Breech Baby

According to my research, there are four types of breech babies: frank breech, complete, breech, footling breech, and kneeling breech. The majority of breeched babies are positioned in the Frank breech position. In this location, the baby’s bottom is positioned in the pelvis area in a V position. With the head and legs positioned together, the bottom of the baby comes first. In the complete breech position, the hips and knees are flexed so that the baby is cross-legged. When the feet come first, this position is known as footling breech, and the last one called kneeling breech is rare and the name speaks for itself. The baby is kneeling. Why do I tell you all of this? Well, for the last eighth months, Nicole and I have been planning a natural birth through a birthing center. Last week, the midwife attempted to feel the head of the baby with a finger swipe and did not feel the baby’s head. Having scheduled a sonogram at the hospital, we discovered that we have a Frank breech baby. Yes…you can say that our plans (and hearts) were crushed. We were scheduled an appointment with the doctor to perform an external version where the baby is manually repositioned to place his head in a downward position. The doctors were unsuccessful. Reexamining the sonogram, the doctor discovered that Nicole’s uterus is in the shape of a heart. I guess you can say that she has a lot of love for our baby. Because of the appendage at the top of the uterus, the baby could not be maneuvered and repositioned. Thankfully, we praise God that we have a healthy baby. As the doctors were attempting to reposition the baby, they monitored his/her heart rate to be certain that the maneuvering has not caused any stress on him/her. All of the pushing and shoving on my wife’s stomach did not even aggravate him/her. That baby was staying right in the position that felt comfortable and nobody was moving him/her out that spot. I guess he/she has dad’s stubbornness.

Dad-To-Be

Well, I have been quite busy these last few weeks. Working very hard to frontload my coursework at the beginning of the semester has become very strenuous. I am trying so hard to have all of my coursework completed before the arrival of a little one to our family. Nicole and I spent eight weeks of pregnancy preparation with the Bradley method. If any of you are familiar with this method, you know the importance of focusing and creating an image in your mind to help ease the discomfort and pain. Also we learned lots of standing, squatting, sitting, and leaning techniques in order to find a right position when delivering. I have so much to learn about being a parent. In our first class, we were given introduction questions as icebreakers. I was asked, “How many diapers will you use a day?” I said “Uh, two!” My answer was greeted with a roar of laughter and the response “Try 20!!” Last weekend, Nicole and I went to San Antonio to pick up a baby crib and dresser graciously given to us by her sister and brother-in-law. When we arrived back home, we wanted to put it together and place it in the corner where 2 of my bookshelves used to stand (the bookshelves have been sold and my books have made their way to the basement of my parents-in-law’s home). Now it seems so strange to walk into my bedroom and find a crib and lots of bright blue and green toys, blankets, and clothes. As I stood in the doorway, I actually hit me, “This is for real.” Though I speak in a jestful manner, I am very excited and cannot wait until I can hold my little one.