Time's Up

Whether he/she likes it or not, this baby is coming out tomorrow. 

The appointment today went fine, but 42 weeks is as far as they'll let me go, so tomorrow's the day. We have to be at the hospital bright and early - 5:30am! 

The plan is to start by breaking my water, and they'll allow me to walk around for a few hours after that, to see if that's enough to get me into a pattern of regular contractions. Hopefully it is, and the odds are pretty good, seeing as how I'm already pretty well dilated and effaced (still 4cm). 

If not, we'll have to try pitocin. But they are willing to start me on a small amount of pitocin, and once I start having some regular contractions, stop the pitocin and see if my body can continue to labor naturally from there. 

This is clearly not how I envisioned any of this, and I can't deny being a little disappointed. 

However, I'm slowly adjusting my mindset, and feeling a little better about everything. As I approached 41 weeks, and then this week, closed in on 42 weeks, I knew in the back of my mind that this scenario was a very distinct possibility, so it's not a complete shock or anything. 

But it is still an adjustment, and definitely very different from what we had hoped for. But I'm going to work really hard to stay positive about everything, because there's a lot to be positive about - I'm going into this being already 4 cm dilated, so almost half the work is already done. And I had contractions all day yesterday, and have had a bunch this afternoon, too, so my body is really, really ready, which puts me in a much better position for induction of any sort. And I have very supportive, wonderful midwives who are doing everything they can to help me have a good birth experience. And we have a fabulous doula who's going to be there with us every step of the way. And even though I'm not going into labor on my own, we do still have a very good chance of having a birth experience that is not fully medicated. 

So it may not be ideal, but we're still in a pretty good spot. And the one advantage to all this is that we were able to call people today and make definite plans for when we'll need babysitters, etc., rather than having to call them in the middle of the night and ask them to rush over. And we were also able to tell the boys that the baby is coming tomorrow, which was fun. They're pretty excited, and as of right now, they're both requesting a little sister. 

And the best part of all is that, one way or another, we are going to have a baby tomorrow : ) 

Comments

[Mom and Dad]

love you

[Jennifer]

Good luck!!! Can't wait to hear all about it. Being induced isn't so bad, even though it's not the ideal plan. Even though my labor started with my water breaking at home, I was still induced due to not progressing, and I have to say, labor and delivery was still a great experience.

Good luck, and Congratulations!!

[Nic]

best of luck, honey!!!!! i can't WAIT to hear that everybody's healthy and doing good post-delivery.

hang in there, he/she will be here VERY soon!!!!!

[Greta]

I'm reading you daily to see what is happening. I also shared your blog with my bf who is preggers with her first (at 42....it has been really exciting for her!).

Remember that the most important outcome is a healthy baby...the process does not always follow what we would like. I never had pitocin until my last (4th) son....which surprised me..you'd think that after 3 paved the way he'd have just fallen on out! Every one of my labor and deliveries were so different. So...go with the flow and focus on baby coming out one way or the other! And..hey, you are already 40% of the way there. That is great! That is like being 1.25 miles into a 5k already. :)

How exciting for your gorgeous boys to be big brothers...they must be over the moon! GOOD THOUGHTS COMING YOUR WAY!

[Wes]

Thinking about you guys today!

[Lisa]

Oh, wow...just read this and realized that you might already be holding that new little baby in your arms! Can't wait to hear the details....and learn if Gabe and Dante have a baby BROTHER or SISTER!!!!!