Thursday November 3, 2011
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Today has been an emotional day for me. DH and I went to see the midwife to have an ultrasound, a visit and an NST (Non Stress Test.) since according to them my due date was yesterday. I wrote “according to them” because this date was calculated based on the first day of my last period, plus one day (to give me one day extra before being induced in case I go to 42 weeks.) But I know when this baby was conceived, and according to this date my due date was October 29, or 5 days ago.
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The ultrasound showed that there is plenty of fluid around Baby Boy and he reacted perfectly during the NST, but the exam showed that I am 2 cms dilated, 50% effaced and my cervix’s position is midland. This is all fine, because it shows that things are happening, but it also shows that nothing has changed since October 24.
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On October 24 I started having contractions around 1pm that were 5 to 6 minutes apart and lasted about 2 minutes, but were not super painful. At around 10pm these contractions woke me up and were now about 2 minutes apart and I could feel them on my lower back. DH called the midwife who advised us to go to the hospital since this is my second baby and things could go pretty quickly. We arrived at the hospital at around 12.30am and were sent home at around 1.30am because the contractions were not strong enough and, since I was only 2 cms dilated, it could take a long time before things became serious. For a few days after that I was really thinking that Baby Boy was going to arrive any day. Then I realized that we would have to wait a little! I went to my regular appointment on the 27 and asked not to be checked since it would not change what was happening. Then came Halloween and I was happy not to give birth on that day, then came 11/1/11 and I was hoping to be given birth on that day!
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I have been having contractions on and off, and a lot of pressure. Today I was hoping that things would have evolved a little bit. I know that I could go into labor tonight and that the 2 cms doesn’t mean anything, but I feel the pressure around me. My family and DH’s sister arrive on the week-end of the 11 to meet Baby Boy. DH had hoped that he would have some time with just us, Emma and Baby Boy before the family arrives. Each day that baby is not born is one less day for him to stay home and enjoy his baby without having to “share”. I think that it would be awesome if my mom and sister could be there when he’s born, but I can’t help but feel the pressure that he needs to come out ASAP! DH has told me that he thinks that Baby Boy should be born when he is ready and without external help though.
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That’s another thing that is bothering me today. With my daughter, I went in when I was 40 weeks and 2 days and had my membranes stripped. Later on that night my water broke but I didn’t start having any contractions at all. Since I am having my babies with midwives, they let me be for 12 hours before starting Pitocin. I was still able to give birth naturally, but it is not something that I want to do again. I am wondering now how much longer my daughter would have stayed in if my water hadn’t been tempered with. We wondered about stripping my membranes today again, but the midwife was against it. She said that the same thing could probably happen again, that’s why she doesn’t recommend doing this procedure until mom is about 80% effaced or so. What is bothering me today, is that I am starting to wonder if my body will be able to really go into labor on its own, or if comes the 16 I'll have to be induced...
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So now we wait. DH is going back to work tomorrow and I will continue to try and be patient. I know that Baby Boy will come out when he is ready; I just need to trust that everything will just fall into place.
