The Week I’m Going to Have a Baby

Damn.  I’ve been counting down the days, weeks for so long now that I really can’t believe that we are in single digits now.  Even my neighbors are counting down with me.  I’ve remained pretty active, and still take our dogs for a walk everyday, and each day some neighbor will comment about how it’s almost time.  It’s really sweet.  But because I know the date I’ll be induced, I’ve basically thrown out the idea that she could possibly come any earlier than that day.  So far I’ve been right. 

So, this week before she arrives I have a list of things I need to do.  Some of them are things I actually need to do, and others of them are more fun things like get a pedicure and pick up my birthday gift from Sephora…oh yeah, I turned 31 just a few days ago!  So baby girl and I will have a birthday just a few days apart. 

Ok, so if you’re wondering what happens when you get induced, I got the details from my doctor.  Not saying this is the only way it can happen, but this is what the plan is for me.  I’ll go in the night before my induction so that they can start to “ripen my cervix”.   Basically, it’s a softening of the cervix that is done either by placing a tablet on your cervix or taking an oral pill.  My doctor is opting for the tablet on my cervix.  It causes cramping, but studies have shown that if you start with this procedure, then you are able to use less pitocin, so I’m all for that.  Then, at about 4 or 5 a.m. they’ll plan to start the pitocin.  And they’ll just monitor my progress to see how things are going.  My doctor said that if my water has not broken on its own, then she plans to do that anywhere between 10 a.m. and 12.  Of course this is all depends on how my body responds to the pitocin, but this is the loose plan. 

We also talked about epidural.  I know I haven’t talked about my birth plan here at all, but it was always my intent to get an epidural.  I had hoped that I would be able to labor at home for as long as possible and then go into the hospital.   But, since my amniotic fluid has been high all along, that plan was thrown out the window.  So, I had basically already planned on spending longer laboring in the hospital than I would like.  Which, actually makes this induction thing even easier to swallow.  Ok, but back to the epidural…my doctor indicated that they are very generous with them, so I just need to let them know whenever I’m ready to get one.  And, she reminded me that because I will be given pitocin, my contractions will be pretty intense.   I also talked to my sister about all this because she was induced with each of her kids and she recommended that I get an epidural before they break my water because it was pretty painful.  Definitely a good tip to remember. 

I also told my doctor that I was really opposed to the use of forceps or vacuum extraction.  Thankfully, she told me that since my baby is measuring large, she would never think to use them.  She said if she’s not coming out, it means that she is not fitting and the use of either of those items would be extremely dangerous.  We also talked about external vs. internal monitoring.  Again, I said that I wanted to avoid internal monitoring except as a last resort.  She indicated that internal monitoring is last resort for her too, she would only do it if my labor stopped progressing so that they could get more information about what was going on.  I can get on board with that. 

And then I’ll have a baby!!  I’m still in disbelief that it’s almost here.  But I couldn’t be more excited.  I’ve seen her chubby cheeks and pouty lips for so many weeks in the ultrasound pictures; now I’m ready to see all of that for real.  And, I’m dying to share her name with you all.  It’s just a few more days!  Wish us luck.