Also, Baby C needs to flip. He was again/still breech at my appointment yesterday and at 36 weeks this is a concern. I’ve got a week to convince him to do it on his own and then I have an appointment to try to have him turned manually. If that fails, then it’ll have to be a C-section.

I know the goal is just supposed to be a healthy baby, however the idea of a planned C-section makes me feel like all of the preparing I’ve done for a normal labor and birth will have been for nothing. Not to mention, I can’t imagine having to take care of a newborn and recover from surgery at the same time. It’s great that it exists as an option, but I wasn’t planning on it being my option.

The midwives suggested the Rebozo from Spinning Babies which I need to show to Andrew since it takes two people. I was also told that sometimes just talking to them and telling them what you want can help, so I’ve been making an effort to talk to my stomach, insisting that it will be better for both of us if he will turn into position.

I believe I’ve found the true, secret reason for the pregnancy waddle.

Now this is a good time to mention my ongoing annoyance with the misuse of the word vagina. Because if I Google to make sure this is normal, I find posts like “Feel like I’ve been kicked in the vagina.” and I can’t tell if we’re experiencing the same thing. My vagina feels fine (thankfully), but my vulva is suddenly sore.

It actually started around my clit, making me wonder if this is the pseudo-unforgivable thing for the third trimester. (All this time I had assumed it would involve peeing myself at some point.) Now it’s moving down as well, but any self-troubleshooting – that is, poking around trying to find the sore spot – doesn’t lead to anything. But the slight pressure from my thighs when I walk, or move a certain way, or lay on my side… that causes pain.

I’m trying to look normal when people are around because I don’t want to be a pregnant cliche, but this certainly gives an incentive to walk funny.