Breech Baby

As of yesterday, I am 39 weeks pregnant. At my 38 week appointment, I was told that Teeny is a complete breech. This means that they are butt first (instead of head first) and their feet are crossed and not over their head. This is the worst breech there is and there is no hope of a vaginal delivery if Teeny stays like this. I also had to start seeing a doctor and lose my midwife because my midwife doesn't do breech babies or C-sections.

There is still hope that Teeny will turn on their own. At one time or another, lots of babies are breech. However, after 37 weeks, only 3-4% of babies are breech. So I have a scheduled C-section for January 29th, which is 42 weeks gestation (the latest they'll let you go). If Teeny turns before then and my cervix is favorable, then I will be able to be induced to avoid the C-section. If Teeny turns before then but my cervix isn't ready yet, we have to hope that Teeny stays turned the right way until my body is ready for labor. If Teeny does not turn before then but I go into labor, I will still need the C-section. I think those are all the possibilities...

I know that 20% of people have C-sections (not always for a breech baby. There are other reasons too) but that is not the birth plan I want. That may make me sound a little selfish but after carrying this baby for 39 weeks (and more until delivery), I feel like I should have the option to choose. A C-section carries more risks, is more expensive, you're in the hospital longer, the healing process is harder, it isn't the natural way you're supposed to have a baby, can more likely lead to postpartum depression and many other negative things. I'm sure you could scrounge up some negative aspects of a vaginal birth as well (I hear it's not exactly a walk in the park either...) but between those two options, I will always choose vaginal birth.

I am lucky that at my hospital, they don't have the policy of "once a C-section, always a C-section" and because my baby is breech and the C-section isn't for a different reason, I have a high chance of being able to have a succcessful VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean).

I'm also not sure if it's because Teeny is now breech or because I am reaching the end of my pregnancy but lately, people ask me how I am but they really mean how is Teeny. It drives me crazy! I'm starting to feel like I'm not a person anymore but just a baby carrier. I know everyone is excited but I am too. I am more ready to be done with the pregnancy and meet my child than anyone one else on the planet (not the other pregnant moms. I mean the grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc of Teeny). I am SO uncomfortable, I don't fit in any clothes anymore (my baby belly is exposed out the bottom of even my largest shirts---which gets cold!), I am barely sleeping (both from stress and from being so uncomfortable), I have a head in my rib cage just about constantly (and when it's not a head, it's feet), and I can't seem to go anywhere without people staring at me. I am ready to be done!