Baby Jensen | Week 39

3/10/2015
39 WEEKS

Today we went to our 39 week prenatal visit. Baby girl has been measuring small the last few weeks, but we have been assured it was nothing to be worried about. I'm a small person and am likely to have a small baby. Today she measured small once again. Dr. Peterson also did an exam checking for dilation and effacement. I was 1 centimeter dilated and 60% effaced. From what the doc could tell, baby's head was down and all was well. But before sending us on our way he suggested an ultrasound just to be sure. 

We all kept very quiet during the ultrasound while the tech gathered some measurements. I didn't feel stressed or worried but I could sense that something was about to happen and was just trying to take it all in.

Jay and I sat in a private waiting area while Dr. Peterson looked over the ultrasound results. Just five minutes later he came back with some information: baby girl weighed about 5 pounds and 14 ounces, my amniotic fluid was low, and baby was breech. Her size and the low amniotic fluid level wasn't necessarily a concern, but the news of her being breech was surprising. Even the doctor commented, "When I did your exam I was CERTAIN I was touching the top of a head." But I guess what he felt was just a sweet little boney bum, which, of course, makes us wonder if the other doctors made the same mistake in assuming her bum was her head during previous exams or if baby girl turned last minute.

With baby girl being so squished in my belly in such a small amount of amniotic fluid to help her move around and the fact that we're already at 39 weeks, her chances of flipping are 1%. A c-section seemed inevitable and Dr. Peterson saw no reason to put it off, so he excused himself to make a phone call to the hospital. A couple minutes later while on the phone he looks over and says, "How does Thursday at 8:00am sound?" Uhhhh. It all happened so fast. Dr. Peterson answered all of our questions wonderfully, and we felt confident in his judgement.

None of this feels real at all. We spent so much time on edge wondering when those gnarly contractions were going to hit, or when my water was going to break. And suddenly BAM! Someone is basically telling us the exact day and time that we will have our baby. Surreal...that's the only adjective I can come up with. After talking with my dear sister and a few friends who have had c-sections, I have a decent understanding of the cons. And you can trust that I have my fears about all this. But, I'm also aware of the pros to having a c-section- a scheduled c-section at that. So the pros are what we're focusing on:

-We get to meet our baby girl in less than two days!

-Tomorrow will be a special day, embracing my last day of pregnancy and our last day as just "Jay and Rachel".

-Tomorrow I can make sure the house is spick and span, get our hospital bag 100% ready, and maybe even do a little primping such as painting my nails.

-I won't have to endure the pain of labor.

-Assuming all goes well, the process of bringing baby girl into the world will be quick [typically baby is out within 15 minutes of surgery, and I'll be stitched up and done within 30 minutes after baby is out]. 

-Extra time in the hospital.

-No cone-headed baby! [Rich pointed out that one. Thanks grandpa!]

Jay and I are just so stinking thrilled to start this new chapter of our lives.

We made it to 39 weeks. In some ways pregnancy has been more difficult than I anticipated, but nonetheless, so joyful. I am so grateful to my father in heaven for not only allowing me to experience pregnancy, but for allowing me to experience a healthy pregnancy. Really it has been a smooth ride with uneventful doctor's visits. We are grateful. Though this isn't the ending Jay or I imagined, I feel at peace knowing that it's in the hands of Heavenly Father. All will be well.