Turn, baby, turn

So last week I had a doctor appointment.  I took in my gender ultrasound picture and said I doubted the picture.  The doctor said she was sure the baby was a girl but that we could have a quick ultrasound just to check for sure.  I was excited for the opportunity to see my baby again.

Two good things I found out: our baby is definitely a girl, and she has hair!  (It was waving around in the amniotic fluid!)

What I also learned is my baby is a stinker!

This little girl has herself in a breech position with her feet up by her face.  I've suspected for awhile that she was breech, but the doctor said they don't check baby's position until 36 weeks.  I suppose at 34 weeks they do not consider it a big deal.

Hmmm...

So I sort of consider it a big deal, even if I am only 34 weeks (now 35).  I've never had a c-section, and my last two kiddos were born naturally and drug-free.  My biggest concern with adding this little one to our family was how I would manage all the responsibilities I already have (dealing with homework, preschoolers, and getting dinner ready at the same time being the main one) whilc having a newborn who would inevitably need to eat at the same time.  How does that work when also recovering from major abdominal surgery??

I'm not so much of a "wait and see" sort of person when it comes to this kind of stuff so I immediately googled "breech baby" and got all sorts of suggestions on what to do.  I think the first night I tried most of the ideas: standing on my head (more or less), laying upside down on an ironing board, massaging my belly in a clockwise direction, talking to the baby to tell her to turn, and visualizing the baby turning.  I also cried and watch breech c-sections on you tube (not recommended!).  The next day I made an appointment with a chiropractor, laid on the ironing board again, crawled around on my hands and knees, stood on my head a few times--lots of fun. 

After stressing about it and giving lots of thought (and effort), I finally feel a sense of peace about the whole situation.  I'm still standing on my head a few times a day and rocking on my hands and knees.  I'm still massaging my belly and telling the baby to turn.  However, I'm also praying and trusting that if the God of the universe wants my baby to turn, she'll turn.  I am still uncertain of how I'll handle my kiddos after surgery (if it comes down to it), but we'll figure it out.

Opening the envelope



A few months ago when we had the ultrasound, we couldn't decide if we wanted to find out the gender of our baby or not, so we had the tech put the baby's gender picture in an envelope.  That way, if we wanted to find out, we could.  It's been sitting in the unopened envelope ever since.

Until a week ago...

Ryan's grandma was diagnosed with kidney cancer in October and has lately been experiencing seizure-like episodes.  We decided to go up and see her and his grandpa and, if she was feeling good, to open the envelope so we could celebrate the gender with them.  It was fun because Ryan's parents, uncle, and sisters were also there.  As she opened the envelope, everyone waited in anticipation.  The writing on the ultrasound was so small that Ryan actually had to look at it and announce it to everyone. 

It's a GIRL!!

I have to admit that I am thrilled that the baby is a girl.  I've been thinking ever since the very first time I saw our little one on the ultrasound (at 8 weeks) that she's a girl.  Yay for more pink, more baby dolls, and (hopefully) less bathroom humor.