I assumed it would be our last black and white peek at our son via ultrasound before we saw him in color, three dimensionally.
The last time for a Non-Stress Test to monitor the fetal heart rate and maternal uterine contractions. Though the recliner is super comfy, its a really boring 25 minutes.
I thought I was having my final blood pressure check done by my favorite staff member, Nurse Mary.
I thought it was my last pee in the cup to test for ketones, white blood cells, dehydration, proteins, etc.
I was even a little cheerful about being examined to see how far the labor was progressing. Only a little, because its not the most pleasant vacation experience!
However, after Nurse Mary and Dr. Kimberly came in to discuss the baby's development and my progression into labor I realized this is not the last time. I'll be here next Wednesday, too. Perhaps once again this week or twice again next week. I had felt so certain that the pains I was experiencing were progressing the labor process. Perhaps they are, but they weren't progressing to the point of BABY TIME.
During our appointments in the last few weeks, the doctors and I have been discussing the risks of continuing pregnancy past 38.5 weeks, the possibility of preterm labor (obviously, this didn't happen, hurray!), the possibility of spontaneous labor beginning before the due date of July 26, the threat of placental unhealthiness after 39 weeks, and induction of labor at 39 weeks.
I have done research about labor and delivery processes and have formulated ideas of how I'd like to experience the birth of our son. I realize that there are two VERY different ways it could happen - a natural progression that happens before 40 weeks or a scheduled, medical induction at 40 weeks.
The benefit of letting it occur naturally would be that I would be more in control of my pain management and could stay in the comfort of my own home, doing whatever I pleased, up until the bag of waters breaks or the pains are 5 minutes apart. I could avoid hours of wearing hospital clothes, hearing hospital sounds, and looking at hospital decor (all are not especially relaxing). The risk of letting it occur naturally is that with each progressing day, the placental health quality is reduced. This occurs in all pregnancies, but for my high-risk condition, it is more likely that the cell death occurs at a quicker rate. Therefore, I cannot go past the 40 week mark as many other mothers and babies do.
The benefit of scheduling an induction is that I will not have to worry about the baby's health anymore. He will be before my eyes and in my arms. A lot less anxiety! High risk doctors follow this line of thinking, too. They have worked so hard to give the baby a good fetal life and feel confident letting a baby be born ahead of nature's schedule because of the advanced medical care he can receive after birth. The risks include a more painful experience, due to the use of synthetic hormones. The prostaglandin and oxytocin my body would release naturally are less of a shock to my system than Cytotec and Pitocin. I would also have to have an IV of fluids and constant fetal monitoring. I would be pretty confined to my bed, and I would probably opt for the pain medication immediately. There are risks with epidurals, but perhaps the benefit would be that I would be more relaxed and peaceful during the experience.
It was a very tough decision to make at 5 pm, 38.5 weeks pregnant. Ultimately, the nurse, doctors, and we decided to allow labor to progress naturally up until July 26, 2009, the original due date. If there is not a baby by then, I will be admitted to our birth center for the Cytotec intervention on Sunday evening, and then I begin the Pitocin drip the next morning. Baby H will be here by Monday night.
Because I had felt so certain that "things were happening", disappointment was a big cloud over me. I imagined us having the baby by the weekend and having company visiting him. I pictured being NOT pregnant next week. I thought his birth date would be mid July. I was reminded by a friend that God already knew the plans for this baby's arrival, and He wasn't surprised and isn't disappointed by them. That was a comforting thought! Today, I feel more at peace with the idea of having 11 more days of being the only person in the world to hold Baby H.
Oh! His 38.5 Week Stats!
Weight: 7 lbs, 6oz, in the 77 percentile (could be a margin of error of +/- one pound)
Head diameter: 9.25 centimeters, 80 percentile
