You see, everyone I encounter acts as if I am late having this baby. The baby is due Nov. 7th. I have not yet hit my due date. However, no one can believe I am still pregnant. It's as if all babies come early. The world I live in stopped a long time ago in some aspects. Everyone expects the baby will be here any second and I shouldn't drive, etc as a result. Plus, convenience induction is very much the norm, so why wait? For example, my sisters' husband is a doctor so they induce based on his schedule. Two weeks before her due date with the last one.
This idea really bothered me then (and somewhat still does now). My son was a week late. I didn't want to have him induced. The doctor told me he would have to induce after 2 weeks late since the risk of still births increased at that point, but no need before. Because dh was going to enter his very busy time at work, as time passed he would have less and less time at home with me and the baby. Because he would induce at 2 weeks late anyway, we felt it wasn't too much worse to induce a week earlier than that so dh could have more time. So, we made the choice to schedule inducement at one week past my due date. I prayed and prayed he would come on his own so we'd know we weren't rushing him. Plus, selfishly, I wanted the excitement of going into labor versus getting up to an alarm and driving to the hospital. My water broke the night before the induction was scheduled and I was grateful.
With this pregnancy, I was surrounded by friends who were due around the same time (what can I say, he/she is a Valentine's Day conception) :) And, after tomorrow, I will be the last one standing. Of four. One's baby was early, one was a c-section scheduled for a week early, and tomorrow a friend is doing a convenience induction (almost two weeks before her due date). No wonder I feel past due at 39 1/2 weeks!
Then today, at the ultrasound, the tech asked me if I was inducing. I told her that dh and I decided to have the baby Nov. 11th if he/she hadn't made an appearance yet. I still feel odd saying that. Yes, we potentially chose the baby's birthday. It sounds so strange. It doesn't feel right. Clearly I have mixed feelings. The baby should come when the baby is ready. So why am I doing it? I guess it is nice to know that there is an end in sight when I am uncomfortable day in and day out. Bending over, getting up at night, doing anything around the house are all very difficult if not out of the question. While I am uncomfortable and waiting for this little one, I am not getting other things done. I don't feel good. I am tired. I know I will be tired after the baby comes, but it will be different. I am not getting my dissertation done at the point, not getting work or housework done, I might as well start my maternity leave. Okay, I know that sounds ridiculous. Plus I am spending time with Charlie, his last bit as an only child. I guess in the end I am as impatient as the rest...
I will say it is excited impatience. I can't wait to meet this little one. To learn the gender, to memorize the baby's face, etc. The baby is big enough at this point to be healthy. I know the baby can breathe on its own already, as evidenced everytime I have an ultrasound, and with Charlie we had to induce even after my water broke....so I feel it is somewhat justified. Though it still feels strange and I hope the baby will come on his/her own schedule before then, in the end I am no different than the rest.
You know the funny thing? In reply to my induction date the tech asked, "why are you waiting so long?" Okay so maybe I am still a little different than the rest. Seriously, you can't win!
Beth asked for a pic and I just happened to download my all time fav pregnancy pic tonight. It's from Halloween, after trick or treating. And b/c I love you guys, you get to see the before pic too. He was so cute, snuggling up to my belly, and I had no idea I was showing any, let alone this much! (Note to self, must give birth before topping 50lbs!) The second pic is my favorite all time pic. That snuggling is completely initiated by him. A fall picture post including Halloween pics coming soon.
22 comments:
I am so excited to find out what you are having, and I think by this time, every woman is ready to meet her new little baby! Praying that this baby arrives soon on his or her own and that you don't have to wait until the 11th! :)
This is all so new to me! So thanks for sharing all of this. I love reading everything you're going through just a few weeks ahead of me this whole pregnancy (and when your little one is here it will probably really get me excited/anxious to meet my baby boy!).
I hope your baby comes on his/her own in the next few days. And hat is wild that Charlie came on his own the night before your induction! Maybe the same thing will happen this time!
I hope you don't mind my saying that I really hope you wait for the baby to come on his/her own. From everything I've researched-it's just absolutely best for the baby. If mom is healthy and baby is healthy-then I don't see a need to artificially induce. Due dates are ESTIMATES that can be off -+ two weeks. People tend to forget the + part (not you-just "people" :)
From what I've learned, contractions with Pitocin are much stronger than contractions that happen on their own. This can lead to more stress on the baby, more time without oxygen, etc and increase your risk for the need for forceps, vacuum, or a c-section. All of those bring their own increase risk as well.
I obvisously haven't hit the end of the third trimester yet, so I can't say I know how you feel. I imagine it will be very, very hard for me to wait as well. And I hope my comment don't upset/offend you. I just didn't want to remain silent when something I've studied might help you in making a decision.
Either way-I can't wait to "meet" this little guy/girl either!!!
K,
I don't mind you saying so at all! I am sort of on the fence about this as you can tell from my post.
In my case, my water broke with Charlie. However, I never went anywhere. Not one contraction I could feel. So I have experienced pitocin firsthand and it sucked. The main reason it sucks is there is no in between-it is from zero to full labor. I did not have to use anything artificial as a result, but I know that risk and I hate that idea.
I will say also, I totally agree due dates can be off, not to mention that it is a bell curve, so there are some late and some early. We are confident on our dates of conception, obviously, but a 41 week pregnancy or a little more isn't any more crazy than a 39 week pregnancy or a little shorter. I think it is crazy people forget this.
I appreciate the food for thought. It was a good reminder of stuff I have read. Differing ideas are always welcome in the wheelbarrow! :)
Well I don't know a darn thing about contractions, Pitocin, etc. but I'm glad to learn it from you ladies. I can't WAIT to see what it's going to be!!! You were my first blogger I ever met so I feel so close to you and your progress with this little one:):) Blessings and I'll be praying for the baby to come au naturel!
So glad I didn't offend! And I came back to say-don't forget about the natural ways to induce! Lots of walking, nipple stimulation, and castor oil are a few I've heard/read about. I've also heard about some success with pushing on different pressure points.
And for the record-I think it's a girl!
I can't believe it's getting so close! I'll keep you in my prayers.
I think it's a boy. :)
My ob offered to induce me on Dec 14, at 39 weeks. I said no (although it was VERY tempting at that time of year!) Ken said we are inducing if he's not here by Dec 31 - for tax reasons! lol But that would mean he'd be 10 days late, and I doubt that will happen. I've never been induced and have had long but great labors. I wouldn't mind this kid coming a few days early, but I will let God choose his due date, even if it's on Christmas!
By the way, while you're waiting, let's see a belly shot!
Yay - baby WBR is almost here!!! Can't wait, and I will be praying for a beautiful uncomplicated delivery day with a healthy mom and baby at the end of it. Blessings to you and your family!
Oh K, I've been thinking of a blog post after I read Ina Mays book on natural childbirth....But to not cause controversy I think I'm going to step back from it! The book FREAKED ME OUT!!!!! hahahahahaha It actually made me very uncomfortable! BUt I totally get you, totally get you! I think if the options were available to me, things would be different, but i'm definitely and epidural girl. :)
WB-I'm already impatient. :) I want the baby to come when I want it to come.....hahahaha So I get that lingo completely! ;)
LOOK AT THAT BELL! I LOVE IT:):):)
love the pics and sheesh! Can't believe it's so hard! I really hope baby comes on his own. I pray you don't have to have a c-section. I'm not pg nor have I ever been, but what I've read and heard from friends echos K's thoughts. Blessings!!!
Love those pics!
You look adorable! A happy babymoon is coming soon!
I understand. I had Maggie at 42 weeks exactly and while I did go to the hospital for non stress tests, everything was just fine. But every nurse I encountered could NOT believe my OB hadn't scheduled me for an induction yet.
My response was always "Why would she? I'm fine, baby's fine."
I think a lot of folks are shocked b/c they are scheduling inductions and c sections. No one ever seems to just go into labor anymore:)
I say let them bake as long as they can!
I just realized how snotty that sounded when I wasn't meaning to be:)
I just meant that if Mom and Baby are okay and the OB isn't being pushy, it's best to wait. But I think it's hard to find an OB willing to let women go as far as I did or even to 40 weeks.
I'm only 31 weeks and already impatient:) Hope he comes sooner than later!
Last comment, I promise....
Has your OB stripped your membranes? That might bet things going? It's a tad uncomfortable but can do the job.
And I got Maggie's labor going with castor oil:) How desperate are you?????
You look super cute!
I don't get it either with people who think going to your due date or a little past it is so crazy. Most of the time the baby will come when the baby is good and ready. Most of the time. I understand that there are exceptions to this. Our society is just so impatient. I was watching some talk show the other day, I think Dr. OZ, and some woman was talking about scheduling a c-section. Not because there was a medical reason for it, but because it fit her schedule better. Seriously?
I'm praying this baby comes on his/her own and that you don't need pitocin. That stuff scares the daylights out of me!
And for the record, I think it's a girl. :)
To address a few of your ?s/comments, first of all no one has offended me in the least and I welcome your thoughts. Secondly, I haven't tried castor oil or any natural things to get things moving. I can barely walk, so that is out of the question, lol. Doc is in no hurry, he is fine with whatever, one of the things I love about him. 2 weeks late is when chances of stillbirth increase, so most docs won't let you go longer than that, but mine is fine with waiting until then. I am not. I am not even getting close to those kinds of risk factors. No thank you!!! As far as pitocin, prob need it regardless...at my appt today no real progress at all. One last thing, he didn't want to just break my water and have me walk b/c he thought I would go really fast. I forgot to ask more about this. I had my membranes stripped with C and it did nothing. I know this one isn't guarenteed the same, but that is my experience. We shall see. I really feel much better knowing we have a date set. Much less anxious, etc. I feel like it will give the baby a good chance to come on its own and if not, we have another plan :) Baby is healthy, of decent weight, with excellently developed lungs, so that is all very important.
Just getting a chance to read this - can't believe I am so late!
I was thinking of you this morning and it made me happy to check on you, you just might have already had your new baby by now! Know that prayers abound for all four of you!!
Baby will make his/her appearance when he/she is ready!! Nothing we can all do about that! I can't wait to meet him/her. Very excited!
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