for the majority of a 26 hour period. About 3 of those hours were completely miserable. I kept track of the time, but there was no pattern to the pains... not even sure they were contractions, stomach was very tight and tender but it didn't feel like the contractions I had with Faith... So I don't know what it was... I almost went to L&D that night, but at 11pm, it calmed down to a bearable uncomfort level. And the next day (yesterday), I took it easy... no lifting or bending. And the uncomfort level went down even more.
My OB hasn't been the world's most helpful doctor... she came highly recommended by a friend. And I often wonder what my friend likes about her... except that she is very very nice. But I want more in a doctor than someone who is nice. It's too late to change doctors, and this doctor is competent. Just I wish she were more helpful. And there's a good chance she won't be there to deliver anyways, unless it's scheduled.
So without a doctor to rely on, I've relied heavily on the experience of friends who have had 4 or more kids. They've been helpful in giving me ideas on how to turn the baby. And they also agree that braxton hicks contractions can get painful as labor approaches. Wonderful.... so many signs pointing to this baby making an early apprearance... we're not ready for that!! Ok, truth be known, were not ready for her to come in 5 weeks as is! :)
I've packed for the hopsital and the nursery is as ready as it's going to get. My theory is, if I'm as prepared as possible, baby will take her time. If I'm not prepared, she'll come early. We'll see what happens...
I know God's in control of the timing and everything involved. I'm thankful that all signs point to us having a healthy baby. And I'm thankful that I'm not in pain at the moment ;-) Please keep praying with us that baby stays healthy, that I stay healthy, that baby turns soon and that she comes when she is ready and not a day sooner. And that all the details on a place for the kids to stay, and Jacob not being out of town that day, all fall into place, too. And that I don't stress about it all, too :)
We're looking forward to meeting this little girl and introducing her to all of you - hopefully in person. But you know there will be lots of photos and stories posted here, too :)
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