We had to really scramble to prep for this ECV. The success rate is around 50-60% .The failure outcome is usually that the baby won't turn head down. There is a slight and minimal risk of cord issues, placental tears, or uterine ruptures which force moms to undergo emergency c-sections on the spot. We planned for the c-section, hoped for the version, and assumed she wouldn't budge. Packing up everything for myself and for my son to go to his uncle's house was stressful. My husband did most of the work since I was tired and stressed out. I was trying to hurry up and finish crocheting my daughter's baby blanket since we intend to use it for her hospital pictures. So, I was crocheting away while my husband was collecting things. Our son has never been outside our care overnight (much less 4 days), so it was hard trying to figure out what he needed.
We dropped our son off and headed to the hospital. I delivered my son in the same labor & delivery 14 months ago, so it was surreal being back. The sights and sounds and smells totally hit my senses. I didn't feel ready to deliver my daughter at all. They hooked me up to a monitor and it was so nice hearing her heart beat and movements. My husband actually got up to use the restroom and her heart rate jumped from 140 to 170. I told him she didn't like when he left. He added that neither me nor my son like when he leaves. It's true. We're all dependent on him now. Ha!
The nurse I received was extremely loud. I think she liked to hear herself talk. She walked in with another woman and introduced her as a student. I do not want to be a guinea pig nor do I want an audience. I didn't speak up to tell her so, but my anxiety went up. She had to start an IV in my arm in the off-chance I needed a c-section. I pass out with the sight of veins/blood/guts, so I made sure to look away and out the window. Instead of recognizing the signs I gave of feeling uncomfortable, the nurse just went on explaining what she was doing. The last thing I want to hear is what my veins look like or how they perform. Both women commented on how big and juicy my vein was. She mentioned how I had a roller and talked to my vein like it was a person. I was trying my best not to picture anything, but my imagination is very vivid. I just wanted her to shut up. She finally got the IV in and left me alone. By then, my other hand was wet with sweat. After an hour total of monitoring and waiting, my doctor finally arrived.
I love my OBGYN. She seems really down to earth but cool at the same time. I don't want anyone overly professional or overly maternal. She is the perfect lady-doc for me. With the use of an u/s machine, we discovered that Baby V was slightly diagonal. Looking down at my belly, her head was closer to a 9 o'clock position. Breech would be 6 o'clock, and head down would be 12 o'clock. Since she was facing 6 o'clock, my doc had to attempt to turn her 3/4 turn towards my cervix using her butt/spine/head. Trying to push her backwards 1/4 turn would have been technically easier, but it's not a good idea pushing backwards on the head of a baby.
So, she pushed forwards. I was told I would get a uterine relaxer and saw it sitting on the table, but it was never administered. I had researched and found that some moms were given pain killers, and I wasn't even offered it. Truthfully, I didn't want painkillers, but I certainly thought they would use the terbutaline on my uterus. I had my husband secretly record the entire procedure using my cell phone. I was flat on my back and wanted to look back to see how things really looked. She tried and tried to move Baby V. Baby V made it to 6 o'clock pretty easily. My doc tried harder and got her to 3 o'clock, but Baby V would instantly swing her head back into breech position. With one final attempt, it was determined that she wasn't going any further. My ECV failed. I stayed there another 30 minutes for monitoring, and the heart rate monitor kept losing signal. Baby V was wiggling around and moving away from the sensor. That 30 minutes was scary because she didn't kick much and we had to keep searching for her heart beat. I think she was in a bit of shock from being moved. We were released soon after.
I'm not completely disappointed in the failure. Since she was sort of stuck in my side, it was nice to get her up and down. Transverse c-sections are a bit more difficult than any other angle because it's hard to get them out through the cut. Also, now that she's been moved, I'm hoping she realizes there's more moving to be done. She doesn't have to stay in one position anymore. I found a local Webster Technique Certified Chiropractor and will be visiting her tomorrow morning. The Webster Technique has been found to help breech babies move head down by adjusting and aligning a mother's pelvic bones. I have pretty bad lower back pain, so it would be nice to get things straightened out even if she doesn't flip. If she's breech BECAUSE of my back issues, this would really help get her moving. I'm looking forward to going.
In the meantime, I've scheduled my c-section. I'm researching c-sections and getting helpful tips and advice from friends and strangers. The biggest cause of stress to me is the unknown. Depending on what happens, I have to drastically change plans for my son's care.
If Baby V flips before my c-section, I will want a vaginal birth. I would like to induce it as well. If I go vaginally, I will only be needing childcare for 2-3 days with my son. If Baby V doesn't flip and I need a c-section, I will need someone to care for him for 3-5 days. My brother and his wife have volunteered to watch my son, but they are hoping for some dates. They don't have kids and have very little experience with my son, but I know they will be great. My in-laws are amazing with kids and will now be flying out here to arrive 1 day before my c-section. They will stay at our home with our son while we go in for the c-section. I haven't told my brother yet because I don't want our secret scheduled date to get loose among my family members. Next Wednesday, I will try and beg my doctor to adjust my c-section date two days earlier because I would like to have Baby V on St. Patty's Day. She told me she couldn't do it because I would be 1 day short of 39 weeks, but she seemed like she could be swayed. The nurses in my l&d room immediately started telling me that they refuse c-sections before 39 weeks, so my doctor dropped it. I want to see if she can adjust my due date 1 day earlier in the system to accommodate the holiday c-section. At that point, the two nurses I had will have forgotten all about me. Since I may be able to change my c-section date, I don't want to tell my brother the current date. My in-laws have already purchased airfare, so they would be flying in 2 days after my c-section. This would require my brother to watch my son for 2 days and then my in-laws to watch him the rest. It's all totally confusing and stressful for me.
If I can get Baby V to flip on her own, I'm going to try nipple stimulation and extra exercise to get her coming sooner. I honestly just want a crystal ball to tell me how things are going to play out. It is so much harder trying to plan for a secret birth when we have a child who needs to be watched. I'm fairly certain my in-laws and my brother will both release our secret to someone else beforehand. It really bothers me that our big baby news is something that can't be kept private, but I know them both too well. It'll be a big game of, "Don't tell anyone since it's a secret, but their c-section is scheduled for 3/19!!" So, we'll have a bunch of family members telling each other not to tell anyone.
I know I'm over-analyzing. I know I'm jumping to conclusions. I know I'm getting myself more stressed out. It's impossible to avoid. I think about this stuff all day and night. My husband is busy working and trying to help out when he's home. He's not as stressed out about this stuff. His lack of input is actually making me feel worse. I'm worried, and I want someone else to worry more. I want help figuring this out.
