Week 37

December 28, 2012

Picture taken at the very cold and windy Salt Flats on our way to Wendover

This week has been crazy! Calin & I got to see his family in Wendover on Christmas Eve. Uncle Greg made the BEST Christmas Eve dinner ever...prime rib, crab legs, stuffed mushrooms...need I say more? Super delicious & to top it off, we got to Skype with Grandma Shirley :)

(yes, we were photo bombed...check out our intruder between Calin & I)

We went to Temple Square Saturday & spent Christmas with my family and got to spend a relaxing day at home. The next day however, was quite unexpected.

Calin & I went to my scheduled Dr appointment and during our visit, we found out that Baby Dean had flipped on us. He was breeched. So, I was given my options:
1~ hope that he flips back (hardly ever happens this late in the game)
2~ schedule a C-Section for 39 weeks
3~ schedule an External Cephalic Version (50% success rate)

I chose number 3. During an ECV, they try to flip the baby back to a head down position from the outside. This would involve an IV and pain meds--an outpatient procedure.

December 27th we arrived at the hospital at 9:45 where I was promptly put into a gown that didn't quite cover my bum & an IV in my hand. While waiting for my 11:30 procedure, I watched Tangled and even caught a few zzzz's (the hospital bed was surprisingly quite comfy!)

Right on time, my wonderful doctor, Dr. Sok came in to do an ultrasound. Dean was still head down but his limbs were mostly tucked into his body-a very good sign. Dr. Sok had already attempted an ECV on one gal earleir that morning and it didn't work so, I was praying I would be the other 50% of the statistic success rate.

I had two doctors on my tummy and a nurse holding my hand. I started with no meds hoping I could withstand the pain but only a minute into the procedure I changed my mind.

I never looked to see how they were maneuvering Turtle but Calin got a front row view. He said that both doctors had their feet firmly planted on the floor and were using their entire bodies to push and pull my little man into a head down position. All I could see were tears. Not wanting to stop the process, I tried to breathe through the pain but I had to ask for a couple of short breaks.

Within 15 minutes, they had moved Dean back down into a head-down position-phewf. I was crying because of all the pain & relief that it worked.

Now, all we have to do is make sure he stays down there. All I have to go off of is old wive's tales because there is no medical solution to keep him in the right position. So, from now on, I'll be sitting on my exercise ball, doing the cat-cow yoga position 10 minutes a day and playing music on my belly where his head should be.