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Birthday Re-cap
Yesterday was definitely one of my strangest birthdays yet -- not that anything in particular happened, just emotionally and mentally.
After 9 months of griping that the baby better NOT come on my birthday, somehow over the weekend I got it into my head that it would and I got all excited about it. So, I spent Sunday night tossing and turning and thinking I was going into labor every 10 minutes (Which I totally wasn't. Obviously.).
I worked from home in the morning, then went to the doctor for an 11am appointment. I knew she was going to want to induce me, and I expressed to her that I really wasn't comfortable with inducing and yet, before I knew it, I was walking out the door with an appointment at 6am the following day (today) to be induced. I felt like crying when I got to the parking lot.
Jeremy gave me a big pep talk in which he reminded me that I can say no, that I shouldn't let anyone push me into something I don't want to do. I called my mom and she ranted and raved and told me my doctor was full of shit (nevermind a medical degree, Dr. Mom knows the score). Jeremy's friend called me in the afternoon and told me she had gone 10 days over with her son, and everything was fine.
Long story short, I finally called the doctor's office back and told them I wasn't comfortable with being induced just because, as they said, there was "nothing to be gained" by waiting. I wanted a better reason than that. Sure, there is no benefit to waiting, but if there is also no risk -- then why not wait? When I said I wanted a better reason, the nurse on the other end of the line paused and then said, rather incredulously, "A better reason than being late?"
"Uh, yeah." I replied.
After much back-and-forth with the nurse, and three phone calls later, I finally got them to cancel my inducement. In exchange, I'm headed to the hospital for a biophysical assessment this morning at 9:30am. They'll do an ultrasound and a bunch of tests on shrimpy to make sure that all is well and healthy. If everything is fine, I can keep waiting. If everything is not fine, I'll be induced. I'm fine with that. I have no problem being induced if it means keeping my baby healthy. What I do have a problem with is inducing "just because."
Anyway, all of that made it a rollercoaster of a day emotionally. Not to mention that I am weary of waiting. Physically, I'm fine but mentally I'm wearing down and am really ready for something to happen. It's funny what a toll simply waiting can take.
For the first time in my life, my birthday was the last thing on my mind yesterday. Jack kindly arranged a last-minute dinner at Buca, so toward the end of the day I spiffed up a little bit (even used the new hot rollers I bought this weekend) and we met some friends for a big-ass Italian meal and some swell birthday gifts (and some tiramisu. A little nip of rum is good for baby, yes?). I wasn't feeling in the mood for it, but in the end I'm glad I went. It was good to see my friends and get out of the house. Though my theory about flushing the baby out with copious amounts of garlic appears not to have worked.
Off to the hospital. Only 364 days until I turn 32!
Posted January 17, 2006 8:09 AM | On This Day: 2005
you look just lovely.
Posted by: jennie on Tue Jan 17, 2006 | ReplyI'd get a scheduled C-section if I was you. We were unsuccessfully induced and ended up doing that anyway.
Get that little guy out of there!
Posted by: Michael Koppelman on Tue Jan 17, 2006 | ReplyOh, that is a tough one. But I have to say, c-sections suck! The recovery can be a beeyatch. I've got my fingers crossed that the shrimpy will decide to make his or her grand entrance in the very near future.
Posted by: Sharyn on Tue Jan 17, 2006 | ReplyFirst of all, Happy Late Birthday!!!! Second, if shrimpy is ok, then let nature take it's course. If she/he is not then get that little person outta there! :) Either way, soon you'll have a little baby in your arms. :)
Posted by: Michelle on Tue Jan 17, 2006 | Replyit was great celebrating with you, we hope Logan didn't disrupt things too much. I hope Shrimpy has decided today is a wonderful day to arrive
Posted by: Bill on Tue Jan 17, 2006 | ReplyRanted and raved? Child you have not seen ranting and raving. I like to call it "gently guiding." And I believe I said your Doctor was a liar, not that she was full of shit, although after some of the comments she made I could probably say that. You made the right decision to wait. Birthing a baby is not based on what is convenient for the doctor or medical institution. Happy Birthday.
Happy belated darlin'!
Hey now, I was induced and look at me, I turned out just fine! (oh, shut it) Okay, so in my case it was because we lived on an ISLAND with no hospital... Given your urban locale, Shrimpy can wait until s/he's good and ready.
But here's a tip, when that little timer pops out of your neck? That means it's time to go!
C'mon Shrimpy!
Posted by: MJ on Wed Jan 18, 2006 | ReplyYou know, they used to not induce. I was like 10 days late and never once did my mom mention anything about inducing labor or stuff. They just told her to go about her time.
Getting the age of the child down when it's in your belly isn't a perfect science...and not all babies are ready in exactly the same amount of time.
I think the inducing thing is for their convenience (the doctors) because then they can take you out of their inbox and move on to the next one.
Unless baby is going to burst in there or something, there's no reason to make it come out.
good for you for asking the simple questions we sometimes forget to ask.
Posted by: Cynthia on Thu Jan 19, 2006 | ReplyI was two weeks late, on the button. I wish my mom had induced on her due date, because I then would have been born on Halloween. I would have had a cooler birthstone and sweet costume parties.
But since baby Wilker had no sweet holiday to aim for, it just made sense to let her bake until she was good and ready to come out.
Posted by: Jenna McInerny on Fri Jan 20, 2006 | Reply