36 weeks - Drama! (10th Prenatal Appointment)

I went in for my last routine ultrasound this morning at 36 weeks.  Since Baby Mac has a two vessel cord, we get ultrasound growth scans monthly - and each time he has passed with flying colors.  So I expected the same this week and took two hours off of work to accommodate this final scan.   Little did I know pulling up to my appointment, that I'd be admitted to the hospital and told I might deliver today!

The ultrasound technician seemed cool, and remained poker faced throughout the scan.  However, when I met with my Nurse Practitioner afterwards to go over the results (my doctor is on vacation this week), she told me they were admitting me to the hospital for further testing.

The NP explained that the results told her that a) my amniotic fluid was very low.  Normal levels are from 8-18, and I am currently at 8.3 and  b) the baby's abdomen growth was only at 5th percentile (where as in previous weeks it was in the 35th percentile), so they were concerned about his lack of growth there.  She said, "Don't freak out, but there is a possibility we may have you deliver the baby today."  My head started spinning, and my first thought was, "What?  I have a briefer to write for the Under Secretary of State today...delivery today, not ideal." 

So, I was admitted to the hospital, signed registration papers, and proceeded to get checked out by a high risk specialist who gave me ANOTHER 45 minute ultrasound.  However, upon measuring the abdomen, she said the first technician had misread it.  In fact, the abdomen was measuring FINE, at the 30th percentile, not 5th percentile.  The reason the first ultrasound technician might have misread it is because the baby is still breech (head up)!  In fact, he is sitting in the same position "frank breech" he has been sitting in the last couple of months.  See below:

And with my amniotic fluid so low, its doubtful he has enough liquid to flip.  Which is why none of my crazy breech exercises have been working!

 

Alas, crisis averted, for now.  The doctor said that because his abdomen was in fact growing fine, and that the amniotic fluid was still on the normal scale, albeit the lowest number on the scale (8, out of 8-18), I was discharged today.  

However, moving on, I will now be seen by my doctor twice a week, every Thursday and Monday.  And each time, if my amniotic fluid decreases, there is a chance I will need to deliver the baby. Plus, I am already 1 cm dilated!  He is also already 5lbs 13 oz, so plenty big enough to come out and play.  So based on my non-medical opinion, I don't think this baby is going to wait until his due date of October 23 to make his appearance. 

So in sum, the baby is already the boss of us, and takes after his daddy.  My husband was also breech which caused his mother to have a Cesarean.  And he came 2-3 weeks early, also the first week of October!  Its quite possible these boys may share the same birthdate, and the same birth story.  What did I get myself into!?  LOL.

I just PRAY that he waits until atleast Monday.  This weekend is my husband's brother's wedding in Michigan, and my husband is set to depart on Thursday.   Obviously, I'm bummed I can't make it, but now I am seriously freaking out thinking either a) I could deliver a baby on Thursday, causing hubby to miss his brother's wedding or, b) baby comes sometime this weekend while my hubby is away!  I'm going to drink an extraordinary amount of fluid from now on hoping to resupply Baby Mac's amniotic fluid, so that he remains comfy throughout atleast this weekend.  The doctor told me to remain on bed rest as long as I can, to not do anything strenuous - this will help with the amniotic fluid levels.  So I plan on relaxing and drinking water all weekend long by myself.  Fun times...  I don't care if he comes on Monday, but just hold out for your uncle Dan's wedding boy.  

One last thing, I do have a scheduled version on Monday.  My doctor will only be able to perform it if I have enough amniotic fluid, which she will assess on Monday.  A version is a procedure where the doctor tries to turn the baby manually around with her hands, so that his head is positioned down for birth.  If this does not work (50/50 chance), then we'll have to schedule a C-Section mid October.  Of course this is all if we don't have to do an emergency delivery beforehand.  

My gut feeling is telling me the doctor will not be able to turn him.  He's been stuck in the same exact position for months, and his head is really big (90th percentile), so I just don't think its small enough to fit in the pelvis which is maybe why he is not flipping.  But I guess only time will tell.  Until next time!

Please keep your fingers crossed this baby boy stays tucked away in utero through the weekend!

This month's glamour shots at 36 weeks:

Front view of baby's face.  You can see his nostrils, and his open mouth.

The white fuzzies around his skull is hair.  I wonder what color it is!?

The next two pictures are off his profile with his fist up my his mouth (he was trying to stick his fist in his mouth, atleast thats what it looked like).  His nose looks rather pointy in the first one, and more button nosed in the second one.  I wonder which one it will be?