Gosh I'm late this week. Well I'm not the only one! Baby boy is late too!! So I guess we're even. We were expecting him to come early just based on our gut, and now here we are.. late. I was hoping he would be here by the end of the year, but with only 3 hours left this year, that's not going to happen. And the reality is, all that's important is that we have a healthy baby boy when he's ready to join us. The doctor originally set the induction for January 2, 2014 at exactly 41 weeks. I asked if at the next appointment on 40+4, if I could postpone it depending on how it went. She said yes but that after 41 weeks the risks go up and would require 2 non-stress tests (NSTs) per week where they hook me up on the monitor for 20 minutes and listen to baby's heartbeat. She claimed that chances of needing c-section go up and 41 weeks is some magic perfect timing. I don't know if I quite believe that exactly, but she also said that plenty of women do go to 42 weeks as well. I just worry about being induced with Pitocin and my body and Baby Boy not being ready for it, ultimately leading to a c-section. In addition, Pitocin contractions are supposed to be more intense that natural ones, which could make it more difficult to labor without medication. At 39+4 I was 2cm dilated and the doctor stretched me to 3cm. She said I was somewhere between 50%-70% effaced and -3 station. At the 40+4 week appointment I was more or less the same. I saw a midwife instead of my regular doctor but she said that she would have leaned to 2cm as well, but forced me to 3cm. And that I was still 70% and -3 station. I wish he would drop a little bit. I think that would help start some contractions which would move things along. Both the midwife and my doctor claim that my cervix is favorable for an induction because its already soft and opening. So this is good news I suppose if an induction becomes necessary. Papi is far more nervous about me being 'late'. So I was glad that the midwife explained that the due dates are +/-10 days. As a result I postponed the induction until January 6, 2014. Its a Monday and its 11 days past my due date so it lines up with +/-10 days from the due date. It gives him some extra time, but doesn't push it all the way to 42 weeks which would be the latest they would let me go. Either day we will have missed all the holidays, the New Year, and all the family would have left already. So why not give him so extra time to try and avoid and induction if we can. Going to work these weeks isn't so bad since the holidays break up the week, its quiet, some of the days are shorter.
I've tried nearly ever method of natural induction out there. Lots of walking, bouncing on an exercise ball, eating fresh cut pineapple, cinnamon & cumin tea, acupuncture (3 times), herbal tea from the acupuncturist (GROSS!!), sex, and having the doctors strip my membranes 3 separate times. I think I've surrendered my now and will just wait it out. I still can't tell if I've been feeling contractions. I get crampy feelings once every other day or every day. But its hard to tell if that's just a need to use the bathroom. Once in awhile I also feel tightening but still can't tell if its Baby Boy stretching out. Nothing is consistent enough for me to consider it a contraction. I know when its the real deal I will be able to tell. We asked the midwife what she thought the weight was, her guess was 8lbs based on the feel. So if that's right, he may get as high as 8.5lbs by 1/6/14. I've gained 20lbs now, I blame late baby and the family in town the past 2 weeks cooking up delicious food. Since I turn 41 weeks on Thursday and the induction is Monday, I only have time for 1 NST. So Friday 1/3/14 will be my last day at work and I will leave early for the NST. On Monday morning I have to call 2 hours in advance and make sure they have room for me and then be there at 8am.
Today is New Years Eve and this year has been truly great to us. I started a new job and Papi was promoted!! We got pregnant with our first child, our precious son. And next year will prove itself very early this year. In 6 days or less we get to meet Baby Boy. We officially have ourselves a 2014 baby!!
No comments:
Post a Comment