5 More Sleeps...

I cannot believe it...5 more sleeps until we meet Miss Lily Pie. That’s right – 5 more sleeps!!!! I am scheduled to undergo an induction at 8.00am on Monday, 28 August 2006. It seems there are some lovely, kind hearted Obstetricians with wonderful bed side manners out there – it just turns out that I had never meet them before, until today.

As previously explained, I had an OB appointment at the hospital today. To be honest, I didn’t expect much from the appointment given my previous experiences with the midwives and OBs. I just thought they would ask how I was doing (not really caring for my answers), check my blood pressure etc and send me on my way. Truth be told, I was hoping the OB would do an internal to see how my cervix was and that I guess, is all I really wanted.

To my amazement after I had explained my problems with the SPD, some of which was obviously evident to them – especially when I couldn’t get my legs up onto the table to check out the baby without help, the OB mentioned the possibility of induction. I nearly fell off the table in shock. He said that an induction will generally only work if things are favourable. At that point I requested he do an internal to check how ‘things’ were...I know you must be thinking who gets that excited over an internal examination?

Whilst doing the examination he indicated he was "playing with the cervix" in the hope things might get moving a little earlier. I presume he was doing a ‘stretch and sweep’. He told me my cervix was ripening and thinning and was open 1 to 2 fingers (or centimetres), which he said is sometimes normal at this stage.

He commented they could offer me the induction at around 38 weeks. Of course I promptly noted that I would be 38 weeks on Monday. So next thing you know, he is on the phone to labour and delivery scheduling my induction. Again I was blown away...I just never expected this offering. I had hoped but never expected they would.

Apparently, inductions can take hours and some times days to get things moving. Not only that, if they are ‘busy’ in labour and deliver they will bump me and prioritise according to clinical need (which is completely understandable). Therefore, worst case would be for the induction to be re-scheduled a day or two later (I can live with that!).

When I was leaving the appointment he said that if I changed my mind I could just ring labour and delivery. Change my mind...was he nuts. Here's hoping they don't change theirs.

So, here I am with 5 more sleeps (maybe 6) until I get to meet my baby girl. It is so surreal and kind of weird to know when things will be happening. Within a week, if all things go well, I will have hopefully regained my mobility back – the ability to walk without waddling, roll over, get up out of chairs – I can’t wait! Of course it goes without saying the greatest part will be meeting my Princess Lily.

5 more sleeps...