6 days until the due date. No real changes. Still having lots of baby movement, lots of braxton-hicks contractions, and a few of them are crampy or painful. Still sleeping like crap. I wake up every 1.5-2 hours to pee or change position. Nothing is comfortable. I’m waddling for real and my walk is very slow. Feet, ankles and lower legs are swollen, but not enough to be of concern. Weekly midwife appointment was uneventful. Urine, weight, BP, fetal heartbeat all normal.
We had our favorite midwife again and she told us that she’d had a dream that I had gone into labor over the past weekend. And then she got a call to come into the birth center on Sunday to attend a birth for another woman that shares my first name! We told her that we hope her premonition was just off by a week and that we could be the ones in labor this Sunday. We also discussed what happens if I make it to 41 weeks. If I still haven’t gone into labor on my own by my appointment on 4/28 (which is 40 weeks 6 days), then they will schedule me for a bio-physical profile with their back up OB for the next day. This will include a non-stress test to count contractions and fetal movement and also an ultrasound to confirm amniotic fluid levels. If everything looks good then I get another week to wait for labor to begin on its own.
She also talked to us about their methodology for induction, if needed. Their first intervention of choice is Pr*pidil, a prostoglandin gel to ripen the cervix. However, the use of the gel is contraindicated in women with a history of asthma. I had very severe asthma as a child, but it’s now exercise or allergy-induced only. I haven’t had to use a rescue inhaler in several years. She didn’t give a final verdict on whether or not I’d qualify to receive it, but I’m hoping it never becomes an issue. Their 2nd intervention would be Pit*cin. It is my understanding that the need for either intervention would require giving birth in the hospital.
I am feeling very worn down and impatient. I’m sure the dreary, rainy weather we’ve had for the past few days hasn’t helped. But, the sun is out and it’s warm today and this weekend looks to be beautiful as well. Come on Cupcake, don’t you want to come out and see how lovely everything is?
1 In Vermillion 