Due Day

Today or yesterday would have been a great day for a birthday, the numbers are very appealing. However, baby and universe are not yet ready to meet and I need to trust that. My due date is today, which is great, however first born babies usually come late. All fine and dandy, but I’m under two pressures at this point. First, with my diagnosis of gestational diabetes, they don’t want me to go over more than like three days. Second, my mom is coming on 2/11 and she has to leave 2/23, so of course I want ample time with her and baby. So if I don’t go into labor, it will be a race for induction to meet both deadlines. Ugh!

All of my being is hoping to go into natural labor. Of course, this is the ideal situation. This is what I want to experience. I hate the thought of being chemically induced. I want to wait 41.5 weeks before that would be an option, but mom would be gone on the day they would agree to that (which the doctor would never agree to that). There are several reasons I do not want a chemically induced labor, which scare me. If I am not effaced enough, they will use a pill called Cytotec which has been proven to cause plancenta previa and hemorrhaging (not in all cases of course). I asked my doctor for other choices, because there are, such as prostaglandin gel (this is similar to evening primrose oil and what is found in semen). She skirted answering the question. After the cervix is effaced enough, they would chemically induce with Pitocin. Pitocin is a chemical replica of Oxytocin, the natural hormone in a woman's body that cause contractions.

It is very hard to have a natural labor on pitocin because you are continuously hooked to an IV, an external fetal monitor, and contraction monitor. Pitocin also makes the contractions harder, faster, and closer together compared to natural contractions. You are forced to stay in the bed and do not have freedom of movement. Not having the freedom of movement and the use of water makes it very hard for a woman that was planning natural childbirth to deal with the pain and about 90% end up with an epidural. Then you end up with a catheter and no feeling from the waste down, which effects baby and stunts the breastfeeding from the start. Most babies born under epidural or C-Section end up having breastfeeding problems, not all, but most. I brought all of this up with my doctor and she didn't agree with me and didn't offer any explanation as to why. I was the one with the research in hand. Anyway, she said I would have use of the birth ball and walking in the room, but I didn't believe her.

There are other issues with the use of pitocin. It increase the risk for a C-Section. Due to the contractions being harder and stronger, there have been cases of the placenta separating from the uterus wall before the baby is born, causing heavy bleeding and fetal distress. The baby is also more likely to have a bowel movement in utero, which can also cause distress and complications after birth. Then the baby would be taken away from us and put in ICU. There would be NO bonding time, NO breastfeeding time, nothing. That makes me sad to think about. There is also a chance of fetal distress due to lack of oxygen because of the harder and stronger contractions with no break or intervals like in natural birth, hence the continuous fetal monitoring. The situation usually ends in a C-Section.

Oh so many things to think about. Like my hubby pointed out, sometimes it feels like we're preparing for war. Seriously, we have taken almost no time to realize and daydream about the new life we are bringing into this world. It feels like it has been all preparation and now the questions we ask ourselves of "How and will Sirena go into labor? What will baby's birth story be to share? Will we be prepared? What will be suggested?" So many questions. It's the interventions that are scary, the unknown and what someone will try to do or suggest that we may not be comfortable with. Ultimately, I am in charge of my own body and make my own decisions, I also have great advocates with me that know me and the situation at hand: Hubby Dan and Doula Michelle. I also have a great support team, Mom and Hil and Aunt Pat. Sometimes I wonder though: Is ignorance truly bliss? Maybe I know too much at this point.

I am trying to find a good balance in all of this and hopefully there will be good news today at my appointment. I am more and more excited to see my little baby and hold her and love her. That's what matters. Dan and I will be there for her, no matter what path this labor takes. As long as she feels our love and a connection, we will be there. I have an appointment today, if I am dilated and effaced enough they will try a natural labor induction. It is sweeping of the membranes. It's when the doctor will push the bag of waters away from the cervix and sweep the mucus plug. If the body agrees and is ready, I should go into labor within 24 - 48 hours. This sounds like a much less invasive way to start labor. I've also tried walking a lot. Saturday I did 5.5 miles, Tuesday and Wednesday night I did 3.5 miles each. Hopefully this has brought baby down and effaced me and dilated me more. I have had a few contractions in the past three days, but just braxton hicks.

Well, I am off. Wish me luck, I will post an update this afternoon..................

La Sirena and Baby Tadpole