Spring is in the Air
Fresh cool air and sweet smells of spring flowers flowed over us. Enveloped in this sea of people, we streamed in rhythm of the converging currents of pedestrian traffic. The evening crowds were out enjoying leisurely walks by the water’s edge or meandering the sidewalk boasting a broad selection of delicacies with spectacular sunset views of the Puget Sound. Alki in West Seattle was full of hustle and bustle.
As my husband and I walked hand in hand, something made me jolt into a little jump, which was not so easy being almost 40 pounds heavier than normal. It wasn’t someone bumping into me on the tightly packed sidewalk. It wasn’t my husband giving an extra squeeze to my hand. It wasn’t anything anyone else could know about, except the jostling little being inside me.
May 2016 Hill Walking in West Seattle Enjoying Spring
End of the Third Trimester
In the midst of the third trimester of my pregnancy, our daughter was bigger, more active, and tipping me into the "immensely uncomfortable in my own skin" category. From within, little body parts regularly surged themselves outward. This protective baby bubble oasis was starting to get a little cramped, for us both. I felt like my stretching would soon yield to a mass explosion right out of my stomach.
Fortunately, pregnancy is gradual. There is time to adjust and surrender to the excessive expansion into this new hippopotamus feeling. Although I was feeling stretched and weighted down to a new degree of awkward, I was utterly grateful for the gift of life to develop a little human inside me. It is a divine experience and I felt like Superwoman, regardless of my outer appearance.
There is it again. Wow! A tickle in my cervix from deep inside. What a crazy feeling! I was certain it was one of my daughter’s hands wiggling around. It was such an odd feeling, a miniature set of digits navigating her liquid oasis and making contact with the sensitive gateway through which she would very soon transition.
Ultrasound
I spent copious time researching the effects of ultra sounds on fetus growth and I was not a huge fan of having one. Even though it’s a standard procedure commonly used, the fact remains that ultrasound energy of high frequency sound waves can potentially cause destructive heating within microscopic bubbles in the body of the unborn child with potential biological risks.
Because of my age and the historical potential of challenges, it was recommended. Our first and hopefully only ultra sound showed a healthy baby girl sitting upright in my womb, a happy breech baby with plenty of time to move. We were thrilled, especially as a woman getting pregnant naturally at 42. Hence, we started to share the news, which clearly explained why a fit person like myself was starting to plump up in the belly, booty, and boobs.
May 2016 Post Version Walking Exercise in West Seattle
May 2nd Surprise
Our due date was May 29th. The countdown is on! What do we have here? A reality check! My midwifery checkup appointment revealed a concerning issue at hand. The bulge projecting out uncomfortably from under my right rib appeared to be my daughter's head, not her bottom. What we thought was the culprit to my internal tickling seemed to possibly be my daughter's toes, not her fingers. Against my preferences, another ultrasound was recommended.
Sure enough the ultrasound showed my daughter in a diagonal breech position with her spine pushing up into my stomach and ribs, hence my uncomfortable predicament.
37th Week Hustling
Time was running out. Copious research ensued, thanks to the suggestions from my midwifery. How can I get this bundle of joy turned in my quest to give us both a natural vaginal birth? In my heart, and in my birth plan, I ultimately wanted a natural birth, and to avoid a cesarean (C-section). Delving in I learned about the benefits and ways in which babies can be spun around through acupuncture, chiropractic work, and external cephalic versions. Bring it all on!
I immediately scheduled an external cephalic version procedure. While waiting for the version, I got busy with other options. My first attempt to inspire spontaneous movement of my daughter into the appropriate head down position involving acupuncture entwined with yoga like postures. My daughter, however, was steadfast in her comfortable position.
I next visited a chiropractor for an initial assessment. Hastening my efforts I also embraced the talents of yet another acupuncturist for a moxibustion session, a traditional Chinese medicine technique using dried mugwart that is burned close to the skin to stimulate the body. This kind of therapy is usually administered over a few weeks' time, of which we no longer had, to trigger spontaneous movement. I was happy to try all these natural options in pursuit to send the message to my daughter that her participation in rotating would be greatly appreciated.
At the Hospital for my External Cephalic Version
The External Cephalic Version
On May 10th 2016, I finally came face to face with my final option, an external cephalic version. It had been many years since entering the unfamiliar and uncomfortable hospital environment, hence my anxiousness, and a spike in blood pressure developed. Thank goodness I also had a friend with me for additional support.
Once settled in my room, a fetal heart monitor was strapped on my belly to observe my daughter's heart rate, movements and my uterine activity. In effort to reduce my stress, my doctor being sensitive to my home birth and natural birth interests, was dressed in street clothes. She explained the procedure and the need to use the drug terbutaline to relax my uterus allowing space for the doctor the maneuver my little cherub into the right position. She noted I also had an abundance of ambiotic fluid which should be to our advantage.
And so commenced the worst “massage” I have ever endured. What usually takes one or two simple attempts, took four excruciatingly painful maneuvers. On the first three exhausting attempts my daughter kept springing back into her original position. I can only imagine the disruption this was causing her.
The Details
My doctor would start by pushing deep into my skin with no lubrication so to obtain good grip. She pushed my daughters feet upward counter clockwise toward my rib cage. My internal organs were crushing under the force and I felt as if any bodily function may ensue whether throwing up, urinating, or releasing my colon, and possibly in unison.
Next the doctor pushed my daughter's head down also counter clockwise toward my pelvis. Sadly, it just wasn't working. By the end of round three, my doctor was physically exhausted, as was I, primarily from enduring the pain. Each attempt I worked with deep yoga breathing to get me through.
Additionally, I was stunned by the involuntary muscle spasms the terbutaline had on my arms and legs, in combination with the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Even though the terbutaline relaxed the smooth muscles of my uterus, it simultaneously triggered the fight or flight response elsewhere, so I was both relaxed and triggered in different areas at the same time. Flapping around like a fish out of water, I found it hard to keep calm while maintaining yogic breathing.
After the third attempt, my doctor said she had probably one more try in her. Seeing my pain, she asked if I was willing to proceed one more time. Without hesitation and through the pain, I agreed. I didn't get this far and go through so much to give up and have to schedule a cesarean.
One More Try
The doctor, calling on the attending nurse to get involved this time, gave it one more try. The nurse wedged her hands through my skin and under my daughter's feet and legs to hold them in place after the doctor had slid them into place. The doctor then moved my daughter's head into the cradle of my hips and held her gently while we as a team held our positions after the surge of energy.
Reviewing our experience, the doctor speculated our challenge may have actually come from a combination of my abundance of amniotic fluid in tandem with the drugs relaxing my uterus. Perhaps there was just too much room. With the drug wearing off and my uterine walls contracting, the forth attempt afforded us a different scenerio and success forthwith.
The doctor used an ultrasound to check the fetal position while emitting a celebratory smile seeing my daughter's head nest comfortably in my pelvis. My belly skin was scoured raw, yet mission accomplished. Natural birth, here we come!
Choices
It takes less usually than 10-15 min for a doctor to perform a c-section. Recovery, however, takes much more time than natural childbirth since the body needs to recover from the incisions. The process also bypasses an infant's gift of collecting immune supporting bacteria while passing through the birth canal. On an energetic level, traveling through the birth canal is a rite of passage.
From my research, it was important to provide both myself and my child a natural birth experience in support of our holistic well being. Many women willingly schedule a cesarean, while many do it because it does happen to be the safest route for their situation. My belief is that if you can have a natural birth, please do it for the long term health of your child.
Getting Settled
Before departing the hospital after this enduring version, it was essential to confirm both mother and child were in a healthy state to leave. My blood pressure was still a concern and my daughter wasn't moving as much as the doctor preferred seeing. Normally a two hour visit for the entire experience took a total of seven hours after all the work and recovery. Although my daughter's heart rate was normal, we waited patiently until she recovered from the manipulating invasion.
May 2016 After the Version Enjoying Walks in West Seattle
A Fourth Ultrasound
Unfortunately, I had to yet again get another ultrasound to check on my daughter one more time before our due date. I was having contractions 5 minutes apart, so my body was transitioning into labor preparations.
Due date was estimated at May 29th, yet many people inferred that first timer babies often arrive up to two weeks late. Feeling my contractions and with the efforts of my active hill walking exercise to usher this baby out, we welcomed our daughter into the world on May 27th. Labor was yet another experience, another story. Stay tuned.
We’re in this Together
Every single pregnancy and labor is like a finger print, utterly unique. We can share and learn from each other's experiences so that we may offer possibilities, ideas, connection, and care for each of us who are involved in any way in the experience of childbirth.
There is no perfect way to do it and ultimately we must make the best choices, sometimes choosing a drug or procedure outside of our preferences, but for the safety of mother and baby. In my case, I wanted a 100% natural birth, yet I had to make some allowances in order to accomplish that goal. I am grateful the research, science, and expertise is available to support complications when they arise.
As I write this, I met a wonderful lady who shared with me that she did have major complications and ended up having a very early premie baby, around 28 weeks, and 2 1/2 pounds. Thanks to years of modern science and care, this delightful little girl is now almost eight and loving her life.
What is a pivotal memory from pregnancy in your life you're open to sharing?
With Love,
Brit-Simone
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