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Induction Date Scheduled
Wow. It's here. We know when we're going to have our baby girl. I just got back from my weekly appt. and the baby is measuring 7 lbs. 8 oz. (up from 6 lbs. 3 oz. last week). Having gestational diabetes that requires insulin to control has prompted my doctor to go ahead and schedule us for an induction for next Wednesday, 01.20.10.
I put more details here:
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/29368341.aspx
That said, I am having mixed emotions. I am thrilled to know that we'll be meeting our daughter very, very soon. But I am very upset that my natural birth plan is completely unraveling. I know when I got the GD dx that this could be a consideration but now that it's here I am feeling very sad that my body will not be allowed to go into labor and birth my baby on it's own.
I have an appt. on Monday to assess the situation...today I was still just 1 cm (well she said 1.5 cm) and my cervix was thick. No wonder, I am only 37 weeks, 4 days...only 5% of first babies come by their EDD, so it's very early for me still.
So on Monday I'll have more details...will we use Cytotec or Cervadil to ripen my cervix? Will I need to go in on Tuesday night or can I just go in on Wednesday? What I do know is this...my labor and delivery will involve the use of Pitocin, which I really, really, really didn't not want to have to do. So now, I am mentally preparing for all of this and also chaging my goal from going naturally to now, just trying to deliver vaginally so that I don't end up with a c-section. Again, I know c-sections happen everyday and that they aren't the end of the world, but I really don't want one at all.
At the end of the day, I am mainly focusing on the fact that by this time next week I will be a mommy and finally be holding my precious baby girl in my arms. The rest? I guess I am just going to have to suck it up and deal. I pray that everything goes as well as it possibly can go and that there are no complications for me or for her. Positive vibes are welcomed!
Re: Induction Date Scheduled
How exciting, Lori! I know it's not your ideal situation, but you're gonna have Libby in your arms in a week! It's crazy. My doctor actually recommended not having a birth plan because things rarely go according to "planned". I don't want a c-section either and I hope you don't have to have one! Definitely focus on that being the goal...
Maybe you should start EPO to try to ripen your cervix? And lots of sex? =P Are you having BH? I've been having tons and I'm 50% effaced already, one week behind you. I think once I hit 37 weeks I'm gonna start all the old wives' tales to induce.
Good luck, keep us updated. I'm super excited for you! Sending you lots of anti-c/s dust!
I responded to this news in the weekly check in.
First, everything will work out.
Second, I would be exactly like you - looking for anything that would help avoid a C. I know I haven't been through labor and childbirth yet, but it interests me so much it is basically all I have read about for the last 8 months! I also chat with every midwife and doula I meet. So obviously this advice isn't first hand, but I hope it's supportive and helpful!
Have you been able to talk through this with your doula? The longer you can go with out an epidural the more likely you will be to have a vaginal birth (even with an induction) because you need gravity on your side! I'm sure your OB knew about your natural inclinations, so I would also talk in depth about her timeline for inductions and try to get her to be as open minded as possible about not placing you on a timeline so long as you and your baby are happy and healthy. For example, if everything looks good, would they be willing to start the pitocin at a really low level for a longer period of time? This might allow you a little more time before really wanting pain medication. We were just talking about this during a yoga session b/c one of them women in the class risked out of homebirth for high blood pressure and was looking at an induction. The instructor (who is a doula) was giving her sample questions to ask her new OB and this is one of the things they were talking about - so it must be safe in some circumstances.
Use this week to mentally prepare because the mind plays a big role too. The more tense and upset you are the less likely your body will be able to relax and accept the process.
This is a lot to process, but it will all work out and you will be holding your baby!
Hey Lori,
I know how disappointed you must be feeling. You're still going to go through that event called labour and birth however and that, on it's own, will blow your mind. Actually, the only thing bigger that will blow you away is coming face to face with your darling baby for the first time. That "Ahhh, so THIS is what you look like, lil cherub" moment
Did you manage to hire a MamaTens machine? Might be worth a shot hon. Speak to a physio or your doula and ask them what they think about using it even before you get started on the Pitocin. It may take that 'sudden edge' off the contractions.
Why are they inducing you exactly? Can they not wait an extra 3 weeks? I'm just curious, is all.
Alyson & Phil | Planning Bio | Married Bio!
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Tara & Ian . 4/24/2008 . The Kahala Planning . Married
Like Tara mentioned, I don't have any advice to offer either, but I am so extremely happy for you and Joseph.
Sending loads of good healthy vibes, you'll do great
{Hugs}
wow, I thought my hormones had evened out post partum but when I got to the end of your post and read your statement "At the end of the day, I am mainly focusing on the fact that by this time next week I will be a mommy and finally be holding my precious baby girl in my arms" it brought tears to my eyes! It really is an incredible moment, Lori, and I can't wait for you to experience it
as far as your induction is concerned, I am sorry that your GD is putting a wrench in your natural birth plan. i am not familiar with cytotec and how it differs from cervidil but most places do have you go in the night before.... they were going to have me come in the night before at 8pm. my ob said they used to have people come at 10pm but by the time they got checked in, settled, got the drugs ordered and delivered, it was close to midnight... so with an 8pm check in they give you the cervidil around 10pm. then pitocin starts between 6am-8am. that's how it would have been done for me if i had been induced, at least. if you do get induced, make sure you eat lots before you go in, as it could be your last meal in quite a while
my last meal was 6pm on Nov 11th and i did not get anything to eat except some jello until about 10-11pm on the 12th - I was starving!!
I hope that everything goes well for you, Lori, and that even if you get induced, that you are able to have a vaginal birth instead of a c-section. but like you said, no matter what happens, as long as Libby arrives safely and is ok, then that's all that matters. I can't wait to "meet" her!
oh and about the video monitor you mentioned in the post below.... Brent didn't really think a video monitor was necessary (or any monitor for that matter) b/c he said we'd have to go check on her no matter what... that is true at the very beginning when most of the time when they are crying they are hungry or have a dirty diaper... but once you pass the early days, I have found it so nice to be able to put her down sleepy but awake and then go watch her on the monitor... I can see if she is making noise but fighting sleep (with her eyes barely able to stay open in between) or if she is wide awake and crying. she also tends to startle herself in the middle of the night and will cry, for anywhere from 15 seconds to a few minutes when this happens and it is nice to be able to see her to distinguish if she was just startled and will go back to sleep, or see if I need to get up and tend to her. that said, it's not something you need right away, but I would recommend getting one eventually.
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
I know this isn't your ideal, but how exciting! Plus, I think the first of the month is a cool birthday.
I also agree with this:
A good friend of mine was induced at about 42.5 weeks with her little one last year (in fact, her baby girl's first birthday is this weekend!). It wasn't what she wanted either, but she still got to go through the rest of the labor just the way she wanted - no pain meds, etc. All the induction does is get things started - the rest is still up to you!
Ahhh Lori, I'm very sad for you that your dream of a natural childbirth will not be happening, I know how much you wanted that. I hope you can take a day to be sad and then feel better like you seemed to do w/ the GD. I guess we only have so much control over things in our life no matter how much we want total control. The end result will be the same though, lovely Libby will be with you & J. I said a lil prayer for you guys.
No matter what I am so proud of you for doing so well during this pregnancy!!! That is great that you haven't gained very much weight at all! Good job on all of the healthy eating and stretching too!
Don't work too hard... just a few work days left now, YAY!
this. try to relax and enjoy whatever experience comes your way
Libby is the most important thing! sending lots of positive vibes your way!
Lori
Don't get discouraged! Did you chat with your doula about all of this? Does she also feel that you should be induced or that it would be ok to wait a bit longer? The only reason I ask is because my best friend had GD and was induced at 39 weeks and it took her a long time to labor and have the baby (she did have him vaginally) but in the end, they were TOTALLY wrong about the weight of the babe. They said he was "measuring around 10 lbs", he was only 7 1/2 lbs!! That's why I asked.
Here's my story about how my "natural" delivery went out the window...My water broke on it's own at 35 weeks but my body did not go into labor on it's own. I had to have pitocin. I was sad and crying and then I thought about it, through the tears, that I was actually going to meet my daughter! Who cares that I had pitocin and my natural birth was going out the window! I was so excited to see her sweet face! I even ended up with an epidural after 4+ hours of HARD labor I was crying that I didn't want it but that I couldn't take the intensity any longer. My contractions were one on top of the next and there was only a 3 second break, the nurse couldn't figure out why my body wasn't resting longer between contractions. During the induction, before I got the epi, I walked around the room and bounced on a ball the help encourage Bella to move down more. It all worked but the pain was too much and the no break between contractions was KILLING me! So I finally got the epi, they gave me a dose and then I could push a button for more meds if I wanted. I only pushed it 3 times in 6 hours. In the end, I could feel almost everything and I was up walking 20 mins after having her. In the end, I wasn't sad to get the epi or that my natural birth went out the window. I was over the moon in love with my new daughter and I was falling more in love with DH by the minute. It was an intense feeling, not the L&D so much, more the emotion and love that I felt. I have a beautiful, healthy, happy daughter. She's a complete joy and she wasn't born naturally
Embrace it!! You'll do fabulous. Oh and take something to do during the induction! I was bored until the pain started
Lori you and your family will be in my T&P through this next week. I really hope everything works out and she can be born vaginally. GL
How exciting you have a scheduled date to meet her! Sorry that things are not going as you hoped, so far, but one positive is that you can have everything wrapped up for her arrival now that you know when to expect her. I hope you still get to have the birth experience you hoped for...and if not, holding a baby in your arms at the end of it will be amazing! Good luck!
I couldn't agree more. This is really all that is important.
You are in my t&p! Safe & healthy vibes to you!
So incredibly exciting Lori! It must be a little comforting to know when your baby will arrive and to be able to plan for it more. I know you're a planner!
I agree with Anna, to not overthink this. Things WILL happen the way they are going to happen, and there really isn't ALL that much we can do to prevent it. I know birth, labor and delivery seem HUGELY important to you right now, that's where you are in this whole process and it's your next big step, but it really won't seem quite so important when you have this wonderful blessing in your arms. It will be the past, of course, you will always remember it, but you will then move on to the next stage of your life; raising you little girl. That will last much longer than your labor process and you'll have so many more memories that labor and delivery will fade into the background.
Good luck to you and I can't wait to hear your stories and experience! Relax, let them do their job and wait for your baby!
I totally agree w/ this! Lori, I wish you the best. Next wk, you and your husband are going to have a deeper love with each other and w/ your little girl!
Malia & Dave & Alexa
Happily married since 2-17-08! Three since 9-9-09!
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I didn't have any plans for a c-section but at 39 weeks was told by my OB it would be the best thing for me. It made me sad because DH & I attended childbirth classes, watched videos, read books, etc., all in preparation of having a normal delivery, and suddenly that was thrown out the window. Like the other girls said, in the end, all that mattered was hearing that first cry and holding my DD for the first time.
I'm sorry your GD is getting in the way of your birth plan. Sending positive vibes and prayers for a smooth delivery your way! And try not to worry (I know, easier said than done) because it will all work out. Enjoy these last few days just being you and your DH!
We all can't wait to meet your sweet Libby!