Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Dilemma

So here's the deal (besides the obvious fact that I am indeed still in a state of pregnancy): my thirty-nine week appt. is tomorrow, and Dr. D has offered to "get things started" if I don't go into labor on my own today. This offer, which I scoffed at six days ago, is sounding mighty tempting right about now. Even more so after I got a phone call this morning, telling me that my friend, the one who is due ten days AFTER me, is in labor!
After my initial shock/outrage at the unfairness of it all wore it off, I was of course completely excited, and went over to the hospital to see her for awhile. She was at four cm. and ninety percent effaced, and they broke her water while I was there, so now, as of three thirty this afternoon, I am on pins and needles waiting for a call that the baby is here! It's so exciting; when I went in, I was filled with a weird nostalgia/anticipation- remembering Addy's birth and also awaiting my son's. I am also now filled with plotting and planning, 'cause after being there, in the presence of actual labor, I am even more desperate to get my own going.
My dilemma is two fold: If I don't go into labor tonight, do I agree to an induction tomorrow or Friday? I have always said I don't want to go that route, but this weekend is Labor Day- what if I go into labor then and my own doctor, who I love, is out of town and I get stuck with the on-call? Also, what if I'm dilated even more by tomorrow? I'm getting kind of scared that my water's just going to suddenly break at home, and that by the time the doula gets here and Addy gets situated with the sitter, I'm going to have a baby head coming out between my legs! I don't want to be on the news for giving birth in a car, thank you very much. I'd feel a little safer having the water break at the hospital, because with Addy, I remember things moving very very quickly after that point.
Also, there's this option: Do some housework tonight, walk around a bunch, and get contractions started (because they always do when I'm on my feet for any amount of time; they just go away eventually when I'm finally exhausted and fall asleep.) Only this time, maybe I could just NOT GO TO BED, call the doula and the hospital, go in, and even if my contractions have stopped by then, when they check me and see I'm halfway dilated, surely they'll just go ahead and break my water or something and get labor started, right? I am getting SO tired of being convinced I'm in labor every night, only to have it taper off. Last night the contractions were painful and regular for two hours. I was so sure it was finally happening, and then, boom, gone.
Tell me what to do, people! Do I get some contractions going and head to the hospital, even though I know it's probably not the real thing, just to get admitted? Do I wait for the appointment tomorrow and talk about induction, which really scares me (Pitocin=excruciating pain)? Help!

P.S. Why is Adelay picking THIS week to give up her naps altogether?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI! Delurking here! :0) I went through the same thing with my first son. I was in and out of labor for 3 days. What finally got his labor started was non-stop walking. Walk, walk, walk. Clean out the car, go grocery shopping, walk around the block.

Also, Addy may be feeling your frustration and anxiety of waiting for the baby - thus not napping.

Good luck! I thought for sure that you went in labor when you weren't posting! I have my fingers crossed that it'll start tonight! :0)
Jen - Mom of 4 and Lance's Wife

Anonymous said...

I don't know! This is a very difficult dilemma! I wonder if it would be okay for you to call your doula and see what she thinks? She's probably seen a lot of labors and knows how they go, and may be able to advise a course of action.

P.S. Adelay, be good to your mother! Take naps!

Anonymous said...

I agree that you should just be walking, walking, walking. I'm with Swistle on the idea of calling the doula to see what she thinks. Since you are so far dialated they probably would admit you if you go in having contractions.

Good luck! I can't wait to hear the news of his arrival.

Anonymous said...

Swistle seems to be all knowing. I agree with the talk to the doula suggestion since she's the voice of experience and she knows you and your body up close and personal. I can't wait to see how this turns out!!

Black Sheeped said...

Whatever you decide will be fine. And! At any rate, no matter what, it sounds like you are having a baby soon. I'm sending lots of warm happy thoughts to you, and we'll all be thinking of you and wishing you the very best. Can't wait to hear all about it, and to see him!

Good luck!

jen said...

This isn't meant to be preachy or anything. Whatever you want to do is fine by me, but since you asked... ;)

Being induced is NOT PLEASANT having had to do it twice (43 weeks anyone?), begging them to lower the pitocin the 2nd time and totally going out of my mind and not caring if I lived or died. I wouldn't do that again, let the kid come when he's ready. There are many reasons not to, I don't mean to scare you, but unless you're way overdue I dont' see why.

And that's coming from someone who was wondering "hmm is 34 weeks too early??" this morning haha

Sarah said...

Thank you everyone- I did call the doula, and she gently advised against induction, making the point that it does indeed hurt like hell and if I still think I want to do it without the epidural, voluntarily getting Pitocin is not a good way to achieve that! So I'll try to wait for the real thing I guess...
Also, Jess had her baby at four fifty today, after fifteen hours of labor! He's seven pounds, eleven ounces, twenty and a half inches long, and from the glimpses I got of him through the nursery window, looks adorable! Now come out, baby of mine, so you and your friend can be birthday buddies and have parties together!

d e v a n said...

Thx for the baby update. I'm glad your friends babe is doing well!!
I have to agree with your doula on the induction. What a bummer though for you. It's hard knowing that you could have your baby any time now and not knowing WHEN!
I was induced voluntarily with O and wish I hadn't been. I won't be doing that again, even though it DID turn out well. :)
Now, little Miss Addy - you take a nap young lady!!!

Mommy Daisy said...

You've probably already made your decision by now, but I wanted to tell you about what I did. At my 39 week appointment my blood pressure was a little high. My OB was concerned about that, so he said he'd like to schedule an induction for the next morning and he wanted me in the hospital that night for observation. Earlier in my pregnancy I was set against induction, but at that point I was ok with it. Plus he did an ultrasound then to see how big the baby was, and when I saw HOW BIG I was on board for an induction. Turns out when I got hooked up to everything that Friday morning, I was having mild contractions that I hadn't felt yet. That was before they did anything. Funny. I may have gone into labor myself within a few days, but the OB thought this was best for me and the baby at that point.

I wanted to do it without drugs or epidural, but discussed options before with my OB about which was best if I needed it. He talked me into an epidural if I thought I needed it, and he thought I would. Well, I didn't think about what a difference the pitocin could make. Once the contractions started, they got intense pretty quickly. I did go 5 hours before I opted for the epidural. And I'm glad I did that, because I needed a little rest before pushing. I just kept a low dose of the epidural, and within 3 horus I was pushing. It makes me feel good to hear that labor is harder with the pitocin. It gives me hope to do it next time on my own without being induced (and no meds).

I don't know what's best for you, but I wanted to share that. Also I've been dreaming about you for the last 2 nights. The first dream you were at church on Sunday with Jim, Addy, and the new baby in his carrier seat. The second dream I had last night, you were at church still pregnant. You got up in front of the church to speak about something, and you were making jokes about this is what it feels like to be 40 weeks pregnant and look at how swollen my hands are. Funny. Guess I'm just anxious for you.

Congrats to Jess! I bet he's beautiful!