It started on Monday, November 18, 2013. I got the oil changed in my car in the morning, and in the afternoon I went to my obstetrician’s office for an exam and what would be my last fetal non-stress test. I was 38 weeks pregnant. The non-stress test went fairly well, the babies were doing just fine and very active as usual. Despite extreme swelling in my legs, hands, and feet, my blood pressure was low as ever and I wasn’t throwing off any protein in my urine. I was 2 centimeters dilated, and almost completely effaced.
Dr. P. had been talking about scheduling an induction for a few weeks. It wasn’t what I really wanted. I had gone through Bradley Natural Childbirth classes and I knew that induction isn’t usually the best for babies, for mom, and for breastfeeding. Still, I conceded because I was uncomfortable and grouchy, and because Dr. P. said that outcomes for fraternal twins are best around 37-39 weeks. Having not experienced labor, not even many Braxton-Hicks contractions, I was afraid that the babies were just going to stick around if we didn’t do something.
Brett told me I should schedule for Thursday, the 21st, because it is the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an auspicious day to be born. Dr. P. preferred Wednesday, the 20th, and I talked him into starting in the morning so we could sleep before the induction. So, it was set: we would arrive at the hospital at 5:30 in the morning on Wednesday, November 20th, to begin a Pitocin-induced birth for my twins.
The rest of Monday and all of Tuesday, I tried to do whatever I could to induce labor on my own. I scrubbed floors, did laundry, cleaned bathrooms, and even baked and ate “labor inducing” cookies. I even tried nipple stimulation, despite the fact that it made me feel kind of dirty. Nothing happened. I was really going to be induced.
So, Tuesday night, we had a nice dinner and went to bed early so we could begin our childbirth adventure in the morning.
Here I am, 38 weeks pregnant, and getting too big for my britches (and every other article of clothing I own).
To be continued…
See Part II here.
Filed under: Babies, Blog Parties
