Kellybeans!

Will update later! OMG. This is really happening!

So we decided… our plan is to head to the hospital today to welcome our little guy into the world. Only problem is, there seem to be quite a few other babies who are wanting to come out, too. All the L&D rooms are filled right now, but we’re at the top of the list for induction. We’ll call at noon to see what the status is, and hopefully we’ll go to the hospital this afternoon!

I’ll keep ya posted! Thanks to everyone for your comments and thoughts yesterday. It definitely helped me think through our options and make a decision!

Now, we wait. And have I mentioned that I’m not very patient? Grrr… this time better pass quickly so we can GET MOVING!

So here’s where I ask for your advice.

I didn’t make much progress from last week to this one. At my appointment today, I was 1 cm dilated, still 75% effaced. Cervix is soft and baby is very low. All good things, just not much in the way of change.

So, now I have a few options:

1. Wait to see what happens and let baby come on his own time.
2. Induce on Thursday. I’d be 40 weeks, 5 days.
3. Induce next Monday. I’d be 41 weeks, 2 days.

My doctor doesn’t have any problem with induction. She says it’s safer to deliver by around 41 weeks. I don’t have any issues with using pain meds, so the stronger contractions in an induction aren’t a concern for me. My doctor also says that she thinks I’d respond favorably to induction, since my body is already progressing some on its own. She doesn’t think I am at any greater risk for a c-section, whether I would induce on Thursday or Monday (assuming he didn’t come on his own).

I just don’t know what to do. Timing-wise, I’d selfishly like to do Thursday because it fits our schedules better. But I don’t know if we are rushing things too much. I also can’t tell if the nagging feeling of nervousness I have right now, is just me being nervous about labor in general (the whole “this is really about to happen!” feeling) or if I am just uncomfortable about inducing Thursday and should postpone it. I really can’t distinguish what I am feeling.

I’d appreciate your opinions on this. Many of you have been in this boat before, so please share your thoughts. Thanks

But I have a doctor’s appointment today to see what’s up. At least I’m getting closer to the goal every day that goes by!

No baybees yet. Boo. That’s all.

Well, here we are. We’ve arrived at that date I’ve had in the back of my mind for, oh, 40 WEEKS NOW! Today is my estimated due date.

Oh, how far we’ve come.

Of course, I’m still pregnant.

There are a few more hours left in the day, so maybe I could still go into labor on my due date. But I’m not counting on it.

All I gotta say is, there better not be any $%@(*^& pictures that document week 41. Sounds like it might be time for an eviction notice soon!

I am looking at my calendar at work, and tomorrow’s date is circled, with HAVE BABY written in big block letters. I do not miss appointments that I mark on my calendar. Whether or not my child will follow my example… is another story entirely.

I feel kind of crappy today, but not really anything that makes me think I’m about to go into labor. My back hurts and I get these sharp pains down really low when I walk around or stand up. I think it’s just the pressure of his head since he’s so low.

This morning’s appointment was a bit of a let-down. Not much has changed since my appointment on Tuesday night. I am about 1cm dilated, but not quite wide enough for the midwife to get her finger in there to give a really good swipe to the membranes. She thinks she got it, but can’t be totally sure. She did say she’d guess I go into labor in the next few days, but really, who knows? I’d be better off getting a psychic’s prediction at this point.

I am really, REALLY hoping that today is my last day at work. So, please, baby, come toward the light! Follow the exit signs! As odd as it seems, you only have a short distance to travel to get outta there… and it’s time. See you (hopefully) SOON!

As Isabel pointed out, I need to be updating here every day now. Sorry if anyone happened to think I was in labor today due to my lack of posting earlier. I sure as hell wish I was in labor, but nope!

Unfortunately, I am here at work. While I was anchoring the news I even compared myself to a circus elephant that we did a story on today. Everyone at work is cracking up that I feel like an elephant right now, but it’s totally true.

This kid needs to find the nearest vagina and make a speedy exit!

Up next… stripping of the membranes tomorrow! God, I really need to come up with something else to talk about!

With my due date approaching, this is all feeling sort of surreal. Have we really made it this far? Wow!

I had another doctor’s appointment last night, and we made some more progress. I’m actually dilating now (although it’s only a “fingertip” so far). I’m now 75% effaced, and my cervix is soft and almost ready to go. Baby is still very low and in the starting gate for labor.

My doctor tried to strip my membranes, but since my cervix is only a fingertip dilated, she said she couldn’t actually do it. She could feel the amniotic sac, though, and said it was “right there” and bulging a little. Let me tell you, it was loads of fun to lie there as she fished around inside my hoo-ha. I’m glad she warned me that it wasn’t going to be comfortable, because otherwise I would have jumped three feet off the examining table! My doctor has scheduled another appointment for me to come back on Friday to do the stripping (sounds sexy, doesn’t it?) and hopefully that will kickstart labor.

But if nothing happens after that, I have an office visit set up for 3 days after my due date. My doctor says I could schedule an induction if I make it to that appointment, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

I just can’t believe we’ve made it to this point. 39 weeks. How the time did fly! Jason took a few belly pics for me this weekend to celebrate hitting the 39 week mark, and here I am, in all my pregnant glory!

Wooooo. That is some belly. And, lest we forget how far I’ve come in this journey, let’s look back at what my belly used to look like:

Why, oh why did I dislike that belly and wish for a flatter one? It’s looking pretty damn good to me right about now! Guess it’s that concept of “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone!”

But back to reality… my boy has grown quite a bit, and I’m proud that I was able to provide such a secure home for him. Even if I do look like a whale.

The one saving grace here? Still no stretch marks. And, hell, even if some would start to crop up at this point, they shouldn’t be too noticeable. Not sure how I’ve been so lucky, but I’ll take it!

Still no signs of imminent labor! Despite Jason’s chats with the baby to “hurry the hell up and come out already”, it seems like our stubborn boy is quite comfy and isn’t budging! Looks like I’m back to work tomorrow. Boo… I was hoping to start my maternity leave, but that won’t happen until the Little Prince is born.

Have a great week!