Getting Ready for Baby #2: On ultrasound, diastasis rectus, polyhydramnios, and a breech baby

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All along this second baby has seemed to be growing at a much faster rate than Peanut did. When people asked me how I felt, starting around month 6 my answer usually fell along the lines of "huge". At my appointment 2 weeks ago my midwife confirmed that I was in fact larger than average for my gestation (typically developing fetuses usually show uterine growth in centimeters that corresponds directly to your # in weeks i.e. at week 32 your uterus should measure 32 cm from pelvic symphysis to top of the uterus). I was about 2 weeks ahead. So the midwife asked me to consent to a quick ultrasound before my next appointment just to check things out to make sure that a) it was only one baby b) that baby was healthy and c) that baby was head down. Well, you can read more about why we've hesitated to have ultrasounds in the past here. But we've always maintained that if there was a medical necessity we'd have one, so ta-da yesterday there we were with Peanut watching closely as the ultrasound tech checked out the baby swimming around inside of me. 
As it turns out, it's a good thing we consented to the check and here's why. I am now measuring at 38cm uterine height at only 34 weeks. That's 4 weeks extra growth, right? Well the ultrasound was able to show that a) the baby is not in fact twins and b) nor is it abnormally large. Instead I have a condition that affects about 1% of pregnancies called polyhydramnios (mayoclinic.com). It is essentially the buildup of too much fluid in the uterus and is linked with a whole host of problems, usually ones having to do with malfunctions of the kidneys, liver and digestive system of the fetus (MedlinePlus). Additionally, because of the extra weight of all that amniotic fluid there's also an increased risk for premature labor and the baby presenting breech. Which of course both come with their own host of problems. To top this all off, my muscles have completely separated causing both diastasis rectus and a herniated umbilical (which you can read about more here). Both of which cause massive back pain.  

Photo Credit: wikipedia.com

Fortunately for me, I have a wonderful group of midwives whose approach to the whole thing is simply to monitor me more closely. If needed they can always do more and if baby stays breech there's the possibility that 2 of the OBs in the joined practice would consent to delivering me without a c-section (you can find information about why breech birth is safe under certain circumstances here and why it's so difficult to find a OB who will do it here). 
So here we are at nearly 35 weeks with no abdominal muscles to speak of, loads of extra fluid, and more frequent trips to the midwives. To look on the bright side of things, we now have pictures of baby #2's beautiful face and the extra visits to the office will just help me get to know all the midwives a little better before the big day comes...