40 Weeks

So, I'm 40 weeks and 2 days today.  I have 5 days until the dreaded C-section.  

I'm still fairly optimistic, though.  And most of that is because of my doctor's reaction yesterday at my appointment.  Typically my doctor is very blunt, and straight to the point.  At my 37, 38, and 39 week appointments he was very negative and saying all these things about how he doubts I will go into labor on my own and have a successful VBAC.  But yesterday was like I had a completely different doctor.  

He began telling me a story as he was walking into the room.  He recently had a patient who was wanting to try for a VBAC.  He said he would have bet a million dollars that she wouldn't have gone into labor.  Her c-section was scheduled for 7am.  She showed up at the hospital at 3am, in labor.  He even continued to say when she was 4-5cm dilated, the baby's head was molding (? or something like that) and how he still thought he was going to be doing a c-section on her.  But, she pulled through and had her VBAC!  This must have blown him away because he was seriously a different guy yesterday.  

He checked me and I was only a "stretchy 1cm", I figured I would get all the negative feedback like usual, but that wasn't the case at all.  He was strangely optimistic.  He kept saying how he may very well see me before Tuesday.  So, I'm hopeful!  It really sucked when I was leaving the appointment and was told all my info about coming in at 5am on Tuesday to begin the c-section prep.  Ugh.  But I still have 5 days.  Lots can change!

I was having time-able non-painful contractions all Saturday night, and all of Sunday.  They then became sporadic,  but still often during the next 3 days.  But every time I would lay down I wouldn't get them.  Last night was different, though.  I had them all night long.  Still not painful, though. I know at least one or two were real.  They woke me up and they felt completely different.  And of course I would stay awake for 30+ minutes afterwards, wondering if it would happen again.  They never did.  But I still had the regular non painful contractions continue.  I'm still getting them, even now as I'm typing this.  I'm praying this leads to something!

I've been praying so much and trying to be as positive as I can be.  It's hard, though.  I've even started repeating "My body is not broken.  I will go into labor.  I will have my VBAC" in my head over and over when I'm feeling particularly negative.  And last night I spent 45 minutes imagining the perfect (for me) birth.  It was really incredible to do that.  I'm sure I'm setting myself up for heartache by doing that, but it was nice to experience that, even if it was not real.  

Today has actually been the day I have been hoping Wesley would come.  Thursday, January 30th.  If he is born today, he would share something from all of our birthdays.  January is Nick's birthday month.  30 is the day I was born, and Tanner was born on a Thursday.  It's 8:15am...I still have some time, right? :)

Okay Wesley, I'm ready for you!

40 Week Doctor/L & D Visit

Today I had my 40 week doctor appointment scheduled.  I was feeling very worried/nervous before, mostly because I was afraid of no progress.  I also knew we would start talking about inductions today.  Well, the doctor came in and sure enough, no progress.  He tried to open my cervix and boy that did not feel pleasant.  He started talking about how I can't go into labor this weekend because he will be at the Saints/Lions football game.


We discussed Cytotec/Cervadil  again.  I told him I did a little more research on it and I felt better knowing he only uses the smallest does.  Sometimes Cytotec will bring on contractions and Pitocin may not be needed.  He also said it works faster.  But he said he would let me choose.  He mentioned if I'm dilating by Tuesday (my induction date) we won't even need to worry about it and just go straight to Pitocin.  So, I have an induction scheduled for 7:30 Tuesday morning, the 6th of December.


Now, about my trip to L & D.  My doctor said I could go have blood drawn to make sure I'm not on the verge of toxemia (my BP today was 138/78-much, much higher than my normal).  So I agreed.  I figured I would just go over and they would take my blood and that would be it.  But that wasn't the case, and I'm thankful.


I got there and had to pee in a cup.  Then I realized they would actually be monitoring me while I waited for the lab to come draw my blood and receive the results.  This was pretty big for me.  I've never been to the hospital as a patient.  I've never had to be on the other side of being a nurse.  It was so strange.


They hooked me up to the fetal heart rate monitor and contraction monitor and put the blood pressure cuff on every 15 minutes.  (The nurse said I had a stretch mark that looks like a heart...that was pretty cool...lol).  She asked me if I have had any contractions while she was hooking me up and I said no.  Once she was done she left the room.  And almost immediately a little hill appeared on the contraction monitor.

The contraction felt like I was tightening my abs mixed with Tanner moving.  I've been having contractions and not realizing what they actually were.  (They may have been happening because my doctor tried to open my cervix). Eight minutes later another hill appeared.  And eight minutes after that...Nick figured out they were every eight minutes lasting about a minute and a half.  In a way I was so happy.  I know these will probably taper off, but knowing my body is actually doing something is so nice!  It was neat because Nick could tell a contraction was about to start because Tanner's heart rate would pick up and then the little hill would start to appear on the monitor.  I wouldn't even feel anything yet.


The nurse came back into the room and gave me the little button to do kick counts.  Tanner was very active today, so I was constantly pushing the button.  He even kicked the heart rate monitor and made this LOUD noise.  My mom, Nick, and I couldn't stop laughing.


The guy from the lab showed up and drew my blood.  He went ahead and drew extra, in case I went into labor within the next 3 days.  I felt really weird because he put the blood band on.  I know what this is from working at this hospital.  Its for blood transfusions.  That did freak me out a little bit.

It took maybe 20 minutes for the results to come back.  Just enough time to listen to Tanner's heart rate a little more and answer all the admission questions.  The results from the blood work were great! I am so relieved!  I feel much better about waiting until Tuesday to be induced.


I'm still having contractions.  I haven't really relaxed enough since we've been home to time them.  We're going to dinner soon so maybe during that I'll time them.  I would love to go into labor on my own and not have to deal with the induction, but it is what it is, and I'm happy knowing I will have a baby by next week.  Fingers crossed that these contractions pick up though!!!