The Flip

So a lot has happened since the 28 week mark. Not the least of which was our event-filled doctor's appointment. At around 32 weeks we went in for a regular check-up only to be told, by our doctor, 'I think you should go to the hospital, I'll call and tell them your coming'. As you can imagine, that's not what prospective parents like to hear.

Upon arrival, the triage nurse said 'Hi, you doctor told us you were coming. Please head into room 3'. That's never comforting. Shortly there after a nurse arrived and hooked Kate up to a computer and told her to press a button every time she felt 'Peaches' move. (That's the name that the Browns have assigned our baby, in protest of not know the real name). While she left she said, 'we'll watch this for a half hour or so'.

On the computer screen we could see the heart rate of our little baby rising and falling while Kate would push the little red button at the appropriate time. Having no idea what sort of a correlation the doctors were watching for, we obviously feared the worst. As baby's heart rate rose so did ours. As hers fell, well, ours still rose.

After our half hour, the nurse returned and told us to proceed to the ultrasound center so they could have a look. Naturally we assumed that the last test must not have gone well and that was why we have been moved on to 'phase 2'.

The ultrasound went well but revealed that our beautiful little girl had gone from a birth-ready head-down position to an apparently more comfortable head up yoga pose. Not what you want to see as you are approaching the 9th month of pregnancy! Besides flipping, we were also notified that her fluids were a little low. With this information we were told to return to the triage nurse and she would tell us what was next.

When we saw the nurse she told us to sit tight because our doctor was on his way to the hospital and he would speak to us when he got there. 'He's on his way!.......that can't be good' we thought, but we sat tight to reflect on the events of the day and wait for Bloomer (our family doctor). When the doctor arrived we realized that there were other patients of his waiting in the same room. That was a little reassuring. As we eavesdropped on his conversation we realized that their situation was a little more precarious than our own, and perhaps he came to see them and just wanted to see us because he was there.

As we talked with Bloomer he explained that in the doctor's office he had found 'Peaches' heart rate was a little high . The first test we underwent was a stress test and that our baby had passed with flying colours. Her heart rate rose when she moved and dropped when she was at rest. (I wish they had told us that that was what they were looking for, it would have been way less stressful).

As for the ultrasound, he explained, that the fluid levels were low-normal and that we would need to monitor it. He also said that because baby was now breech (head up) and 32 weeks, we would most likely need a C-section, and therefore we should be seeing an OB instead of a family doctor. It was like he was saying good bye, it was sad. We went home with plenty to think about.

Over the next few weeks we kind of resigned ourselves to the idea of the C-section. It would be nice to have a finite delivery date, and time. We realized that recovery would be more difficult but as long as we had a healthy baby in the end that was all that mattered.

Our next appointment with the OB was on the day 'Peaches' turned 35 weeks.

Preparing for the appointment we talked about all of the questions we would ask regrading the operation, timing, possibility of inversion, recovery and whatever else you could possible ask.

The appointment began with an ultrasound to verify the positioning of the baby and fluid levels. To our surprise, she had flipped!!! Head down and ready to rock (be born) was the diagnosis. She passed the fluid test as well. . . .well done Baby!!

The appointment with the OB was relatively short after this. She told us to go back to Bloomer and to give her a call when we have our beautiful girl in our arms. We asked her if the baby might flip again? She said no, but that's what we told us when she was breech at 32 weeks, so we'll see how it goes. . .

Anyway, our baby is now 35 weeks, 5 pounds 8 ounces and very active.

On another note, we were planning to post a few pictures of the nursery so here you go. Hope you like them.....

Dan