Turn, Baby Turn!

Baby Hardy is deciding to make a grander entrance than expected - bottom first! The baby has not settled head first, making the fetal presentation "frank breech" (bottom first with feet up near the head).

I'm doing rocking exercises at night to encourage the baby to flip around, but so far I think I've been unsuccessful. My regular doctor is currently on vacation this week, so another doctor (that I know pretty well from hospital committees) has decided we should try external cephalic version (ECV). Click here for more info about this procedure and information on breech presentation.

We're scheduled for the procedure this Wednesday, 7/23/08 at 1pm and it will require admission into the hospital just as a precaution - if things get too crazy, Baby Hardy might arrive sooner than expected, but the doctor feels very confident that the baby is either going to flip or not.

If not, we'll be scheduling a C-section for the 38th or 39th week. Worst case scenarios during the ECV would require immediate delivery, which is why it's an inpatient procedure: mom's water breaks, baby's heart gets low and stays low or the placenta separates from the uterine wall.

The best time to attempt the ECV is between the 36th and 37th week because there is still some room to move in the womb, too much longer and the baby will be too big to do any acrobatics. I've also read on the internet that it's roughly a 50/50 shot for success and that sometimes, the baby flips head down, only to flip back! It's also more successful if it's not your first baby - go figure!

So please think "flippy" thoughts on Wednesday. Check back for an update!