So Ellie (the fetus previously known as the Second Coming) sits breech in the belly of my girlfriend, and has for quite some time now. Acupuncture has been tried and hasn’t succeeded, the Webster Method discussed and rejected. Suffering has come to my girlfriend in this stage of her pregnancy, in the guise of arthritic hands, a struggle to breathe, aching pain in her back, and general pissed-offedness, a fair amount directed at the swell fellow who got her in this trouble in the first place.
Which I think it’s fair to assume is me.
Tomorrow we’re going to schedule a C-section, which she’ll have unless the baby turns again, which could happen, but we’re not counting on it.
Of course I knew that the experience of having a second child would differ greatly from the first: different kid, different woman providing said offspring, different hospital, different doctor.
I just didn’t expect it to be this different. JP came when he came, took his time, and arrived on his own schedule and quite without the use of a knife. The prospect of a C-section unnerves me, for no particular reason I can put my finger on. There’s this sense of having the security of experience taken away from me. I’m no expert on birth, but I’d seen it happen once, and had some inkling of what to expect. Now I don’t.
That, I suppose, is good and bad.
Good luck, Theodore. Just think of it as broadening your birthing experience, surely something positive for your nascent dadblogging career. Not sure what that does for your girlfriend, but perhaps it comforts you. We’re pulling for all three of you (without forceps, of course).
I’ve had two C-sections, both of which were just fine. In fact, the recent one was scheduled because my son wasn’t ready to go anywhere on his own, and it was relaxed and fun(ish). There might have been a little vomiting involved, but it was also a delivery room filled with conversation and laughter, which was a fine way to bring a baby into the world.
Best wishes!
Matt and I wish you guys a safe and speedy delivery!
Wouldn’t life be totally boring if we didn’t get to fly by the seat of our pants sometimes? Breach is a total bummer (my sister tried everything, and nothing worked, and then in one moment in time, the kid changed his mind and righted himself ON HIS OWN and then came out okay.
I had one sunny-side up, and that was hard enough. But the most important thing is that they emerge. Keep your eye on the prize …
Our son was breach, which caused a good bit of worry for us (first child). In the end, everything turned out fine, C-seciton went well, and I’ll never forget the nurses pushing his legs down and them springing back up near his head the first time…
Good Luck.