Thursday I had my weekly appointment, this time with the OB. That means I need to have my questions written out and ready as time is always shorter (5-10 minutes with OB, 30-45 with midwife). We had a good appointment and she answered all of my questions. The most pressing to me was what do we do during the week between my due date and the cut off date for a VBAC if I don't go into labor on my own. The answer is not much. They will sweep my membranes and I can try any old wives tale for starting labor but as a VBAC they do not medically induce. She would consider breaking my water if I was already dilated and showing some progress. So, please, please be praying that Squeak decides to come on her own. As I have mentioned before, I really want to avoid the OR and a c-section this time around. But if that is what happens, at least I know that I did everything in my control to avoid it.
So, there is a little progress. I have had some contractions but have no idea if they are considered Braxton Hicks or "true" labor contractions. I have dilated 1.5 - 2 cm and the cervix looks good. So that was encouraging since with Katherine on the day I delivered I was 0cm and 0% effaced. The baby has also dropped. I could have told you that due to the pain that I feel. These numbers have no real indication of when I will go into labor. Sometimes people are walking around at 5cm for weeks before labor and others are 0cm the day they give birth. But, it is encouraging to know that things are moving in the right direction. Everything else looked good - blood pressure, growth, etc. No additional weight gain so I have treated myself to two more milkshakes.
Overall I am feeling good though I am very ready. I am sore and not sleeping as well. Overall my pregnancies are very easy and without complications and for that I am thankful. I really feel for friends who have complications and get put on bedrest.
Currently there are 31 votes on the "baby pool". Don't forget to go and cast your vote. There is a prize. Many of my regular readers have not yet cast their vote. The polls will be closing first thing Monday since this is a holiday weekend and I am fairly confident that I will not be in labor over the weekend. Good luck with the guesses.
4 comments:
you MIGHT have the baby on sunday since it's gwb's birthday!
we can hope, right??
i'm excited you're seeing some progress. praying.
chrys
The progress is awesome news, Christy. I'm so excited.
Keeping the batteries charged and cell phone near my bed. ; )
I want to give you some encouragement! I had a great VBAC at home. Recovery was a breeze. Pain from childbirth was nothing like recovering from a cesarean. It was totally manageable. To be drug-free and fully aware and present when my baby was born was priceless. To have him drug-free and fully aware was amazing. To eat and drink immediately after labor ... was so satisfying after all that hard work!
My birth story: http://vbacfacts.com/hbacbirth
Jen
My VBAC baby came 13 days "overdue." Those 13 days of waiting might have been the hardest and longest 13 days of my life! Why is 40 weeks your cut off? Can you ask for studies showing that risks go up after 40 weeks? I'm not aware of any, perhaps you could negociate a few more days or an extra week? I know my VBAC birth and recovery was so much easier than my two c-section births. When I was planning my VBAC, I found the following website extremely helpful, I see the previous poster also lists it:
http://vbacfacts.com/vbac/#FFR
Good luck with everything!
Post a Comment