Twelfth OB Appointment

I have postponed the inducement.

These past few days, I just felt really uneasy about it. In my mind, I have the same chances of a c-section if I am induced with Pitocin and if I end up having a “large baby.” I don’t think I’m a good candidate to be induced because I’m not even much more effaced or dilated. Why should I force my body and baby out when my body’s not ready? What really echoed in my head while reading about inducement was “fetal distress.” I just didn’t want to risk it.

I went to my acupuncturist first in the morning and he asked, “Why are you still here?” I replied, “You tell me!!!!” I have another appointment tomorrow and, frankly, am losing faith.

Then I had my OB appointment in the afternoon. The nurse was very sympathetic to my swollen ankles and kept saying, “Poor thing.” She even poked one leg a little — probably didn’t believe they were for real. I was weighed and gained four pounds, which the dr later told me was all water in my legs!!! I had another dr from the practice — who is much more laid back than mine (and I’m thinking of switching to later). I told her my concern with the inducement and she said she didn’t feel adverse to postponing it. I was measuring on track at 39 weeks and hadn’t effaced much more or dilated. The baby’s still doing well (heartbeat in 150s). I told her that I didn’t think waiting an extra week would make that much of a difference in the baby’s size and she agreed. She said I could come in for one more appointment and they may do a non-stress test. Then if I didn’t have the baby by then, they would induce me the week of the 23rd. I felt better about that.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m so miserable. I’d like the pregnancy overwith, but I just couldn’t shake that I didn’t think I was a good candidate. I’d rather have nature take its course. I do have this intense fear that he’s too big and I’ll tear really badly, but this other part of me still thinks he’s really not that big. And if I do end up having a c-section because he’s too big — well, at least I waited until my body was ready to go into labor mode.

I asked the dr of any good ways to induce. She mentioned that thunderstorms helped (low pressure). (I think we’re having one tomorrow, so cross your fingers.) She also mentioned mixing castor oil with Gatorade… apparently, it cleans out your system, which causes contractions. A friend told me later that she knew someone who tried it and it wasn’t pretty, but it worked. I’m not sure how desperate I am to try that, but ask me later this week.

I asked her how I should manage the swollen legs and she told me to drink plenty of water. “You’ll instantly lose 10 pounds,” she said. Then she told me to lie for two hours on my left-side. I’m not sure if that latter works because I slept on my left all night that evening and when I woke up, my legs were still pretty swollen.

So far, I’ve tried almost everything people have told me to do to induce. Walk — until my back starts to hurt and legs get sore, which is only 10 minutes. I have eaten black licorice (yuck). The baby just doesn’t want to come out. I haven’t even had Braxton Hicks, which worries me. At least that might be like a sign.

My sister is a little anxious because she leaves on the 25th and doesn’t want to waste her time here. Neither do I. So let’s hope the baby feels compelled to make his entrance sometime soon. (Plus I’m really sick of going to work.) Othwerwise, he’s coming out the week of the 23rd whether he likes it or not!