Pregnancy Diary

Archive for the ‘Pregnancy Week 35’ Category

Most of the time during pregnancy, nature will take its course and your baby will eventually turn to where he is head down and waiting to drop into the pelvis and make his descent into the world. Occasionally however, a baby will remain in the head up position where his head is near your ribs and his butt is at the top of your pelvis. This is called breech presentation, often referred to simply as your baby being breech.

It can happen with twins or other pregnancies with multiplesas there isn’t enough room in the uterus all the time for the babies to flip around. It can also happen if there is a smaller than normal amount of amniotic fluid, a short umbilical cord, or other uterine abnormalities. If your baby has a congenital defect he is more likely to be breech as well.

Premature babies are more likely to be breech as they have not had enough time to turn around. At 28 weeks of pregnancy 25% of babies are still in the breech position while less than 5% of babies are breech when a full term labor begins. They include actually four different versions of breech presentation in babies:

• Frank Breech where your baby comes out bottom first and the feet are up by your babies ears, the most common way a breech baby will be presented.
• Complete Breech where your baby is sitting cross-legged and comes out bottom first
• Footling Breech where your baby’s bottom is higher in the uterus, but his feet are at the opening of the pelvic bone, set to come out first
• Kneeling Breech where your baby is in a kneeling position at the top of the pelvic bone. Both the Footling Breech and the Kneeling Breech are very rare positions.

If the baby cannot be turned, or the couple chooses to not try turning the baby, then a c-section will often be scheduled in order to deliver a breech baby. There are risks to delivering a full term breech baby, Including a prolapsed umbilical cord, oxygen deprivation, the baby’s head getting stuck since the bottom is softer and may not dilate the cervix as much as it should, as well as possible injury to the baby’s brain and skull. Because of these risks, doctors will generally not agree to do vaginal breech births, and will instead insist on delivering the baby by c-section as it is safer for both the mother and the baby.

At the end of this month you will be holding your precious baby in your arms. But are you ready for all that labor and delivery will bring?You have probably had at least one baby shower. Before you bring the baby home there are severalessentials that you want to make sure you have waiting for you:

Infant/Convertible Car Seat:If you have your baby in a hospital then you will not be allowed to leave the hospital without having your newborn secured in a car seat. There are two types of car seats you can buy for your baby. One is an infant car seat that specifically designed to hold babies up to approximately 22 pounds and 26 inches, and being portable so you do not have to disturb a sleeping baby to get him out of a car. They are also convenient because you can strap your baby in while in the house and then just lock the car seat in the base. The other type of car seat you might buy is a convertible car seat. This kind stays in your car all the time, but is designed to face backwards until your babies first birthday, and then sit forwards until your baby is about 40 pounds. Some convertible car seats can hold your baby till they are about 60 pounds.
Supplies: So that you do not have to run to the store immediately. Make sure you have plenty of diapers, diaper rash ointment, baby powder, diaper wipes, wash cloths, scratch mitts, and gowns for your baby to sleep in, for you will be tired upon arriving home from the hospital so having the supplies close at hand will help save time and save your energy.
A Place for Baby to Sleep: You may choose to co-sleep with your baby in your bed. If so you might want to buy a sleep positioner to help keep your baby safe. Other choices for sleeping arrangements include a crib, a bassinet or a travel yard. Bassinets are designed to keep your baby close by you and can often be moved throughout the house. The majority of babies are placed in a crib at some point, whether it is when they are first brought home, or when they outgrow a bassinet.
Baby Bath Tub: Newborns are too small to be placed in your bath tub and they will need support to keep from falling over. If you choose to use the kitchen sink, you will want an infant bather to set the baby in, so that your baby doesn’t fall over. There are several different types of baby bath tubs normally ranging between $10 to $40.

Cesareans are performed if the mother suffers from kidney disease, a respiratory disorder, or another condition which would make a vaginal birth difficult. Often necessary for babies to safely make their way into the world. In the event of fetal distress, a prolapsed umbilical cord, a ruptured uterus, or other complications, a cesarean is often the best choice for a safe delivery. often necessary for babies to safely make their way into the world. In the event of fetal distress, a prolapsed umbilical cord, a ruptured uterus, or other complications, a cesarean is often the best choice for a safe delivery.

While most women won’t know if a cesarean is necessary until they are in labor, some cesarean births are scheduled in advance. If your healthcare provider recommends a scheduled cesarean, ask for an explanation and any available alternatives to a surgical delivery. However, many experts are concerned about the recent rise in cesarean births. In the United States, over 25 percent of babies are born via cesarean. While a large portion of these cesareans were medically necessary, others were performed largely for convenience or to protect against possible malpractice lawsuits.

Most Cesarean Births women will require a three to four day hospital stay and have a longer recovery time for for a vaginal birth. Cesarean infants usually have a more pleasant appearance, since their heads haven’t been pushed through the pelvis. Apagar scores measuring an infant’s condition after birth are similar for both cesarean and vaginal births.