Just returned home from my weekly pow wow with the OB and name obsessed nurses. My cervix is…drumroll…only 1/2 a centimenter more open than last week. Oh yes, my cervix is one sleepy gal. She is now yawning at a grand stance of 1 centimeter dilated. The kind of dilation that people have been known to walk around weeks with.
I could tell that my OB was hoping for a tad more excitement in my downstairs apartment. Hell, aren’t we all? So she sent me to the room next door filled with random Aladdin movies and ancient episodes of Mad About You for a 20 minute non-stress test. For those of you not down with the NST this is a test where you lounge in a chair with two monitors velcroed around your gut. One monitor is for the baby’s heart beat and the other is to check for contractions.
And damn is it LOUD!
Hearing Snork’s fast beat was kind of awesome, but I kept watching the numbers that were to measure contractions. I totally had a thought that maybe I was having contractions and was just that incredibly lucky gal that didn’t feel them. You know, like those ladies on TLC that didn’t know they were pregnant until they crapped out a baby.
Alas 20 minutes later the doc came in to examine the readout. We got a gold star for having a “happy, healthy, heartbeat” reading, but, just as I feared, nada on the contraction front.
What happens next? Well I am to hope like hell that labor happens between now and Monday night. And when it doesn’t I am to come back in for another NST, an ultrasound to check on fluid, and another OB appointmnet. Oh and at some point today some lady is going to call me to schedule an induction.
As in the clock is ticking…
And I have to say that all the talk about the exit strategy totally makes me well up with excitement, fear, anxiety, and go flush with hope. I mean I have spent so effing long hoping and pining for this moment to be here- the “Mother Moment”- and now that there is a time stamp clicking forward it makes things massively more real.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I was 1/2 cm for about two weeks with my first daughter. Then two days later, bam, born! However labor starts I hope it is swift, painless (epidurals are your friends) and that Snork arrives safe and sound.
i echo was sarzini says. i was 1 cm for.ever. until i wasn’t anymore. and now, holy shit, my child is pushing 10 months old. time is just weird.
wishing you a speedy delivery!
Prior to active labor (in a full term pregnancy), cervical dilation is a pretty useless measure. It’s not an indicator of delivery date at all. The only thing it would tell you is how likely it is that an induction would be successful.
Best wishes for smooth sailing!
Oh good! An update. I was getting nervous.
I’m just so happy for you. Some people dilate really quickly so its not really an indicator of how quick you’ll go into labor.
I can’t wait to see your baby’s beautiful face! I hope for a quick and safe delivery for you.
Dude, Snork is apparently as stubborn as B was, nearly to the day.
Tell him Auntie Alison says to come on out, it’s fun out here.
When we checked in for the induction and the hooked me up to the contraction monitor, I was staring at it in earnest just KNOWING I HAD to be contracting and nada. Of course once they started the cyto.tec and my water broke we were in contraction city.
I just cannot wait!!
ok i take it back i dont think it will be the 13th i think you will totally have a easter snork!!!!!!^_______^
Hi. I have not posted on your blog in quite a long time but I have been following your progress. I am so happy for you! I hope you get some weekend action! Good luck with your labor and delivery! -Cindy
Wow. Simply, wow.
Ooooo – this is so exciting. And, babies have been known to fold when they hear the word INCDUCTION, coming the day before-ish, you know – like you scared him out or something.
Snork will get the best of your shy cervix yet!
I feel your pain. My induction is scheduled for Monday morning at 7:30. This baby just won’t come out.
Congrats on a happy healthy heartbeat! EEK..fast forward is RIGHT! It’ll be so soon. I’m rooting for you and Snork.
HUGS!
Hope Snork comes before Monday!
Try the “labor” salad…its supposed to work..who knows?
Equal parts of:
Romaine lettuce
Watercress
Red Cabbage
Chop and toss together. Sprinkle with balsamic vinagrette (1 part balsamic vinegar, 3 parts extra virgin olive oil). Garnish with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
And if the salad doesn’t exactly work at least you will have eaten something yummy!!! Oh I am just so excited for you and rootin’ for things to get movin this weekend. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone!!! But as I was tellin Cale yesterday, it seems like it was only a couple of years ago that Wil was born but it’s been 7 years and we have college to think about in a mere 10 years!!!! Oh my… well on that note I’m gonna go enjoy my Wil-free Friday night and drink a toast to you and the Snork!! Love you both so very much!
Elizabeth was born two days before her induction. I was supposed to go into the hospital on Thursday night for a Friday baby and I went Tuesday night for a Wednesday morning baby.
snork is coming. don’t stress about your cervix. the contractions will open it up. if it’s closed until then, it really doesn’t mean anything. i got so nihilistic at my last midwife appointment, scheduled a nst, and was quite certain i’d be pregnant forever. snork is coming. and i’m super excited for you.
I wasn’t dilated at all on my due date and an induction was scheduled for the following week. The day before the induction my water broke. So the dilation, softening, effacing whatever stuff means nothing — like you said. Good luck.
oooooooooooh, this is so damned exciting!!! you are going to be such an amazing mother.
p.s. i watched your video… i love your plush carpet. i’ve got the whole city dwelling wood floors thing going and honestly, i’d love to lay down some beautiful, soft carpet.
You’d gonna do great, whenever
Hey there, My first baby (17 now) was due July 4th. On the 3rd I wasn’t dilated at all, and my cervix was medium hard. Dr told me it might be another week or 2. I went to the zoo on the 4th, walked a lot and went in to labor. He was born at 3:23 am on the 5th. No worries, Snork is coming!
Snork is totally a kid after my own heart – if I can stay in a warm comfortable place to sleep I am making NO move to leave.
So if you get to schedule an induction, then you get to choose who wins the poll! Let me point out that I have 29 yrs of experience that say the 8th of April is a pretty good birthday!
Well, I’ll be waiting here by the computer!
I’ve seen like 5 episodes of that “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant” show. Where do these people COME FROM?
Pfft, pfft, spit, spit, keinihora, I can’t wait for you to join the club of motherhood. Hardest damn job ever, but the best one, too. I’m crying with excitement for you, hon.
{ 1 trackback }