. . . of pregnancy, that is. None of my clothes fit, I've eaten my weight in protein bars, hard-boiled eggs, cheese sticks, almonds, peanut butter, and other protein snacks, I'm uncomfortable no matter what position I'm in, I have used every public restroom within 10 miles multiple times, and I'm irritable! We're in the home stretch though--my due date (and induction date) is 10 days away.
I had another OB appointment this morning. As soon as the doctor walked in, I realized I was seeing the one who beats the "shoulder dystocia" drum. He's really nice--I've seen him before in a few different pregnancies--but that is his big issue, and he didn't disappoint! He asked if I'd had an ultrasound to see how big the baby was, and then he recommended I get one. If it showed the baby was running 10 or 11 pounds, then I could get a c-section, since as he likes to say, the only way to guarantee you won't have shoulder dystoia is to have a section. I said I really didn't feel like this was a 10 pound baby--probably another 9 pounder, but that will make my 4th 9 pounder, and I haven't ever had any problems delivering them. I didn't really even have any problems delivering Micah at 10 pounds, 8 ounces, other than really having to push hard, which you don't really expect with #8! Anyhow, I had an ultrasound like that with Anna, and it was off by like 2 pounds, so I am in no hurry to speculate this time! I told him I was going to just try to go ahead and deliver vaginally. I mean, I've got all this other homeschooling/college stuff going on, and I am hoping to bounce back quickly, so I don't think signing up for elective major abdominal surgery really fits with that plan, LOL. I mean, if it happens, it happens, but I'm not planning on signing myself up for it!
I asked the doctor if he would try to strip my membranes, in hopes that maybe I would dilate a little more and avoid a super-long induction, even though I could tell the baby was still up fairly high. I was right in that she is still high, but he was able to get a finger in and do a very thorough job of stripping the membranes, not that it seems to have done a single thing, as far as any meaningful contractions go. Ah well. I have another appointment next Monday, so that will be one more chance to try membrane stripping. I definitely prefer to be induced when I'm already 5-6 cm, so I'm hoping that will happen, unlike with Drew, where I never really dilated more than 2-3 cm before starting the pitocin.
After the appointment, I headed upstairs for another non-stress test. The baby surprised me by having moved over to lie on my left side, instead of my right, like most of my last babies have been. She was again cooperative, so it didn't take too long. Yay!
So now we wait. While waiting, I ponder number patterns. This baby is already being different by being born in September, when we haven't had anyone born from July-October before. Also, all 9 of my babies have been born on different days of the month--but only in the beginning and the end of the month. No baby has been born in the teens! I have kids born on the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 9th, and then also on the 24th, 27th, 28th, and 30th, but no one in the middle. Isn't it funny how they are clustered at the beginning and the end?! So if I get induced on Sept. 25, I would most realistically deliver on Sept. 26--but regardless, both of those days are open and fit in my birthing day scheme at the end of the month! But maybe this baby will break with tradition a second way, and be born early--on a day in the teens! That would be really different! I can hope anyway, LOL.
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