I only have a few minutes, so I'll be brief. My baby is breech which means that his head is up in my rib cage and not down my pelvis like it should be. I'm 36 weeks pregnant today so I don't have a lot of time to get him to move. My midwife suggested I use moxibustion, specific exercises and acupuncture to help him turn. She also referred me to the surgeon they work with because if he doesn't turn with these other measures then I have the option of the surgeon doing and external cephalic version where she manually turns him (if tests show he is a good "candidate" for it, ie: there is enough amniotic fluid, location of the placenta, and his cord isn't wrapped around him which they will check through ultrasound). If all this fails I will most likely be schedule to deliver via c-section.
Because I really like holistic medicine, and I'm willing to try just about anything, I decided to take advantage of acupuncture to help possibly turn him. Today was my first appointment and it was... uneventful. I had in my mind this vision of candles, music, weird smells and a Chinese guy sticking needles in me. Well, it turned out it was in a regular exam room like what I'm used to and it was an American guy. He asked me why I was there and what I was hoping to achieve, I told him and he had me lay on the exam table with a foam cushion under my knees and very unceremoniously proceeded to insert 8 needles into various parts of my extremities and one in the top of my head. Then he said he was going to let me rest for 30 minutes and turned off the lights and left the room. When he came back he took out the needles, asked if I felt some active fetal movement and then said I was done and he would see me again on Thursday. That was it! It didn't hurt at all and the baby did bounce off the walls more than he usually does.. so here's hoping.
Statistically there are more breech clubfoot babies than "normal" babies, so I'm not too surprised. But still keep us in your prayers... we will have so much to do after he is born to help him out that I really don't want to have to be recovering from a c-section on top of it all. Of course in the end the health and safety of my baby is paramount, but I will do everything in my power to help him on my own and have the peace of mind knowing I did all I can do and the rest is up to God.
3 comments:
Wow, I hope your baby moves around on his own. On my last appointment, my doctor thought that my baby was breech too but he said I have time for the baby to move. We'll see tomorrow. Good luck with all the baby stuff and oh my goodness, it is almost time for our babies to come. I am excited and terrified at the same time. I don't know why I am freaking out the third time around...
On the side note, did you know that Kristi Yamaguchi was born with club feet? Isn't that amazing that she got gold medal on figure skating and dances so well. I know everything will be all right for you guys and you will be in our prayers.
How are you doing Eliza. How is little Jacob? Are you totally ready to be done with this pregnancy? I know I am. Keep us post it. Take care.
Eliza! I really hope he does turn! You just amaze me though! We will keep you in our prayers! Let us know what happens.
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