I Equal Nice Hammock

I had an OB appt. two weeks ago and my OB uttered the following:

I just don't know how this baby is lying. *Palpates belly* Is her head here? I think it is. *Hands near right boob in infant head-shaped formation* Where do you feel the kicks?

ME: Left to right. Or down. None really up.

OB: We're going to have to do an ultrasound to find out how this baby is lying. And--how big she is.....*Leaves rest of sentence unsaid*

ME: *Whimpers* Okay. (I didn't want to ask how big she might be, because I've already been told "we're not going past 40 weeks because we don't want you to have a 12 pound baby!" I don't want to get myself freaked before we know anything. Right?)

So I scheduled the ultrasound. It's May 1.

Last night I went to a "Meet the Doula" gathering, where me and another couple gainfully peppered three doulas with our birthing questions. At first glance I thought the pregnant woman next to me (very tiny, adorable belly with arodable popped out belly button) was farther along than I am because she appeared bigger than I do. I asked when she was due and she told me July. I then went to the bathroom and saw myself in the mirror--it has become one of those "Who is that woman? She's HUGE! Oh, she's me. Ack" things around here in the past two weeks, where I realized that I am about four times her size and just still think of myself as smaller. That picture I posted below makes me laugh nervously now. It was already from two or three weeks old when I posted it, and so it's now about five or six weeks old, and damn---------------things are getting a bit large-ish around here. Anyway, I digress.

So one of the doulas, who I had for a childbirth class (where we learned that Lamaze is, essentially, "four pants and a blow," which never ceases to send me into a fit of immature giggles) remembered me and pointed out to the other doulas that my OB thinks I'm breech or transverse. I confirmed that, yes, Rocky is not liking the "regular, ready for labor" position of head down (I suspect it's that upside down thing--I mean I don't like being upside down either) and hasn't much shifted from either feet down or feet across, as far as I can tell from the bruising she's giving my insides.

One of the doulas studied me closely. "Well, in terms of size, you are very............."

I waited. Would she say "small"? People have commented on how nicely I'm carrying. Or would she say "huge"? People have also said I look big. The only things I have to give me clues to my relative size are the amount of weight I've gained and the way other pregnant people look. Recently, everyone has commented on my pregnant self. Strangers, neighbors, the mailman--anyone who sees my belly says, "oh, a baby! When's it due?" So it's obvious now. But the woman next to me was small and cute and obviously pregnant, so that wasn't a good marker.

Back to the doula. "Well, in terms of size, you are very...................."

I leaned back a bit for support. "Big," she finished. "Alllllll baby." The other doulas nodded. She got up and came over to me, putting her hands on my belly. "Your baby is lying left to right," she said. "Transverse."

"There's still time to move, right?" I asked, trying not to let the panic set in. I had read that there was still time to move. The doulas know I want to try to have a drug-free birth complete with birthing ball and mid-laboring-shower (QUIT YOUR LAUGHING, RIGHT NOW). If Rocky doesn't move in the next few weeks, I might be staring a C-section in the face.

"Yes, sure," one of them said. "But----you look like you could have a really big baby."

I smiled. Weakly. Yes, I told her. That has been mentioned once or twice.

Ah well. 32 weeks and, according to Random, Rocky just likes to veg out in the uterine hammock I've got working here. Send me head-down vibes, please.

Comments

[Rachel Inbar]

Sending you head-down vibes :-) My baby was breech at 32 weeks and turned sometime around 34 or so...

Pregnant big is a totally different kind of big from fat-big... for me, it was the perfect excuse not to feel self-conscious.

[JennJ]

A friend of mine is due any day now. Last week, her baby went from head down to sideways and back to head down over the course of a few days, so I would think there's plenty of time for Rocky to turn. Sending head-down vibes!

[Lindsay]

Frequent lurker...just wanted to say that my "BIG" guy was transverse at my 32 week ultrasound and head down at my 33 week ultrasound. (I didn't even know he had turned...) They were freaking out about how big he was...throwing around the c-word...and he was 7 lbs 15 oz... Don't them scare you...your body will grow the size of baby it's supposed to grow. Besides...big babies are more fun... :)

[Melissa]

I think there is plenty of time for Rocky to turn. I don't think my guy was head-down at 32 weeks yet. And I don't recall being aware of when he turned, either. Just went to one of my regular OB appointments and the physician's assistant announced that he was head-down.

32 weeks! That's so awesome. Good luck at your u/s on May 1.

[Tine]

What Lindsay said!

Nature is no dummy. Women's bodies very, very seldom grow babies they can't birth. And if a baby is 12 pounds at term, that's what that baby needs to be a healthy, full-term fetus. It's just biological common sense.

As for the transverse position: It is still very early. I had a sideways baby too. She kept me in quite a bit of suspense for a few weeks. But of course she eventually turned vertex, as most babies do. I'd bet money on your Rocky turning too. If you want to do something to help her, there are lots of easy positioning things that make a difference. Swimming and pelvic rocks helped me. And most importantly: skip any position that's remotely supine. Lots more suggestions at spinningbabies.com (which you probably already know). I'm sending you vertex vibes too. :)

No laughing here re: your desire for a drug-free (etc.) birth. I had drugs w/ #1 and no drugs w/ #2, and I'd take 6 more drug-free births before I'd ever choose the drugs again.

[Anna]

Try not to worry, there's time for moving. I'm glad you're going though the whole drug free birth thing. Go for it! Yes, the pain is bad, but you get breaks in between the contractions so that helps. I hear passing a kidney stone is more painful (and without breaks!)

We all carry differently, it's all good. :) You're doing GREAT!

[JuliaKB]

Head down vibes to you. Mentally marking May 1st as the how big is she day. Maybe she will oblige everyone and turn by then...
Best of luck!

[Molly]

There are some exercises you can do that are supposed to encourage a transverse or breech baby to rotate.
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/breech.html

[Mandy]

check out www.spinningbabies.com..there are suggestions there. My doula swore by them. (my baby wasn't in the wrong position, it was just in case advice) For the record, my belly was HUGE OMG HUGE and every time my OB measured my fundal height he shook his head. Even in ultrasounds they said baby and I were measuring big.

My son, born at 37 1/2 weeks was 7 lbs 9.8 ounces...so chances are really good that at term he'd have been about 8 to 8 1/2 pounds. I will admit that after labor the last thing you typically think is 'gee I wish that baby had been bigger coming through the birth canal' but I tell you this to say that comments about huge don't necessarily mean HUGE.

[Julie]

Go to a chiropractor. They may be able to turn Rocky. My son was head down but face up and they were able to rotate him. My birth didn't end up as I wanted but it wasn't because he was in the wrong position.

[Danielle]

My son, who was 8lb5oz and born on his due date, was breech at 31 weeks and posterior (but head down) at 39w6d. He was born after 4 and a half hours of doula assisted, unmedicated labor, having turned himself around to the more favorable LOA positon. I credit spending lots of time in the hands & knees position and sitting on the birth ball for getting him head down(I'd been beaching myself on my ever-so comfy couch and hated giving that up, but it was worth it.). And I had a very serious conversation with him the night before he was born that I really wanted him to turn round the right way. Probably the last time he'll listen to me. :)

Sending you head down vibes, and agreeing with previous commenters that Rocky still has lots of time to turn!

[Ewokmama]

My son stayed transverse until 36 weeks, when the spinning babies methods I used seemed to work and send him head-down. Then of course he was late and still managed to flip himself around a bunch of times while I was in labor. I call bullshit on anyone who says babies can't turn after 36 weeks - my son turned so much during labor that he had his cord wrapped around him FOUR times.

Also, my son was 8 lbs 10 ounces and he totally came out fine. I had TONS of amniotic fluid so it made me look bigger than I really was. I gained 36 lbs while pregnant. My sister-in-law and friends both gained similar amounts and gave birth to 6 pounders, so size doesn't matter!!

[Erin]

Seconding the www.spinningbabies.com and chiropractor suggestions as ways to turn Rocky. It is still early, she has plenty of time to turn, and it is worth it to feel like an idiot doing those positions and exercises in the privacy of your own home to avoid a c-section. (That's what I tell all my natural childbirth students when they complain that they feel stupid putting a flashlight on their belly or something.)

[natt]

honestly, dont take the whole "big baby" thing too seriously. My first was apparently a big baby. He popped out at 8lb 2.5oz. My second measured a week behind the whole pregnancy and no comments were made - until he was born at 10lb 2! One consultant at an ultrasound had even said he was going to be smaller than no 1!

and there is time for baby to move, dont panic. and even if not - c-sections arent the end of the world! (from someone who was planning an all natural birth like you both times and ended up with 2 sections, hey its not how you birth them its how you bring them up ;-) )xx

[stellasmom]

Delurking to be contrary. My baby was breech. Two OB's tried a translocation and pushed with all their might. And she wouldn't budge (and yes, she's proved to be strong willed). So, despite the fact that I wanted a drug free doula experience, I had a scheduled c-section. And you know what, it was just fine. I recovered remarkably fast (if you have to do a c-section -- try a scheduled one...much better!). And I now have a gorgeous little girl in lady-bug pjs. I think you know best of all that in the end, it's all about getting your kid here in one piece. And if you have to do that via c-section, it can be wonderful too! Really. Wonderful. Congratulations on everything!

[amy]

Doctors cant seem to tell sizes of babies but nurses and doulas sure can. My first was a toddler at birth 10lb 10 oz. Not a pretty delivery. Docs had no clue. However, thats not why I wrote. My second had his butt on my right lung, his head in my left lung, and his fists and feet against my cervix. I was well into labor when he went head down.

[Carol]

32 weeks!! Hip Hip Hooray!! Isn't that the week they say that babies usually no longer have lasting preemie problems if born that early?

I ended up with c-sections both times, BUT during labor I LOVED the bath tub! It was MUCH more effective at controlling my pain than demerol (but not as effective as epidural). It really helped me relax.

Good luck getting the birth you want! I wouldn't dream of laughing at your birth plan, and I hope Rocky goes head-down soon.

[Melissa]

I had two babies over 9 lbs, the second one in a 5-hour labor with no drugs (and no attendants--it was an accidental homebirth). There are lots of studies saying that it's silly to worry about how big a baby is because it's very rare that a baby actually doesn't fit.

I second the benefits of hot water during labor. I used a birth ball in the shower and it helped tremendously!

[Jo in Utah]

Has anyone mentioned the breech tilt to help turn this baby?

[Sheridan]

*Hopefully* this makes you feel better. I was told all along, by my obstetrician, that I was having a big baby. In the late stages, at each appointment, the size estimate got bigger and bigger. The day before I went into labour, he told me at least 10 pounds. 48 hours later he was born weighing 7lbs 10 oz.
Please don't stress about the size, no-one really knows until it's out.

[Carrie]

Frequent lurker here...long time reader. When I found out you were back I cried with happiness for you and your family!!

Anyway...back to the topic at hand...

My u/s tech was freaking me out telling me that my son would be 10lbs at birth and he ended up being 8lbs, 1.5 oz! Don't let them scare you!!! You are an amazing mom and don't worry about the weight, either. If anything worry about getting some SLEEP while you can!! lol

Keep your chin up!!!

[Laura from Ga]

WOW! 32 weeks! Just popping in to agree with so many others...plenty of time to turn...my last didn't get into position until 37 weeks ( which was the deadline they gave before scheduling a c-section). They offered to try to turn her. But I had already decided that if she hadn't changed positions by herself, I would go with the c and not chance it by letting them try to turn her. I was also told that my babies would be at least 8 lbs ( I was HUGE). But my largest was 7 lbs 1 oz.
I hope that she changes positions and that you get the birth experience that you want! Just remember...make the best of the hand you are dealt. In the end you walk away with a beautiful healty baby no matter how she gets here!

[Amy]

OBs' estimates at size can be off by several whole POUNDS, so don't worry too much about that. There is just no way to know until the baby comes out! And that not going past 40 weeks thing...nonsense. 40 weeks is AVERAGE gestation, not maximum. Just remember: Your body knows exactly what it's doing. It's not going to grow a baby it can't birth.

Oh, and I am totally not laughing about the birth ball and shower! I am so excited for you! Warm water is a wonderful thing in labor (and birth--my daughter was born in the water too).

[victoria]

You're going to be fine! I hope that doesn't sound condescending. But as far as I know, you don't have gestational diabetes, you're not carrying multiples, you don't have an incompetent cervix (though you used to worry it was on the thinnish side after a LEEP you haven't mentioned any cervix-related concerns lately). You have no history of pre-term labor or miscarriage (that I know of). No irritable, contraction-prone uterus. No protein in the urine. No high blood pressure. No advanced maternal age. No placenta previa. No clotting disorder, no IUGR. No edema in your legs. I don't think you've even mentioned varicose veins, meralgia paresthetica, or stretch marks. As far as I can tell from your blog, you are a very healthy young woman carrying a big healthy baby. A tranverse presentation is non-ideal, but you'll weather it.

[Kier]

I suggest finding a chiropracter who is skilled with using the Webster Technique. My 2nd daughter was breech at 30ish weeks and after going to the chiro 2x a week for 3 weeks she turned back to the head-down position. I also put a bag of frozen peas on my tummy where her head was and heating pad down where I wanted her head to go. Sounds crazy, I know, but the thought behind that is that the baby will want to turn its head away from the cold and toward to heat. I spent a lot of time on all fours with my head down, rocking back and forth, changing positions and thinking "She will be head down for the birth..." like a mantra.
New agey stuff, I know.

I really wouldn't put too much stock in what the doctor is saying about a big baby. Our bodies are designed to birth our babies, small or large.