34 weeks 1 day
A bit less swelling (yay), lots of fetal movement, and yesterday was my (hopefully)final ultrasound.
My amniotic fluid is at normal levels. Splodge's heartbeat continues a pace at the high end of normal frequency. Splodge is practically bang on the median for average-weight babies (textbook pregnancy is textbook. It amuses me to say this). Splodge DEFINITELY has hair - thick enough we could clearly see the aureole of it around hir head! That's exciting. I wonder if it will be red like Daddy's hair at birth, or black like Mama's was (though hers subsequently fell out and grew in again very red)?
There is, however, une petite probleme:
Splodge is breech (arse-down).
And not only is s/he bum-down, but s/he is also training to be the amazing gymnast baby STILL; s/he had a foot up over hir head, and one hand under hir bum.
The ultrasound tech was loathe to say it to me, but I looked at her face and knew.
"That means a c-section, doesn't it?"
Babies CAN move, and the midwives at the hospital do practice baby rotation (they try to move the baby round by leaning on my tummy) so there's hope, but the likelihood is that Splodge doesn't have much room TO move. Not to mention the fact s/he seems to be favouring the pretzel position.
So just as I've gotten my head around the idea of birth, I'm now trying to accept with equanimity the idea that I'm most likely going to have to undergo major abdominal surgery. I think I can deal with the surgery itself; I won't have to see them cutting me apart, Fairy can keep me distracted and from panicking during that ohso exciting part (Nooo, I don't watch any medical tv shows, why do you ask? heh), and I'll still be able to see Splodge the moment s/he is born. I won't run the risk of tearing myself apart, myself or Splodge dying in childbirth either. Yay modern medicine. :)
But the recovery time is LONG. It's supposed to be difficult to even sit up in bed unassisted for several weeks, and having a c-section instead of having the hormones released during birth can mean more difficulties breastfeeding.
I've got a few weeks to get my head around this and discuss options with my midwife (and poke and talk to baby about how important it is for hir to get hir head down and feet UP). So, fingers crossed that Splodge is cheeky and likes to freak Mama out, but will behave hirself eventually!