The latest news is that I was tentatively scheduled to be induced on Feb 14, which brought be much angst as I didn’t want to have a child — in particular a daughter — to share a birthday on a holiday that I think should be banned. I was worried that if she was single when she was older, she might have issues with that day. However, my favorite OB would be on call and I made amends with it. Then I got bumped from the waitlist and they moved me to Feb 16 (her due date). As I had predicted, they wouldn’t let me go past my due date because of the above average amniotic fluid, which can lead to complications. Most notably, they don’t want my water to break when I’m at home since the umbilical cord could come out with the rush. Much of what I have read indicates that the fluid isn’t a big deal, but being induced helps us plan better especially with a toddler. The downside to this date is that the OB on call is the one OB in the practice that I have never met! My only consolation is that I’m 99% sure that the nurse who helped deliver Peyton will be there and I will get her again. And we all know that the nurses do about 90% of the work. (I saw her at 37 weeks when I was prematurely sent to Labor and Delivery after my stress test, which is in itself a whole other story. But I got her again as my nurse, which was super lovely, and I asked if I could request her for my labor.)
But this being my second, I don’t anticipate a long delivery, which is my other consolation. I’ve been having on/off mild contractions, which have gotten stronger these past two days, and I believe the baby’s getting ready to arrive anyway.
We are dropping off Peyton at school tomorrow and I will probably cry my eyes out. The only time I ever left him was when I went on my girls’ trip last March but I left him in good hands (his dad’s — the only other hands I trust to take care of my children), so wasn’t too worried. But this time, Peyton will be staying with the in-laws and I am just sick with worry. I hope Peyton will be OK. I hope Peyton sleeps well. I hope he doesn’t miss us too much. I told him this morning that his baby sister was coming out tomorrow and I’d have to be in the hospital for a bit, but he could visit. I told him he would have to say with his grandparents for a bit. Peyton hugged me a long time and said he didn’t want to stay with them. Broke my heart. I told him we’d get him as soon as we got home. My only consolation is that if all goes well with the labor, I will only be in the hospital for 2 days.
If you recall, my MIL walked in while I was being stitched up, which was naturally very upsetting. This was, after against my wishes, the hub called to let them know I was in labor and they decided to stop by because they couldn’t understand why it was taking so long for me to labor. So in this instance, you would think the hub would learn from previous experience, right? For several weeks now, I have reminded him that I don’t want him to call his parents until AFTER the baby is born. In addition, all the memories of recovery are coming back… unpleasant chills from the epidural wearing off, being loopy from pain killers, and being unable to move from having such a large baby. Granted, the baby girl is actually coming along as average size, I just can’t predict how I’ll feel.
So, today, the hub asked me when our induction is. I told him and then he asked, “What time should I call my parents?” I said, “Um, I thought we decided… AFTER she’s born. I don’t want them stopping by again, not to mention how I’ll feel afterward.” The hub said, “But what if you don’t have the baby by the time Peyton needs to be picked up from school?” I said, “First of all, if she’s not born by then, then there’s some serious issues. Second, we can assess as things happen. You called them last time against my wishes and look what happened. If your mom walks in again, I will be ready. I will throw anything in my reach at her.”
Now I have heard of pregnamenisia for the woman to encourage further breeding. But surely the hub cannot be suffering from the same medical mystery. Oh wait, his medical problem is that he’s a man.
Let me explain this simple fact to many expectant fathers out there: the pregnant/laboring woman gets this rush of adrenaline and force that is almost superhuman. She will have enough force to crush a 747 into a pulp. So, imagine what she can do to your face when she’s is crossed and unhappy. The only thing worse than a woman’s wrath is a pregnant/laboring woman’s wrath. Remember the hormones she has harbored for the past 9 months and how she’s doing most of the work and probably resenting you for being sitting there without any pain.
So, this is my last post until I become a mother of two. I will update again — not sure when — but I will and we will no longer be a trio but a quartet!
I enjoyed your story. I hope your husband respects your wishes this time and is supporting of you.