37 weeks

Well another great shower has come & gone.  We had an amazing time in Baltimore with our family & long time family friends celebrating our soon to be born baby girl.  This shower also took place during one of the three triple crown races, this time the Preakness, where it turned out to be Lookin At Lucky's big day for the win.  So we will not be naming our baby girl after Super Saver or Lookin At Lucky.  However it's been fun to tie in the horse races to the backdrop of each shower event.  And as I am now full term...Maybe it will be my little thoroughbred who will win big on June 5th.  It could happen.  Here are a few photos from the Baltimore Baby Shower.  Thanks to my aunt & her family for hosting a lovely party.

 
On to the current issues.  So our little baby girl still has not turned.  I've done everything holistically possible so far.  She's not moving.  So now we discuss the in hospital version.  I'm disappointed about the prospect of this manual maneuver.  Word on the street is that it's rather uncomfortable for mom & can take anywhere from 5-30min to successfully turn the baby.  They usually stop after 30min even if the baby has not turned.  The other concern is that this maneuver will cause the baby to go into distress, which could result in an emergency c-section.  The other issue is that if she has not turned by 39 weeks, either on her own or by force, I will be scheduled for a c-section.  It always goes without saying that mom & dad want a healthy baby born, first & foremost.  However, we take issue with people who say don't worry about it.  That's just insane to me.  While a c-section is common practice in the US, anyone in a sound frame of mind ought to consider the draw backs of any surgery "big" or "small".  And oh-by-the-way, abdominal surgery isn't considered a walk in the park.  Not to mention that this is as far from my envisioned birth experience.  So there is reason to allow me to grieve for the potential loss of that experience, all while preparing for what may come, and all that will be required in a cesarean postpartum recovery.  A c-section does have very immediate & long term lifelong consequences.  So today I'm sad & disappointed.