7.20.19 - Calvin flips

On Monday (7/15) I had a prenatal check up and my OB told me Calvin was breech. This news was actually pretty upsetting to me because if we can't get him to flip I'll have to get a c-section, which is more expensive than a typical birth and also has a longer more difficult recovery (meaning more difficult time getting back to earning money after his birth). I felt really stressed about money, resentful that we still have so many money stresses, unsure how I'll take care of three kids while recovering from surgery, and just worried in general.

Anyway, we went ahead and scheduled a version (procedure to try to get Calvin to flip around) for today, Saturday. I'm not allowed to eat anything 8 hours prior to the procedure or drink anything 2 hours prior, so on top of other stresses I was getting hungry, although it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Jack made the girls banana peanut butter pancakes, which they love, and that way I didn't have to mess with a bunch of food I couldn't eat. Afterward Clara played with legos that Jane wanted, so to keep them from bickering I started coloring and Jane joined me. I was pretty happy with the little picture we made together:

Beth kindly took the girls on a Saturday afternoon so Jack could go with me to the version. The whole idea is there are some minor risks that it could trigger labor or an emergency c-section, and I wanted him there in case. We also packed a hospital bag and talked to Beth about possibly having the girls spend the night if there was an emergency, which she was willing to do. She sure is wonderful.

Jane put on her own sunglasses on the way to Beth's.

I had to do the same procedure with Clara, who had also been breech, and I had been far more nervous that time than this time, mostly because people said it can be painful and I wasn't sure what to expect. This time I'd been through it before and, more importantly, I'd been through an emergency c-section before. Of the two, the latter is a lot more painful (recovery, anyway), so I felt calmer and more resolved about doing the version.

We got to the hospital and got all set up. Neil actually called me after our first nurse left and I chatted with him for probably 10-15 minutes before the next nurse arrived, which was kind of nice. We joked about random things. Always cheering talking to him.

The second nurse came (Candy) in and told me I'm having pretty steady albeit mild contractions, which really surprised me because I couldn't feel them at all. I only felt Calvin's continual movement. She said it was fine and not necessarily unusual especially for a woman who has had children already. Still kind of made me nervous though.

The doctor came in to do an ultrasound and confirm Calvin was still breech before we go through the actual version. I told her I was 90% sure he is breech because I can still feel bigger movements in the same upper spot of my abdomen from what I am guessing is his head. It's been consistently that way all week. Candy had mentioned that of the versions she's witnessed, she's seen only one where the baby flipped on her own without the procedure--so it's always possible but not super common. And that's as Jack and I expected.

But when the doctor got the ultrasound set up, she put the wand low on my abdomen and there was Calvin's head! She said "Well there he is" and Jack asked "Wait is that his head??" and she said yes and Jack, me, and Candy all immediately cheered, haha. It was a delightful moment and a big relief. No pain, pressure, or risks, because he was already as he should be.

The doctor congratulated us and Candy went and got our discharge papers. Jack and I decided to celebrate by me taking the day of calorie counting, so after we left we first went to McDonald's so I could get a filet-o-fish meal, and then we still went to MOD and got lunch there together, haha. While we were ordering at MOD another customer asked how far along I was. I said I was due in about 2.5 weeks and the customer as well as the MOD staff congratulated me, asked if it was a boy, and talked to Jack about how they bet he's happy to be having a boy. It was sweet.

And to top it off, after we ate a bunch of junk food, Jack dropped me off at home so I could take ~1hr nap while he went to pick up the girls from Beth. I was surprisingly exhausted, despite getting decent sleep the night before. Maybe it was the stress. But I slept hard.

After the girls got home I hung out in our very comfy rocking chair in the nursery with Jack while he set up the new under-the-bed storage we're going to use for Jane's clothes. Jane joined us, playing with the fake food, and we could hear and kind of see Clara in the bathroom playing with her dinosaurs in the sink. Everyone was relatively peaceful. I actually fell asleep again in the rocking chair half-listening to their goings abouts and it was pretty nice. Jack kept them busy so as not to wake me. I don't think I slept very long that time but it was pleasant.

Overall it was a wonderful surprise turned into a celebratory day.