Downward Dog Makes Me Dizzy

I'm in the home stretch now with this pregnancy - only three weeks to go. In almost every way it's been easier, or not as difficult as I expected and the time has flown. For Christmas, Jeff bought me a portrait sitting and we had the pictures of me, Jeff and the belly taken last week. (Our first family photos - so cute it makes you want to puke, right?) We're looking at the final product tonight, so hopefully I'll be posting them soon.

I've heard some women say they loved every minuted of being pregnant and can't wait to do it again. I don't think I would make that kind of sweeping statement at this point. First of all, who knows if lightning would even strike twice and allow me to get and stay pregnant a second time. And secondly, even though people ask all the time, it's much too soon to know if we would even want a second child.  I'm just incredibly grateful for what I have right now. This experience has been a gift and I've tried very hard not to take it for granted.

I'm seeing my midwife every week at this point and at last week's appointment, she mentioned two things:

1. The baby is not going to break any size records, likely weighing in at less than seven pounds when he's born, which is fine by me. I'm not a big person anyway so I wasn't expecting or looking forward to giving birth to a huge baby. I joked a lot during the last few months that I had secretly taken up smoking to keep his birth weight low.
2. He's in a head-down position, which means he's not breech, which is great news. But he's also posterior - face up instead of down toward my back. Most likely, he'll rotate and turn around before I go into labor and if he doesn't, it's not the end of the world, but it could mean a longer and more difficult job for me pushing him out.**

There are things I am supposed to be doing to encourage him to turn, like spending half an hour a day on my hands and knees or in the downward dog yoga pose. Half an hour a day on my hands and knees... let's see, I guess that means my floors should be really clean right now.

And unfortunately, another side effect of pregnancy is a 40% increase in my blood volume. I can do downward dog for about 5 minutes before all the extra blood in my body has rushed to my head and I'm experiencing a strange buzzing noise.

Besides, a woman who is nine months pregnant doing yoga poses is almost as ridiculous as the same woman wearing a thong. Which coincidentally I have been, but trust me there is nothing sexy about it and I won't be posting photos, so hit the bricks all you weird fetish people.

Somehow, even with just a few weeks left, I'm not feeling any real sense of urgency right now. In my heart, I know the baby is going to turn into the proper position when he's ready and things are going to turn out just the way they are supposed to.

The house is coming along. We're mostly unpacked and pictures will be coming as soon as I can find our camera docking station. I haven't started on the baby's room but he won't be sleeping in there for a few months anyway. We have everything we need at this point - clothes, diapers, a place for him to sleep and not one single ugly plastic toy in the house, so I think we're good to go.

Am I forgetting anything?

**Please, no horror stories about back labor. I know the potential is there. But I would love to hear any and all success stories on turning posterior babies or any positive birth experiences with posterior labor.

Comments

[Meghan]

Ah, the final stretch. Don't even think about another baby until this one is 2 years old!

Your delivery will go great, and soon you will have a healthy baby boy!

[Rayne of Terror]

I was due in January and throughout the last month or two my son was posterior. My OB said to make sure to keep my belly warm because he might have been turning into the warmest part of my body and spend time on hands and knees. I did, especially as our house was on the market and I was cleaning our wood floors on my hands and knees a couple times a week. Also in early labor I kneeled and leaned on the exercise ball a lot. No problems, he was in the perfect position and at 7 lbs was born within 10 total hours in a relatively easy birth.

[mayberry]

I have a friend who had two posterior (sunny side up!) babies. They came fast -- in both cases she was dilated to nearly 5 cm before she even knew for sure she was in labor. Not sure if there is any connection, but maybe!

[mamatulip]

You are in the home stretch! Wow!

[Wendy]

You will do great!! It is the best feeling knowing the end of the pregnancy is in sight and you will soon be holding your little one! Cannot wait to read the good news!!!!

[Amy]

Isaac was posterier and very stubborn about it. Then Vivian was breech and refused to change position from 20 weeks on. I'm not sure what it is about my uterus that makes the babies refuse to play fair. Let me just tell you this: the vaginal birth of my son, despite the back labor etc etc was the single best experience of my life. The c-section of my daughter? SUCKED. You are going to do great!!

[Jessie]

I can't believe how fast time has flown! My sister-in-law is due in less than a week now, and I can't wait. You sound so wonderfully zen about the whole thing. I hope I'm that way whenever my turn comes.

[Dawn]

Sweetie, Emily fucked around moving all over gods creation UNTIL the day of her delivery. When she got her shit together and slid out in under 2 hours.

Don't let anyone tell you scary stories.

And now I will share with you the piece of advice my labor coach gave me ( which I secretly mocked the shit out of her until the actually labor came to pass)

Each contraction - once its over - you don't have to have that contraction again. Each one is closer to the end. Just manage them one at a time.

Right before I began to push - I was actually heard to say "I never have to have that contraction AGAIN". That is when I realized that it was a good piece of advice.

Love you.

[Bethiclaus]

Alliclaus was posterior until shortly after they broke my water. The back contractions were intense, but I think they must have been for her as well, because she turned around pretty quickly.

[Bethiclaus]

Also, I'm sure you already know this, but that 40% extra blood will stick around for awhile after delivery. Put your feet up! I thought that my swelling was bad in the last weeks of my pregnancy, but it was NOTHING compared to the first weeks postpartum.

[V-Grrrl]

I'm just glad you're here to write this Teebs. I mean, you could have been suffocated by your ginormous boobs while in downward dog. Are you wearing goggles to protect your eyes?

[Heather]

Ah I'm sure kiddo will straighten out and get settled the way he's supposed to (have you tried a stern talking-to? :P). Here's to the home stretch!

[wordgirl]

All three of mine were facing "sunnyside up" as the nurses called it. Once we figured that out (it's just the way I'm shaped) they rotated around. With the oldest, they had me on all fours and rocking back and forth. And it worked. You're going to do a fabulous job.

[wordgirl]

All three of mine were facing "sunnyside up" as the nurses called it. Once we figured that out (it's just the way I'm shaped) they rotated around. With the oldest, they had me on all fours and rocking back and forth. And it worked. You're going to do a fabulous job.

[Chris]

Hmm, I think my niece was turned the "wrong" way. It was all fine, and she looked very cute straight from birth, because she was less scraped up. :)

[Arabella]

I didn't have a posterior baby that turned, but I did have a transverse baby that turned to breech, which is a significant improvement. I felt that sleeping on my left side helped a bit, given the way that my baby was positioned. I've also heard of women visualizing their babies turning, or playing music in the direction they want the baby to turn. Hey, whatever helps. Listen to your body; it'll tell you what you need to do.

My acupuncturist told me she had worked with a woman to turn a breech baby vertex, with great success. I regularly had acupuncture during my pregnancy, and felt that it helped tremendously with the discomforts of late pregnancy. If you're going to try it, you'll probably want to discuss it with your midwife first, but it's generally considered very safe, as long as you see an experienced, qualified acupuncturist. It might even help make for an easier and faster delivery. And, above all, don't worry. Most of the women I've really spoken to about it have had far better L&D experiences than any anecdotal horror stories you hear--regardless of the method of delivery. The important thing is to be informed, trust your body, and choose the birth situation that's right for you. You've already done all of that; you'll be fine. :)

[DebbieDoesLife]

Go Yoga Mama! You will do great!!

[The Fat Lady Sings]

My best friend’s sister had both of her baby’s sunny-side up. 20 minutes labor tops - both times. Your son will ease his way into the world, my dear. Everything will be just fine! You know we all will be sending out positive thoughts and heartfelt prayers – right? And I think your hubby should take a few pictures of you doing yoga. Think of how much fun they will be to look at 20-odd years down the line! :)

[Jess]

Three weeks left?!?!? Where does the time go?

I'm so excited for you. That little guy is going to be so loved! :)

[chris]

Unbelievable that you are so close to the end and meeting your baby! So awesome.

My daughter was "sunny side up" I don't remember the contractions with her being more painful than any of my other labors.

I just read the post you linked and I can tell you I have never owned a diaper genie, or even a dedicated diaper pail. I just put the stink ones into the grocery store plastic bags and tie them up. The wet ones just go in the garbage can.

I have never had most of the things that we are told as parents we NEED. The vibrating bouncy chair thing was probably the only "special" baby thing we have had.

[Ortizzle]

Well, I have no idea what those positions are (except for breech), so now I am going to have to consult with my sister, who is a nurse, and has also had kids.

Anyway, this is the home stretch, so exciting. Looking forward to the first pics of your babe, whichever way he slides out. And with all the prep you have done, it just has to be a great birth experience.

[Elizabeth]

Ohmygosh, three WEEKS?? Yay! I just know you are going to be great at labor, and soon you will have your son in your arms and more love in your heart than you ever thought possible! And a present from me, which I SWEAR I'm mailing tomorrow!

xoxoxo
Elizabeth

[Mom101]

You will succumb to the ugly plastic toys, trust me. Until they make a tasteful exersaucer out of bent plywood and sailcloth...

that's the scariest story I know.