Thursday, January 17, 2008

Bun the Amazing Acrobatic Baby

I had my last ultrasound in the perinatology department today, and I will be honest when I say that I will probably not miss the appointments very much.

I know that I am not supposed to bring my children with me to my appointments in perinatology, mainly because most of the patients there tend to be dealing with some pretty scary conditions that will brook no intrusion or interruption from an older sibling. Or two.

I also know that every single time I have gone in, after meticulously arranging childcare and ensuring that protocol was being followed, I have been met by children in the waiting room. And the hallways. And in strollers, peeking out of exam rooms. And in the arms of the office staff.

I have never been the kind of person to assume that rules don't apply to me; in fact, I am a stickler for (most) rules. Prepare yourself for my fearsome Hairy Eyeball if you dare to get in the Express Lane with more than ten items. Sounds harsh, but what I am saying is that I am no scofflaw.

However, for various reasons, I had to bring Sally with me today. I had found a place for the older two, but I knew Rob was going to meet me at the office and he would be able to hold Sally for the entire time. Plus, and I am totally bragging when I say this, but Sally is a champion waiter. I think it stems from spending most of her life in the waiting rooms at Pediatric Rehab while Fiver is getting his therapy. She just seems to know how to handle doctor's offices. (Which is more than I can say for my eight year old, who supposedly should be able to occupy herself.)

We met up with Rob, who was still in his scrubs and white coat from an early morning delivery, and when we were called back, he picked up Sally and we all walked through the door. The ultrasound tech, who was all smiles and sweet as pie when she called me, stopped and said:
Are you allowed to bring her? Because you are not supposed to have kids with you.

Usually I am an over-apologizer, but I surprised myself when I practically shrugged and told the woman the truth. I didn't have anyone to watch her, and her father would be holding her. I should have added: Thank your lucky stars I didn't bring the other two.

She gave us the stink-eye, and then punished us by leaving us in a room. I'm sure it was so that we could think about what we had done and how we would never, ever do such a thing again. At least that's what I hope my kids are doing when I send them to their rooms.

A different tech came in to do the ultrasound, and she really was sweet as pie. She didn't seem to mind Sally in the least, and even complimented her several times. To Sally's credit, she did have some lovely behavior for an 18 month old.

Bun's behavior, on the other hand, left some things to be desired. While I am glad to say that Bun is no longer in a transverse/oblique position, we are still not completely in the clear.

First of all, I still have too much amniotic fluid. My level is not as high as it had been at my previous appointment, but it is still on the very high end of normal. I am apparently holding back a body of water the size of the Great Salt Lake, and it seems to make everyone nervous. Like I might spring a leak or, even worse, just explode on them.

What concerns me even more than all the fluid, is that Bun is still not really in the right spot. This child must be a contortionist of side-show freak proportions because, as of this afternoon, he/she is head down, but still has a foot on top of the head that is actually presenting first.

I guess Bun wants to hit the ground running -- probably figures he/she has to after listening to the shenanigans in this house for nine months.

Plus, the estimated weight right now, with three more weeks to go, is seven pounds, seven ounces. Bun has been busy bulking up in preparation for life with the other three.

Of course, that's just an estimate, and it can be wrong by as much as a pound either way. Rob and I share a gut feeling that Bun is probably not quite as big as the estimate, simply because of all the dramatic position changes. I know the extra fluid allows for more movement, but if Bun was really a Paul Bunyan sized kid, there just wouldn't be enough room for all of the circus craziness going on in there.

What does all this mean? I wish I could say for certain that we are committed to a plan of action, but that just isn't how things are panning out.

The biggest concern to all the medical types, including Rob, is that my water will break, and a part other than the head will present itself for delivery. That is very bad mojo, especially if the presenting part is the umbilical cord. That is a go-directly-to-surgery-do-not-pass-go-superbad-complication kind of scenario that we are all about avoiding.

I have yet to talk with my family doctor about all of this, but we are most likely looking at a tightly controlled induction, possibly with an OR team at the ready, since much of this depends on what my cervix feels like doing. And that freaks me out.

I know I have whined about inductions and other medical interventions, but I am not stupid and stubborn enough to risk my baby's health. Or my own, for that matter. Bun and I have a few more weeks of sharing the same body space, so there is still time for gravity to work its magic on that little hard-headed noggin.

Head towards the light, Bun!

11 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:49 AM

    I feel nervous just reading that. What an anxious situation for you and bun. If it makes you feel better, I had my first baby at 30 weeks and my next 2 pregnancies were followed with way too many u/s that included scary possibilities that never happened. And they were off with the babies measurements by 2 lbs!

    Saying a prayer that foot goes back into a non-yoga like position.

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  2. Oh, I hope that little acrobat gets head-down "fetal position" like s/he should. Keeping you & Bun in extra prayers for the duration!

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  3. ACK! That all sounds a wee bit frightening. Hopefully Bun will get that leg down and present in the proper position soon.

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  4. I will pray for a better position and peace of mind as the big day draws near. Not to freak you out or anything, but my IndieGirl was born cord and foot first. There were some issues and she did spend a few days in NICU, but in the end is absolutely fine. Honestly, I know how much anxiety can accompany the joyful anticipation of a new baby and I will be praying for you.

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  5. Anonymous10:03 AM

    Bun's just a smart little cookie. This baby has already figured out how to get mom and dad's full attention even before being born into a family with 3 older siblings!

    I'm sure the little acrobat is just trying to make you sweat and will get in the right position at the first rumblings of his/her eviction notice.

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  6. I will pray for you that your Bun gets himself positioned properly. Bless your heart, if there is some sort of pregnancy medal, you have more than earned it.

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  7. I know that just saying this is completely stupid, but try not to worry. And scheduled C-Sections are really not a bad thing. I've had 3! The best part is you never have to have a contraction or push anyone out. The bad part is the recovery. Oh and it's major surgery. Praying for all my buds!

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  8. Anonymous1:03 PM

    I keep praying for you - Ayden was sideways most of the time and then three days before the scheduled induction, he was transverse and so they scheduled a c-section and then the day before that, the infection they were so worried about for a week took over and threw me into labor and gues what, his cord presented first.
    Can you say scene from ER delivery? But it was all good in the end so I am hoping you get to go right to the all good part.
    Mirabella MOM

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  9. Anonymous8:06 PM

    That silly fourth child-here's hoping Bun doesn't pull a Kitty Kay move and come out folded in half:).

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  10. My number four broke her water (since she is a girl I credit her with taking action -- those lazy boys would have stayed in there forever). But since I was at home, and she had not yet "engaged," I was a nervous mess that her cord would be trapped. Yes, medical intervention is good in some cases.

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  11. You realize this child is going to give you a run for your money it's whole life don't you? It's not even "here" yet and it's taunting you. I'm praying that Bun puts both feet where they should be and that everything goes smoothly. Get ready. This ones going to be a fun one :)

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