Breech Baby - The Webster Technique

So ever since Max decided to be a butt, I've been looking into ways to flip him around, and one of the most legitimate looking methods is chiropractic care. I've had back issues that have progressively worsened over the three pregnancies, and according to a bunch of internet sources, spine/sacrum/pelvis can put undue strain on the uterus, which is attached with ligaments to these bones.

The Webster Technique is a specific 'adjustment' a chiropractor does to pop these things back in place and lessen the tension on those ligaments, thus giving the baby more freedom to move. I'm hoping firstly that this will end or seriously curb the lower back pain I've had off and on for 3 years and secondly give Max some room to flip around.

So I had my first adjustment this morning, and while walking is still a challenge (Max is definitely still breech) I think I feel a little better in that my back certainly doesn't hurt. I go back in two days to do other adjustments if necessary. Hopefully Max will turn head down in the next few days!

In the meantime, I hope to do some pool floating and belly rubbing, and maybe get a manicure/pedicure...

In other news, I just got a Baby Center email today telling me "your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds..." ha! try nearly 6 pounds - that could be part of why his being breech is causing me so much (pelvic) stress!

Max's Ultrasound

Here's the report:

We are 32 weeks and 3 days along.

Max is measuring at 34 weeks and 1 day (so he's big).

He's estimated to be about 5.5 lbs right now, and should gain about half a pound every week until then - that's FOUR more pounds! There's a very good chance he'll be as big or slightly bigger than

Patrick was (born at 9 lbs 3 oz).

Max is 'frank breech' right now (I felt him turn into this position a few days ago and was kind of afraid they might say that). That means if he were to come out today he'd be coming out bottom first and his head and feet are up at the tippity-top of my belly. Apparently there isn't much outside of wive's tale sorts of remedies for this, but I intend to try some of them. There's still plenty of time for him to turn around, and the vast majority of babies will turn before they are born. If need be, I'll have the doctor turn him because I really don't want to have a C-section!

The ultrasound tech seems to think he'll have a significant head of hair.

Max had a good heartbeat and everything looks perfectly healthy!

This was our LAST appointment in Silver Spring with our great doctors at Capital Women's Care. The next doctor's appointment we have will be in New York! It's already scheduled for July 7th.

Last but not least - here are some pics!

Dear Baby

Dear Maximilian,

It's been almost 8 months since we started living together, and...we need to talk. I'm feeling a little like you think you can just do whatever you want around here. You stay up until all hours of the night and then you sleep all day, and you do very little to contribute to society. In fact, it's starting to giving me heartburn. I feel like I have to drag you around anywhere, and you never take the initiative to do anything for me. If you don't start pulling your weight around here, I'm going to have to start charging you rent. I love you dearly, son, but really - something's gotta give.

Love,

Your Mother

A New World Order

This was week 1 of Daddy Duty. Since Matt's completely done with school, we've set the childcare tech free to pursue bigger and better things, and now Matt is stay-at-home-dad...I know what you're thinking - I'm scared, too!

No, just kidding. The kids survived and Matt's actually got them on a pretty tight schedule. I've been trying to help out as much as I can before work and at lunchtime, other than that, he's on his own. No surprise here, Karol is eating it up having Daddy around 24/7. She is such a daddy's girl.

Last weekend we both GRADUATED!!! And now we have Master's degrees. It still hasn't sunken in yet. Matt's got his post-grad job, now I have to figure out what I'm going to do with mine, after Max arrives, of course.

Speaking of which, he's been a pain in the back recently, literally. I've always had a little acute lower back pain during pregnancy, but in the past couple of days its been debilitating. It started Friday, and luckily, being at work is actually easier on the muscles than being at home is (Patrick loves his mommy but he's heavy!).

So now it's back to work on Monday. Only 11 1/2 more weeks of lugging this kid around the hard way!