In Due Time
My due date is tomorrow, and my mom flies into town first thing in the morning, so I’m fah-reaking out, because what if she’s here for days and days and days and days with no baby and then it’s time for her to go home and STILL NO BABY? I had this same panic last time, and as it turned out Wombat was born on the evening of his due date and my mom flew in the next morning and everything worked out perfectly and we all lived happily ever after, until, that is, I got pregnant again and convinced myself that everything went too well the first time and so this time everything is doomed to be difficult and backward and fraught.
I get that it’s a gift to make it to 40 weeks and that the health of the baby is paramount, yadda yadda, and were it not for wanting to maximize use of the out-of-towners (my dad will join us next week too), I probably wouldn’t care so much. I’m uncomfortable, but I’m not that uncomfortable. I’m frustrated I can’t do certain things (organize the crawl space, drink a giant margarita), but I’m not that frustrated. I’m more than ready to meet this little dude, but I’m also still enjoying what there is to enjoy about being pregnant for what we plan to be the last time (although that list of enjoyable things becomes less significant as my complaints mount).
My OB first brought up the topic of induction several weeks ago, and my response was “Oh, let’s just wait and see.” She asked about it again on Friday, and I answered the same. I have no reason to think the baby won’t come out on his own in good time (cervix has been dilated 1-2cm for weeks already, and everything is soft and ripe and juicy and every other attribute you might use for a peach ready to be consumed), but MAN, what a way to make an issue out of non-issue by living 800 miles away from my family and depending on their wild guess about the best time to schedule their flights so they can actually hang out with the person they’re coming to hang out with. (That being the baby, not me.) Bleh.
At this point, induction would definitely fall in the non-essential, convenience-based “selfish” category, but that hasn’t stopped me worrying about my parents missing the whole thing entirely if the baby doesn’t come before the 19th (when they fly home and I will still be >42 weeks pregnant). On the one hand, I want them to meet their second (and last?) grandchild while he’s still fresh, and on the other hand, we sure appreciated their help when we brought Wombat home from the hospital, and I have a feeling we’ll need them just as much this time…for Wombat again, because he’s bound to require some extra attention as well as patience, which I seem to be running out of.
Eh, I’ll probably go into labor in the next few days, right? I’m getting my membranes stripped tomorrow afternoon, and last time that happened I had a baby three days later. Oh, if only Worrying about Stupid Stuff were a way to naturally induce labor. It’d sure beat walking [with my special sciatica limp-waddle on feet swollen like twin hams].
Here’s a picture of the full belly at 38 weeks. (I have never been shy about posting photos of myself in a bra, so why start now?)
yes yes yes— stripping the membranes will totally work, baby will arrive in the perfect time, and all will be well. criss cross promise. really. (no, but really. stripping the membranes gives you a very VERY big chance of having the baby very soon. that shit works)
(also, hugs in the meantime. we’ve all got a big margarita waiting for you on the other side)
*Assvice klaxon!*
Totes up to you (obviously), and I am certainly neither pro nor against induction. But I just wanted to say that I was induced- for similar reasons, and because I was ten frickin’ days overdue- and I’m convinced that it led to more intervention. Nothing hideous and this isn’t a scare story… labour just took a long time, was slow to get going, slowed down and stopped at one point. This meant increased monitoring, a hormone drip in my hand (not fun), and (I believe) difficulty in delivering my placenta as my uterus didn’t seem to get the message that it was supposed to be, um, DOING something! I And personally I can’t help but think that, if labour had started naturally, these things may not have happened. I’d think twice next time (which will be in four months, eek)
On the positive side, I didn’t find labour that painful, despite the rumours that induction leads to a painful labour. I found the whole thing quite enjoyable, until all the needles and shit.
And all was well that ended well.
*Assvice over*
That’s EXACTLY why I want to avoid induction if possible. With Wombat my doc was pretty laid-back and just let things move along at their own pace (sloooooowly), and since my water didn’t break until I started pushing, it was easy to just hang out and let things progress naturally. (I had a bit of pitocin right at the end because I’d been hanging out at 9 cm for several hours, but that was it.)
One of my fears, though, is that if baby doesn’t come soon all by himself, I’ll need to be induced eventually anyway, and I’d obviously rather be induced when my parents are here and the baby isn’t HUGE. (I imagine the size of 42-weekers probably contributes to the higher number of C-sections following post-term inductions.)
My babe was 11 days late and 7 lb 11oz, if that’s any consolation!
And my second baby was 5 days early and 9.5 lbls (and he was a VBAC). There’s no telling what size your baby will be.
I had ye olde membranes stripped (I was 8 days overdue and had tried all the old wives’ tales except for cod liver oil — no thanks) and it worked like a charm. Well, sort of. It made contractions start & made my water break, but then things stalled and I still needed Pitocin anyway and you know what? I have nothing constructive to add here. I just hope things get a-goin’ for you soon so that the family (AND THE INTERNET) can meet the new baby.
So hard not to worry and obsess! I’m 38 weeks-ish, so I’m still worried that she’ll come too early (ie while I’m still at work) or wait too late! Good luck to you – waiting to hear some exciting news
One of my friends was due yesterday so I’m anxious for everyone.
That same worrying is why we scheduled my parents visit for the 2nd baby a month after the due date. That, and so they could see him with his eyes open some of time.
I have no advice to offer, not being a mother or anything. I just want to know where you got that pretty, pretty bra.
Target! And it’s a nursing bra (because my ribs got too big for all my others)! It also comes in a really cute polka dot pattern.
You look increadable! You are so tiny everywhere except where the baby is and heck the kid HAS to be able to move.
Best wishes for the delivery. I hope he comes healthy whole and quickly (not so quick you can’t get to the hospital ;-/ haha) with little to no pain….. why your family is here for you.
You look GREAT! Hope he comes soon
Just a caution: induction often starts a chain reaction that, more often than not, leads to c-section. (This is an easily proven statistic.)
I’ve been reading and haven’t commented. Congratulations! I had my third baby last week and was 4 days late. Not too bad. I was tired of wondering when and lining up childcare and was contemplating talking induction with my doctor when I went into labor. Hopefully you will too… good luck and I hope you have a quick and soonish delivery!
You are the cutest. Come on, baby!
Heard you were in active labor… only a little past the “due date” but right on time. Congratulations.
I get all swoony about babies and mamas. Congrats to you all.
How is it possible that, at full term, you’re so freaking tiny everywhere but you’re tummy? I bet you are the envy of pregnant women everywhere!
(Also! Welcome to the world, baby boy!!!!)