Final OB Appointment

Well, today was definitely my last OB appointment for this pregnancy.  This one was much more informative than the last--I have actual numbers and stuff! Plus, now I know that my baby will definitely be born this weekend.

We'll get the big news out of the way first: I am to check into the Labor & Delivery section of the hospital at 7 P.M. tomorrow night if I don't go into labor on my own to be induced.  This is being done for a few reasons.  These days, many doctors prefer not to let pregnancies go on past 41 weeks. The longer the pregnancy goes on once a baby is really, definitely full-term, the more likelihood there is of some issue cropping up in an otherwise healthy pregnancy.  There are concerns of placental insufficiency, plus worries that the baby will soon grow too big to be born vaginally.  Inducement has its own risks, and can lead to a need for a C-section if things aren't moving along as quickly as they should.  This is why many doctors try to avoid it if possible.  In my own case, one thing driving this decision is that while I do not have preeclampsia, I seem to be flirting on the borderline of having it the longer this pregnancy goes on, and that puts both my life and my baby's life at risk.

Now for the other news about the visit. I was checked again for dilation because the doctor I had yesterday did not leave that information in her notes, and I was dilated about 3 or 4 centimeters.  I am approximately 60% effaced, and I think I heard the doctor say that the baby is at the -2 fetal descent station.  One of the doctors I saw today did another sweep of my membranes, and she was much more aggressive with it because they really, really would prefer that I go into labor without having to be induced.  In any case, I'm just waiting to see what happens, but it's nice to know that there is a definite end in sight. The wait will be over sometime this weekend.  If I don't go into labor tonight, I'm hoping I can get in some prime napping time tomorrow before we check in so that I can be well-rested for the labor.

I'm not sure it has really sunk in yet that I will definitely be meeting my baby this weekend. I'm a little nervous about the labor and delivery, but my excitement trumps everything else--Elizabeth is finally coming!