Oh, hey due date...

Spoiler alert: I'm still pregnant. Annnnnnd this post is long.

When I last posted we were going in for an induction. We got to the hospital, and got settled in our room, I scarfed down a sandwich because they told me it would be the last time I could eat until after delivery, answered a bunch of questions, and started getting hooked up to all the lovely machines (IV, fetal heart monitor, contraction monitor and BP cuff). After all that the on call L&D doctor came in to check me and come up with a "game plan."

I hadn't made any progress since my last appointment. I was still about 50% effaced and 0 cm dilated, contracting about every 2-2.5 minutes. The doctor talked with us about all the "labor and delivery possibilities" so we understood what methods may be used during induction and what to expect. He wanted to get me started on pitocin so I got hooked to yet another lovely tube and was told that I would have to stay in bed but could get up to use the restroom. I already knew I was going to be sick of the bed in a hurry. I think I was tangled in my gown and all the tubes coming out of me within 5 minutes.

My blood pressure got checked every 20 minutes, and the nurse came in just about as often to update stuff on the computer and occasionally bump up my pitocin. I wasn't feeling anything, so was actually able to get some rest in between the periodic checks.

After about 11 hours on pitocin the doctor came in to check me again to see if progress had been made. I figured something HAD to have happened...I mean it'd been 11 hours, despite the fact I still didn't feel pain. Well....we were at the same point as when we came in. The doctor talked to use again about the next possible steps, and I told him again that the foley bulb sounded TERRIFYING.

They were happy that the baby was tolerating the pitocin so well, and also mentioned that my BP had not been high AT ALL since being admitted.

The doctor came back in with his attending advisor and started with "We've been looking over your chart...." Immediately I thought the next words were going to be "since things don't seem to be progressing we'd like to prep you for c-section." THANKFULLY I was VERY wrong.

They talked about how I really am a healthy person, and the baby was doing very well. They said "you are already at a pretty high dosage of pitocin....we can continue with the induction which realistically could take another 3 days. We know you made arrangements to come in and perhaps have family already on their way OR we feel comfortable that you and baby are stable enough that you can go home, and come back when you spontaneously go into labor."

Call me naive, but I didn't EVER consider this would be an option! I thought inductions led to the inevitable....a baby being born one way or the other.

I looked over at Tim and we both quickly agreed we wanted to go home. Seriously, what a blessing. We would much rather not force things that obviously aren't ready to happen. And how exciting is it that my BP seems to not be an issue again!?!

So here is what we learned:

1. My body is holding the baby hostage. This little girl is stubborn. She's calling all the shots.
2. Tim should bring a blanket next time. Covering up with my spring coat wasn't ideal.
3. If I had to wait 3 days without eating, I would probably give myself a c-section.

Fast forward to today. Baby girl's due date and our 40 week appointment. No changes. Our doctor is working L&D Wednesday night so wants us to come in then to get monitored (make sure baby is doing well, that amniotic fluid levels are sufficient etc.). If we are both healthy we can give her until Friday to come out on her own, but if not we will have a no-turning-back induction. IF by unfortunate chance things don't look ideal on Wednesday (once babies are overdue there is concern about the placenta not functioning as well or baby releasing meconium) then our doctor will start the induction that night.

But hey, who knows, little girl could come before Wednesday on her own. Tim HAS said all along that she is going to be an April Fools Day baby.

Induction Tomorrow

This will be my last "official" pregnancy photo. It was taken today at 39 weeks 2 days. I'm feeling good but am anxious starting to get really nervous for tomorrow!!

I'm being induced prior to the baby's due date as the result of some blood pressure concerns. Although, this was certainly not part of our "birth plan" and I will likely have to adjust a lot of my preferences, the end goal is the same....healthy and safe baby and mama :)

I don't know quite what to expect but trust my doctors and am so happy to have my wonderful husband there to support me (we're both nervous!)

We will update everyone as soon as we can. Just think our next post will have real pictures of our little lady!!

Baby is coming!!

A lot has happened in the last 48 hours and my mind is all over the place so this may be a bit of a spastic post! I'm going to try and put together a more logical post with important info tomorrow :-)

I had my 39 week appointment on Thursday. Baby's heart rate and growth were great, but my BP was no bueno. I was 50% effaced and 0 cm dilated. Although my BP wasn't outrageously high, it was high enough that the doctor doesn't feel comfortable overlooking it anymore. My BP was high in the first trimester, and then it leveled out wonderfully in the second trimester. Starting at my 38 week appointment it was on the rise again.

The doctor had me go get some blood work done and give a urine specimen to check the protein levels in my urine. She gave me paperwork about inductions and told me she was passing along my file to the scheduler, and although I knew this was real, I didn't totally take it seriously. Can't explain it.

She told me she would call me shortly and let me know if I needed to do a 24 hour collection. Well, within about an hour she called and said I did need to go ahead with that.

Keep in mind I'm at work at this point, so I'm thinking great...my second to last day at work and I have to walk around here with a jug of my own pee. Wonderful last impression. But I also thought it was ridiculous to go home. Soooo picture me carrying this box around the office (to disguise my "supplies) with me anytime I had to use the restroom.....yep, for real.

I got a couple "Aww packing up your stuff?" to which I replied..."uhhh not exactly." Hahha.

Fast forward to Friday, my last day of work....I had to leave at noon to drop off my 24 hour "collection" to the hospital. I dropped it off, went and got a pedicure and then came home to try and nap because I was truly exhausted, had a headache and a little bit of cramping. I never got a call from the hospital so I assumed that meant they would just call me early next week and we'd set up something for her due date or that I didn't need to be induced at all.

Around 10am this morning, I was just sitting down to watch Pretty Little Liars after the Comcast repair guy left and I was thinking of a few errands I would run, then the phone rang and it was the hospital. A super peppy doctor informed me that "we have you scheduled for Monday morning!" I said "Oh wow, okay." Then she told me all the details about when to arrive etc. MONDAY. MONDAY. As in less than 48 hours from the time of that phone call. HOLY. CRAP.

Since that call my mind has been racing. I need to do this, I need to do that. OMG. What does one do in their last 36 hours before being induced?!? We're going to have a baby within a few days. There goes my plan to have the next week off work to relax ;-)

So for the rest of the weekend (Tim is at work until 5pm today), I'm going to do a final cleanup of the house, pick up a few things from the store (could be one of the last times I don't have to tote baby with me...ahh!), relax (yeah...right) and think about what life will be like this time next week (picture me eating a subway sandwich, sushi and a margarita....haha).

Baby and I will be home for Easter (score!!) Hmm, maybe I'll put in an order to the Honey Baked Ham Company now....