After trying everything under the sun to get my second breech baby to turn head down, I went to the hospital this morning for an ECV. A lot of people aren't familiar with this procedure, so I thought I'd relate my experience for family, friends and all the pregnant women out there who are researching their options.
My midwife advised me to spend the weekend and Monday drinking lots of water so that I would have plenty of amniotic fluid, which I did. I had my last meal and drink before bed last night on the off-chance baby wouldn't tolerate the procedure and I would need to have an emergency C-section.
At 8am, I checked into the labor and delivery ward at West Suburban Hospital. There, I was told to get naked under a hospital gown and pee in a cup. The nurses attached me to fetal and maternal monitors, took my temperature and blood pressure and drew some blood. I was also hooked up to an IV. After about an hour, the staff determined baby was happy and healthy and I was having a few mild contractions.
Dr. Tong ordered a shot of a uterine relaxant, which made my heart race (and undid the relaxed state I'd managed to get into by listening to my Hypnobirthing script), but Josh helpfully massaged me back to a calm state. Fifteen minutes later, Dr. Tong took a look at baby's position on an ultrasound. He predicted turning baby toward my right side would be most successful and they got started. Dr. Tong's hands did most of the pushing, pulling and prodding, with some assistance from Hillary, my midwife. Or so I'm guessing. I was focusing on relaxing my belly and breathing through the discomfort, which wasn't unbearable by any means--more like a really rough massage.
After every quarter turn, Dr. Tong would pause to check the head's position on the ultrasound and the baby's heart rate with the heart rate monitor. After a few checks, it became clear to all of us that this was really going to work. I opened my eyes and grinned at Josh through the last few motions.
Hillary and one of the nurses put on an abdominal binder (a post-natal support belt I'd purchased at Babies R Us) to help keep baby down, and Josh and I stuck around for an additional hour of monitoring.
As we were leaving, a nursing assistant said to me, "So, did baby turn?" I answered yes and she replied with, "Really? I've never seen one work before."
So that's it! We're keeping our fingers crossed that baby stays vertex and we're able to have the VBAC we've been hoping for.
8 comments:
Great- continued good luck keeping baby's head down! I can't wait to hear about my new cousin!
I have google alert me when anyone mentions a VBAC because I have a VBAC blog: VBACAdventure.com. When I read your post I was so happy for you! My first c-section was also due to breech presentation. Then at 32 weeks my 2nd was found to be breech as well. I did a lot of things to help turn the baby (webster technique with chiro, moxibustion, inversion). My doctor said they don't do the external version on VBAC moms, so I knew that was out of the question. Thankfully, at my 35 week appointment my baby was found to be head down. YAY!!!!! I have about 1 week to go now and the baby hasn't moved. It looks like both of us breech mamas will get our VBACs :)
Congrats on the vertex babe!!! I hope all goes well for you. F keeps me updated on your status. Can't wait to hear about your little girl and how Z handles it all. Life with 2 here isn't so bad - much easier than I expected actually. Oh, and we have the Bill & Ted's e3 in lime. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Spend the money. You won't regret it.
- Christine
(F's friend from VA and now in OR)
Way to go! I'll keep everything crossed that your baby stays head down.
You're welcome to come back to the pool for handstands, just in case!
Nancy
Congrats Alma! I'm thinking of you and baby girl even though I am 7500 ft and can barely breathe.
I was talking to Grandma Marge and she said that BOTH her kids were breech but had been delivered vaginally. I guess that's a talent that obstetricians have lost, given that the option of C-Section delivery is safer than it was when your father was born.
Glad that the ECV worked, even though it means that I don't know exactly when I will need to fly to Chicago!
Love,
Mom
I hope the baby stayed head down! I came across your post because I was searching for info on the abdominal binder. I, too, had a successful external version, and was told to wear the abdominal binder everywhere except in the shower. I find it extremely uncomfortable -- itchy and very hot and, not surprisingly, constricting -- and am wondering how often doctors recommend it and whether it really works. I don't know if you're still reading these posts, but if so, can you tell me how long you wore yours? How wide was it -- 3 inches or something that covered your entire abdomen, for example? Thanks.
Thanks for share this awesome stuff with us! you did an amazing work seriously! keep on workin' in your blog!
Post a Comment