BIg day yesterday

We had our 23 week ultrasound yesterday and everything looks great. All major organs and limbs present and correct. We got a really good look at Cupcake's face when they were checking for a cleft palate. We saw her open and close her mouth and suck her thumb. She already looks different to Toby and she's started to fatten up since we last saw her at 16 weeks. Her cheeks are getting nice and chubby.

We had two surprises. One is that it looks like Cupcake is not going to be the medium-sized baby that I was expecting. In fact, some of her measurements are so large that I'm going to have another ultrasound at 32 weeks to double check her size. Nothing to worry about, just looks like another big baby. Her largest measurement was her thigh bone which was in the 95th percentile. Tobes was literally off the charts at this stage so I think she'll still be smaller than he was, but she's going to give him a run for his money.

The second surprise was that my calm, sweet little girl isn't quite as calm as I thought. She was wiggling all over the place during the scan and pushing back against the ultrasound sensor. Still not the jumping bean that Toby was. He actually kicked the sensor off my belly at his 20 week ultrasound, but she's more spunky than I thought. I think J said it best when he described her as being energetic but with composure and forethought. Tobes is like the Tasmanian Devil, spinning around like a whirlwind, but it looks like Cupcake is more of a thinker. When they were trying to check her for a cleft palate she obviously didn't like the pressure on her face but instead of lashing out or moving away she put both arms in front of her face and refused the move them. They had to give up and check again later.

Now, I know I'm putting a great deal of meaning into a few movements on an ultrasound but I do believe that babies develop their personalities in the womb. Tobes was always incredibly energetic and reacted to children's voices and certain kinds of music. He's still very energetic, sociable and loves the same kind of music so I do think you can tell a bit about your babies before they're even born. So far, Cupcake doesn't seem to care much for music but she goes nuts when she hears Toby's voice and she's more of a stretcher than a kicker.

Last night I started antenatal yoga. It's all a bit earth-mothery for me with a lot of talk about being goddesses, making a universe in your womb, etc, etc but I love the actual stretching. I slept better last night than I have in months and woke up without the usual stiffness and soreness I've been having. I'll definitely keep doing it and I'm even going to order a birthing ball today to sit on so I can keep my pelvis 'loose'. I had sciatica with Tobes and I'd like to avoid that again if possible.

The only issue with the yoga is that they're already encouraging me to try for a vaginal birth rather than a C-section. We had in independent midwife give a talk last night after class and I asked her about the chances of success and the risks. I'm pretty set on a C-section but I want to keep an open mind. She said I had about a 75% chance of a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) but the major risk was the chance of my existing scar rupturing. Does not sound pleasant.

I think I'll do some more reading but I'm still leaning towards the cesarean. I'd hate to get myself worked up for a natural birth and then end up with a cesarean anyway or worse, have my scar rupture and put both my and Cupcake's lives in danger. Just need to look into the benefits of a VBAC. I know the risks associated with a C-section but my section went so smoothly and my recovery was so quick after Tobes that it all seems pretty straighforward to me. Hmmmm, time to do some research.