My External Cephalic Version

I had my external version this morning. I went in fearing the worst - expecting a lot of pain and/or discomfort and dreading the doctor not being able to turn her. However, it went better than I expected.

I had my ultrasound at 9 and everything looked great with the baby - she's estimated at 6lb 15oz and I had plenty of fluid, so they sent me over the hospital. Once there they hooked me up for an NST and gave me an IV lock "just in case".

The doc came in and did an ultrasound to see which way she was facing then the nurse gave me a shot of terbutaline in the back of my arm to help relax my uterus since I was having minor, non-painful contractions and the tightening would make it tough to move the baby. The doctor gave the baby a few practice pushes and said I have really tight ab muscles - pretty good for not working out since I had my daughter, ha ha ha!

Then she started nudging her head to the left, went to push up on her butt and the baby immediately popped her head back over to the middle of my tummy above my belly button. So she checked her position again. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths and she started nudging her again and I felt her butt pop out of my pelvis and over my hip line, then as soon as the doc got her head below the level of my belly button it just kind of popped down into my pelvis! It was so fast I couldn't believe it - seriously less than 2 minutes and pain free! It was uncomfortable but seriously that was from the doctor's bony fingers digging into my skin and her nails scratching me (and she had short nails!) - I still have scratch marks on my tummy but not bad ones. The terbutaline shot hurt more.

After she was head down the doc checked her again on ultrasound to confirm her position and everything looked good. I was hooked back up to the monitors and her heartbeat was great. The doctor was very happy with how we were both doing and then left while I was monitored for an hour. When the nurse came to set me free I was given a belly binder to help keep the baby in place so I'm keeping my fingers crossed she doesn't try to spin around again.

Before the doctor left though she said something to me that really boosted my confidence. She said she believes I'll get my VBAC because I'm so determined and that it was that determination that convinced her to agree to doing the version because prior to meeting with me she wasn't sure if she would do it. Then she gave me a hug and wished me luck, saying she hopes she's in the hospital when I show up in labor.

The Meeting and Informed Consent

The meeting went better than expected - though it was a bit brutal. The OB I met with is the one who will doing my version on Wednesday and she said she's never done one on a VBAC mom before but only because most women opt to go with a repeat c-section. But she did agree to do it!!!!! Whew!!!!!

She then asked what happened with my first c-section and why I wanted a VBAC. When I told her she said my reasons are understandable and then the meeting pretty much turned into an "Informed Consent" meeting for my VBAC. She pulled out their VBAC consent form which basically outlines ALL the risks involved. Let me just say, I totally understand why many prior c-section moms opt out of the VBAC after this meeting!!!!! It was BRUTAL! She was never rude to me nor did she ever talk down to me and even though I know all the risks since I've done a ton of research, it was hard to hear her talk about baby death and uterine rupture. I never felt like she was trying to scare me but it's hard stuff to hear when you're almost 37 weeks pregnant. I told her I understood why she had to go over all the info and respected it but I was sure a VBAC is best for me - she visibly relaxed when I said that, I got the feeling she's had some bad experiences with other moms before during meetings like this. I told her I had to weigh the risks and benefits for myself and absolutely still want the option, and then I signed their form.

And I'd like to say it irritates the crap out of me that the form barely mentioned the risks involved with a repeat c-section - there was like one thing that said something like a "repeat c-section has more risk for the mom" but basically it's glossed over. It's no wonder many women say no to the VBAC but sign right up for the c-section - the risks are barely discussed!

At that point she offered to do my version today which shocked me! But since we had our daughter with us (and she was already getting tired and cranky) I told her I could wait until Wednesday since it's already scheduled then. She told me to continue doing the positions I'm doing and said I should consider acupuncture as well (which shocked me because my husband is very opposed to non-traditional medicine so I'm not used to that attitude in a doc). Before we left she felt my stomach and felt the baby's head right above my belly button which is where I thought it was because I had been rubbing it during the meeting!

My only worry now is the baby won't turn because they don't deliver breech babies which means I'll need to find another doc or schedule a c-section (or have a c-section if she's still breech when I go into labor - which is the route I'd like to take). I've already started looking around for a doc who will deliver a breech baby but I'm not 100% sure I want to go that route. So I'm off to lay upside down some more.

Wondering if I'll get my version.

I'm so upset, discouraged and annoyed right now. As of Monday this baby was still breech and since I spent the weekend having lots of Braxton Hicks and some cramping the OB I saw wanted to schedule me for a version sooner rather than later. So I was scheduled for next Monday - I ended up changing that to Wednesday so my husband could go with me. Everything seemed to be a go and all good.

Until this afternoon.

I got a phone call from a nurse at their office who said the docs had their group meeting today and I was one of the "cases" (I just love how I'm a case now) they discussed. Apparently all the OBs aren't on board with doing a version on me since I'm also a prior c-section mom. They want me to come in and have a "meeting" with them. It couldn't seem more ominous to me. I asked when and she said any time I can make it - really? So then I'm thinking it must be pretty serious if a doctor can meet with me anytime it's convenient FOR ME. We're going tomorrow morning to Tucson for this meeting at 9am. I pretty much demanded that my husband go with me because I figured he could get around all their medical mumbo jumbo especially if trying to scare me into a scheduled c-section

Can I just say I'm freaking out? I dread them trying to talk me into a scheduled c-section. They might as well save their breath because the only way I'm having another c-section is if it's medically necessary. Only 4% of babies are still breech at the time of delivery (spontaneous labor anyway) so I'd rather take my chances of going into labor and seeing if she's still breech before signing up for major surgery, no thanks. My c-section with my daughter was a freaking nightmare that I don't intend to ever repeat.

Did I mention I'm freaking out? I'm already stressed that she's still breech and now this "meeting" has me completely upset.

36 weeks . . . still breech

I had my 36w appointment this morning and of course she's still breech. Friday and Saturday night she was super active and kept me up, so Saturday night I stayed up until midnight until she calmed down. I really thought she had turned at least transverse but no, she's still breech, butt in my pelvis, legs crossed.

I told the doctor about the cramps and Braxton Hicks I had over the weekend - I had them all day yesterday. He seemed concerned and didn't want to wait until next week to schedule a version. He wanted to send me to Tucson for the version this Friday but I'll only be 36w 6d and the doctor he talked to at their main office thought it would be better to wait until Monday. They scheduled me for an in depth ultrasound (to check her size, position, location of the umbilical cord, etc.) and if she's still breech they will do an NST and then send me over to the hospital for the version if all looks good. Since my husband can't go Monday I'm now trying to change it to Wednesday because I really don't want to go alone - especially since there's a small chance it could cause me to go into labor. I've done my research and know the risks are super low of anything bad happening, there's more risk in having a repeat c-section,(and the reversion rate is very low after 37 weeks) but I'm still not too excited to get this done - it sounds uncomfortable to have them pressing on my tummy and getting her to turn.

Thankfully I already found a friend who said she'd watch my daughter while I go up to Tucson - the doc said it could take several hours.

So everyday this week I'll be doing breech tilts and inversions hoping she turns. Ugh. Turn baby turn!!!