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Well, baby Sprout has an independent mind and doesn't think much of the rule that babies should come into the world head-first. The version was unsuccessful, so we're on to a scheduled Cesarean.

I went in yesterday around 10:00. I got through the admissions paperwork, which was not nearly as bad as I expected. They got me to a room in labor and delivery and I changed into a hospital gown. They did a quick ultrasound to make sure that the baby was still breech and then hooked me up to the monitors to make sure baby was doing well and I wasn't contracting. I had been having some contractions the night before and a couple that morning, so I was a little concerned that they'd tell me I was in labor and I'd have to have the baby then. I was just paranoid, though. I didn't have any contractions the whole time I was at the hospital and I haven't had any since.

They also started IV fluids after putting me on the monitor. After they determined that baby and mom were doing well, they gave me a shot of terbutaline to relax my uterus. A side effect of this medication is that it makes you feel nervous and jittery. I definitely experienced this, but it wasn't horrible. Then the doctor came in and talked a little more about the procedure.

They got the ultrasound out to figure out the position of the baby. The nurse held the wand over the baby's heart the whole time so that they could keep a close eye on her heartbeat. Then the real fun began. Dr. L. began manipulating the baby. He got her bottom up out of my pelvis and started trying to turn her. She actually turned a bit at first and got everyone's hopes up. It was pretty painful for me, but I was able to breathe through it all okay. My husband stood at the foot of the bed (there was no room at the head) and massaged my feet the whole time, which was a big help. Dr. L. said he tried a little longer than he would normally because she seemed to want to turn, but he got to a point that he just wasn't willing to force it any more, which was fine with everyone. He seemed like he might be even more disappointed than we were. The actual procedure only took about 15 minutes, but it felt like a lot longer!

After it was over, Dr. L. talked to us for a little while about scheduling the c-section and then he had to go to the OR for a delivery. I was monitored for another hour before they took out the IV and let me change back into my clothes. They gave me the discharge paperwork (on which I had to sign twice that I was taking prenatal vitamins) and we left the hospital.

I was definitely a little sore afterwards, but I was also hungry and thirsty, so we stopped and had a nice lunch and went home. I rested most of the afternoon (doctor's orders). I felt pretty wiped out between the stress and a bad cold I've developed. This morning, I woke up even more sore from the procedure. I feel like the whole top of my belly should be black and blue as it feels really bruised.

I can tell that the baby has shifted somewhat and is in a different position, but is nowhere close to head down. Assuming that she doesn't go bottoms up before then, we've scheduled the c-section for Tuesday morning at 7:15. I'm not excited about delivering this way, but I feel like we've done everything we could and I just have to accept and prepare to meet my baby in a different way. As one of my Peace Corps friends (who is a huge natural birth advocate) said, we are so fortunate to live in a place where we have the option of a safe c-section when it is medically indicated.

So, we are so happy that we are going to be parents next week and having an actual date on the calendar is kind of crazy. We're working out details and making a few decisions still and I hold out a little hope that Sprout will decide that seeing the world head first is a good idea, but have accepted that she has a mind of her own. I'm sure this is not the last time she'll disrupt our plans!