Breech like her Mama

partial 3D view of her face

I learned last week that when my mom was pregnant with me she found out I was laying sideways in her belly breech and that's the reason I was a C-Section baby.  I always assumed that because my brother Ryan was C-section, so was I.  I had no clue.  But like they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and unfortunately today Trey and I learned during my prenatal visit and ultrasound that Sophia is in the Frank Breech position in my belly (butt down, head and legs up like a jack knife).

So... looks like she'll be making a scheduled debut after all.  March 1st at 8 am is the date and time unless she turns herself around.  My doctor says there's about a 5 percent chance of that and he doesn't recommend versioning (a procedure to turn her that could lead to placental displacement, cord strangling, and an emergency c-section), so I'm not holding my breath.  Because I'm almost 37 weeks the protocol is to schedule a C-section and that's what the plan is now.  :(

To say I've been bummed all day would be an understatement.  I really really REALLY didn't want a C-section.  Sure, it sounds nice to avoid the fear and pain of labor but the risks to a C-section combined with the added recovery time and intense surgery I'm going to undergo (and the scar) all combine into a recipe for no fun at all.  I imagined having the baby and being able to hold her right away and just recover like most people do in a few weeks but now that plan has gone out the window and I'm having to adjust to this news.

I must say, I kinda had a feeling when the doctor at my last appointment scheduled the ultrasound because she couldn't tell which position the baby was in that this might be the case.  Over the last two weeks or so I've felt what seemed like a rock up above my belly button and was thinking it had to be the head, and sure enough it was.  Guess mom's intuition is always right. 

The doctor also said they schedule C-sections when they know you're breech at 39 weeks to try to avoid you going into labor naturally because of all the complications that can happen during delivery. So it's just crazy to think that now she'll be here in 17 days!!!

I guess the important thing is to make sure she comes out healthy and I always said I'd do whatever was necessary for a healthy delivery.  So if I needed a C-section, I was prepared for it.  I suppose it's better to know now, then to labor and then find out I need one.  God has a plan in mind so all I can do is trust everything will be ok.

In the meantime, because my doctor said my fluid level is normal but on the low end I'm supposed to be resting up and drinking plenty of water.  Bye Bye gym and swimming laps at the pool for now (though I was was lucky to make it once a week these days anyway).  But it also got me out of a training at the IRS next week (not too bad).

Too bad Trey and I just spent our entire day Saturday at a childbirth class to prepare for labor and delivery.  Just goes to show with a baby on the way, despite your best intentions to plan and prepare you can never know what's coming.   

I guess the positive is she'll be here even sooner than we thought and after seeing her cute little face in the 3D ultrasound today, I'm even more excited for her upcoming arrival!

36 weeks