Full Term!

Now that the time has come for my pregnancy to be over, I'm starting to feel like it just began.  I remember when I first found out and how surreal it all felt.  Now, I know there will be a baby in this house in less than three weeks.  I couldn't wait for people to start noticing my belly and now there is no way to avoid it (and my massive belly button).

We met with the doctor this past week for my 37 week appointment and the baby is still breech.  While it took time, I came to terms with the fact that the baby will be delivered c-section.  NOTE: Please don't tell me that people do it all the time...I know that.  And if you tell me it is for the best, I will be inclined to quit talking to you.  That is one phrase that I never want to hear again after this pregnancy.  Imagine prepping for a new job for 9 months...you read all the manuals, watch the videos, and train your body.  Then you get in there the first day and they tell you that you won't be doing the job you prepared for.  Yes, you still get the same outcome (a new job and a salary), but you can't help but be disappointed.  That is how I feel.  Regardless, Kevin and I will be having a baby, but it just isn't the way that we pictured it.

There is a small chance that the baby can turn, but I am running out of room.  Also, factor in that I have a bicornuate uterus and the chances go down.  The baby has started to drop so instead of the head engaging (like in most cases), the feet are resting in my pelvis.  The great news is that the head is no longer right up against my ribcage, which is such a relief.  My heartburn has greatly decreased and I can breathe so much easier.

Unfortunately, I am still gaining weight.  And now it is water weight.  My ankles are cankles, my fingers and toes are little sausages, and I have even noticed my face is puffier.  I'm following everything they say to do to avoid edema, but it isn't working.  Just another glamorous symptom of pregnancy.

Everything in the apartment is ready.  We have the diapers stocked (we should be good for 3-4 weeks) and we have wipes (or cotton squares since we aren't using wipes).  The clothes are washed and the crib (pack and play) is set up.  I did some serious cleaning the other day and Kevin did all the laundry.  We'll still have to do some things here and there, but if the baby comes tomorrow, we are prepared.

We both got our hair cut and I managed to shave my legs this week (let me tell you, it isn't easy).  Kevin does need to paint my toenails because that is one task that I cannot do without pulling something and he is a good sport to help me out.  We've almost decided on names.  We have it narrowed down to two for a girl and two for a boy.  I think it might come down to deciding once the baby is born.

Since Operation Turn Baby Reiter was a bust, I have now moved on to Operation Get Baby Reiter Out.  I'm hoping to go into labor naturally and avoid a scheduled c-section.  I'm bouncing around on my birthing ball, eating fresh pineapple, taking my vitamins, and drinking my teas to help move things along.  Fingers crossed Baby Reiter makes an appearance before my next appointment on March 4.

Here are the last three weeks of my pregnancy pictures.  These could be the last ones.

Just got back from my hair appointment so Baby Reiter isn't embarrassed of his/her Mommy. 

Next year, Daddy will have two Valentines.

FULL TERM!  We are so close! 

Operation Turn Baby Reiter

I decided in this third trimester that I may not be one of those women who love being pregnant.  This probably has to do with the fact that my first and second trimesters were a breeze and now I'm starting to suffer.  The heartburn, difficulty breathing, and constantly being uncomfortable are breaking me down.  I'm always hungry...I don't mind the eating, it's the gaining weight that I have a problem with.  And on top of all of this, I am stressing out because Baby Reiter will not turn.  He/she has been breech my entire pregnancy and I'm worried this will never change. 

At my 24 week appointment, the doctor discovered my uterus was mildly heart shaped.  I got put on a magnesium supplement in order to relax it.  At my 28 week appointment, a different doctor (you don't always see the same one) informed me that the baby was breech and this was the time for him/her to turn.  I started doing some exercises at home to hopefully turn the baby, but nothing worked.

Well, at my 32 week appointment (2 weeks ago), I had a sonogram and sure enough, the baby is still breech.  The head is under my right ribcage, one arm is punching me in the left side, and the feet are kicking at the bottom of my belly.  We asked the doctor if she thought the baby would turn and before she even answered, we could tell by the look on her face that the news wasn't going to be what we wanted.  While many babies do turn after 32 weeks, she isn't optimistic about Baby Reiter turning because of the shape of my uterus and my small stature.  We asked what we could do, but she said there is nothing.

My entire pregnancy, I have prepped myself for a natural labor and delivery.  I've read books and watched videos.  I knew I didn't want the drugs and ultimately decided on having a water birth.  In my mind, I knew the pain was going to be excruciating, but this is the experience that I decided I wanted.  A breech baby definitely changes that plan. 

I'm willing to try anything at this point (unless it requires the use of drugs) to turn the baby so I can go forward with my plan.  I've Googled for weeks now and have been busy with many of the exercises already.  I'm putting cold on the baby's head and heat on the feet.  I'm laying at an incline.  And now I'm into the serious exercises where you combine everything...heat, cold, incline.  A few days ago I read that peppermint oil can be used to turn a breech baby so now I'm searching for it.  Apparently, they don't like it so they try to turn away from it.  I'm going to slather it all over that baby's head and hope for the best.

Operation Turn Baby Reiter is in full effect, as of today.  I'll keep you all posted and maybe even treat you to a few pics of the inversion or breech baby tilt.