Another Baby Update

Well... today we were suppose to meet our 2nd daughter. Suppose to, according to our plans and doctor's. But God had other plans.

We went in this morning for an external version to turn the baby manually. And then, the plan was to induce immediately afterward. With the excessive amount of amniotic fluid I have, everyone claimed it should make for a less painful and more successful e-version. So much for their opinions...

Painful?? Sometimes. There are a few very tender spots on my belly, but half the time it was just uncomfortable. And it was well worth the chance to have a vaginal birth. Even now, with a a few bruises and tender to the touch in spots, I still say it was worth the try. But it didn't work.

My OB was able to get baby to turn 1/4 of a turn to the left or the right, but no more than that. And as soon as she stopped to check on baby's heart rate (every 2 minutes or so), baby would pop right back into her original position - head up and centered in my belly, right under my ribs. I guess you could say this little stinker will always be close to my heart ;-)

Baby was a trooper during the procedure, though. He heart rate stayed constant and she had no problems whatsoever. I had no complications, either. So that's a big praise - there was no need for an emergency c-section!

Unfortunately, there was no need to induce, either. And we opted out of having a c-section today. there's no point in making her come at 38 weeks if there's no benefit to it. So, after an hour of monitoring us both to be sure we were ok, they discharged me to go home. Without a baby in arms. But still in my belly.

Our OB has tentitively scheduled us for a c-section on Friday, the 23rd. She's still not confident I'll go that long, and warned me to be sure I get to the hospital early if I'm in labor. We're praying that baby will turn when she's ready to come out and we can avoid a c-section. But I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that it may be unavoidable.

The selfish side of me doesn't want to spend Christmas in the hospital, and that's what will happen if we have the baby on the 23rd by c-section (I'll stay thru the 26th, most likely). And recovering from a c-section when I'm about to get a house full of family will stink, cause I'll want to do more than I can. But, if it's what has to be, it's what has to be.

When I arrived at the hospital this morning, I was having slight contractions every 7 minutes. Soon it was every 3-5 minutes. And then it went to every 90 seconds or so - but that's when it stopped being regular. After the e-version, they monitored my contractions and when it was evident I was not in true labor, sent us home. I've had contractions off and on all day. So we went out for spicy Mexcian for dinner tonight, then walked the mall for 2 1/2 hours. Maybe that will help?? We'll keep trying to encourage labor to continue and keep praying that baby will turn in the process.

Sometime soon we'll meet "cake" - and she'll get a real name when we see her, too. Though lately the kids have decided against "cake". Nathan now likes the name Billy. And Faith likes "little sis". It sure will be interesting to see how they (and all of us) adjust when baby finally decides to join us.

She's certainly teaching us, already, that she has no plans to be like her big brother or sister in anyway. She's her own unique individual, and a stubborn one at that. And she's teaching us a ton about waiting on God's timing, and not trying to make our own plans. It's a very hard time of year to not make plans... maybe that's why God saw fit to teach us this lesson with baby #3. He's in control, and we know that full well. But it doesn't make it easy. But I'm so thankful we can trust Him and know that His plans are best and His will be done.

We'll let you know when something happens... hopefully sooner than later ;)