38 weeks

10/26/2010

Just a quick update. I hit 38 weeks this week! My baby officially won't be considered premature.
I had an NST yesterday and everything looked good. My blood pressure is being very bipolar. It's either really low (108ish over 62ish) or kind of borderline ( 126ish over 84/86ish). They won't consider putting me on anything until its over 140/90 and with a week to go that probably won't happen. Still, the overall average is higher than it has been so we are watching it and I will be induced.I had my favorite nurse when my fluid levels were checked and she pointed out that it looks like Emily has hair. They have really nice ultrasound equipment and she showed me these little whispy, feathery strands sticking out from around her skull and said that that was hair. My little girl most likely won't be bald!

I went to the doctor today. We talked about whether or not to do an induction and with my blood pressure starting to go up and my other issues we decided it was best. I saw the urogyn and asked about my inerstitial cystitis and labor/afterwards. My IC could basically go either way but he did say since I was in "remission" before pregnancy, I might possibly go back into remission afterward. I know I probably will have an epidural, not because I am pro pain med but more of a complication with my IC. The idea makes me cringe from an IC perspective however because of the catheter and the problems they can give me. This might sound stupid to a non IC sufferer but a catheter can = weeks and weeks of extreme bladder pain, especially if its an adult catheter (I do better with a pediatric catheter). He said if I do end up needing one they will definitely use a pediatric catheter on me. I will point out that never once have I ever had pain medication encouraged or brought up by my doctors. They really respect the patient in that regard.

They asked if I wanted a cervical check done and since I hadn't had one done since my last preterm labor scare at 32 weeks I decided to go ahead. Plus with an induction coming up next week I wanted to see exactly what we were working with. I am currently 3 centimeters dilated and 75% effaced, which of course means that I could go into labor tonight or a few weeks from now but hey at least its something. I was afraid there would be no change since I haven't had much in the way of the contraction department. The doctor said my cervix was favorable for induction. They scheduled my induction for next wednesday, November 3rd. It's only 5 days before my due date so its not that early. A little over a week to go at the most!

Now for the part that has me really really not happy/a bit freaked out. After my nice, happy appointment I swung by the front desk to confirm I had the correct number to call on my induction day and they had me pick up an additional sheet of paper with the names of a bunch of other hospitals on it. Apparently if I go into labor during the next few days, they will have to divert me to another hospital because every bed is currently full right now. I about wanted to cry. I know nothing about these other hospitals, their policies, or their doctors. I am very comfortable with my hospital because of their conservative policies/practices. I've heard so many horror stories of other places.
I don't mind having a c-section if it is medically necessary and I know my doctor won't do one unless it is necessary. What if I get diverted to some awful hospital where the doctor does one for convenience and does not respect my wishes? I think about my experience with that one hospital while we were traveling and the meds they tried to start pushing even before they knew what was wrong and start worrying if I will get sent to some med happy hospital. There are things called interventions that are practices that actually help the patient and "interventions" that do more harm than good. I don't want to get stuck some place that does "interventions". Giving birth at a place where I simply don't have that trust would be so stressful. I am seriously upset about this and my husband just does not get it and chalks it up to me being hormonal. Ugh!

On top of it my uterus has been contracting off and on this afternoon. I am hoping its just from my cervical exam and that nothing happens tonight or for the next day or two since I almost certainly would be diverted. I was released from pelvic rest and released to excercise. I was going to go on a walk this evening. You can forget that idea. Maybe I am being hormonal but I seriously do not want to do anything that might bring on labor for a few days.

Anyway, I am seriously cranky right now and hoping and praying that I don't get diverted and Emily bakes for a few days.