I feel single

It's Saturday night and I'm waiting for a guy to show up. I thought once I got married, that these types of problems would go away. You'd think he'd at least call...

So I tried looking up information on the chances of induction working a second time, and there is really nothing out there in interwebland. There doesn't seem to be much literature on the subject of pitocin or oxytocin inducement not working. It appears that most of the articles I found concentrate on the fact that it creates contractions that are too strong or close together, and the complications that result from that.

From what I've read, the best and most successful (least c-sections) way to induce is; to prep the cervix with Prostaglandin, then to administer Oxytocin through IV, followed by an amniotomy (breaking the water) once the cervix has dilated a few cm. Luckily, I wasn't able to have the amniotomy, due to my lack of dilation. This is probably what saved me from being forced to have a C-section immediately. Once your water breaks the doctor will only wait for so long before a c-section needs to be performed.

So we're still scheduled to go in on Monday, which I suppose means that I'll have my baby boy my Tuesday. :)

Am I going to be pregnant forever?

We went in on Wednesday night to start inducing labour. It had been a hard decision for me to make, but in the end I decided to go ahead with the induction.

So, we went into the hospital at 7:00 on Wednesday night. I registered, signed in and went to one of the labour rooms. I assume this was in case I was kick-started into a quick labour. The nurse examined me, and then monitored me and the baby for 30 mins before starting. She applied a prostaglandin gel (Prostin) to my cervix and then monitored me again for 30 mins, and made me walk around the hospital for 10 minutes, then monitored me again. There were no adverse reactions from me or the baby, so they sent me home, to rest and wait for labour to start. I guess alot of women end up coming back the same night, once they're sent home. Well, not me. :)

We were scheduled to come back the next morning at 7:30 am to start the actual induction phase. We arrived at the hospital a little late, of course, and registered again. This time I was given a hospital ID bracelet though. So we went to one of the labour rooms again, and they did another internal exam. I hadn't dilated at all during the night, which was a little disappointing. They got me hooked up on the IV, and gradually started the oxytocin drip. When I asked the nurse she told me that most women start to feel contractions after about 30 minutes on the drip. Well the time went by, they increased my dosage, with no effect. Around lunch time I started getting pre-contractions, which were basically just a tightening of my belly, but not of my uterus. Unfortunately the baby's heart rate was dropping a little after each of these pre-contractions. So they stopped the oxytocin. The baby's heart rate came back up and normalized. Since the change was minor they started the drip again. We worked the oxytocin back up to the same level as before (from 30 ml/hr to 60 ml/hr), but with no reaction, from me or the baby. They continued raising it again, past the point it had been at before (all the way up to 90 ml/hr) with still no reactions. I wasn't even getting any pre-contractions anymore. At this point it was 7:00 pm. I had not dilated, and wasn't having contractions, after almost an entire day on the IV.

My doctor came and laid out my choices to me. I could have a Cesarean that night, (waiting at least 6 hours for an OR) or wait a few days to see if I started labour on my own, and we would schedule another inducement for Monday. If the inducement on Monday doesn't work, I could have a cesarean at that point. My husband and I talked about it and weighed the pros and cons. I asked if there was a way to determine if he was too big to fit out the birth canal, and they said that the only way to really tell was through a trial of labour (some women's bones stretch apart, and the baby's head can compress). We also asked what the chances of another inducement working were. The doctor didn't have any stats, and wasn't willing to commit. When Bill finally asked him to commit to a stat of more or less than 50, he did say that in general it was successful on the second try less than 50%. I'm going to try an google some info on this.

In the end we decided to wait out this weekend and see if anything happens spontaneously, if not we'll try again on Monday. I am mentally preparing for a cesarean at this point. I don't think Ryan's coming out until we force him. :o/ He's a stubborn, ornery, little guy alright. I hope he's not this much trouble when he gets here. :P

Inducing Labour

So I've been thinking about this whole inducing labour, and it really has me worried. I've been researching it on the internet, and I've found alot of great reasons to have it done, and also alot of reasons, why it shouldn't be done.

An informative article and a scary article.

I'm basically weighing the options of inducing the labour and pushing out a large baby one week late, or waiting, and risking the deteriorating of the uterus, and placenta, and pushing out an even larger baby, when he feels like coming. The longer I wait to induce, the higher my chance of a C-section is, since he will only get bigger, and I may find myself in a position where he's just too big to push out.

I'm supposed to call on Wednesday to make an appointment, if I haven't started on my own.

Birth Plan

I figured I would post this, and share my plans. Not that anyone is reading this, except my husband. I just did a general guideline, nothing too specific, and I am pretty flexible on most of it, since I know nothing ever goes according to plan. :)

Maintain Mobility - No epidural/IV/Fetal Monitoring
- Maintain choice of labouring positions

Pain Relief - Using Gas, Counter-Pressure, massage, and various positions to ease pain
- Demerol and Epidural only if necessary, or if I become exhausted
- Bath and Shower to relieve back pain.

Support - My husband, standing at my shoulder
- Doesn't want to cut cord, or see baby until born

Ability to drink clear fluids during labour to stay hydrated.

Prefer No Episiotomy - unless deemed necessary

Delivery - See and hold baby before weighing, etc...
- Allow time to bond, skin to skin contact, try to initiate breastfeeding
- No eye drops or Vitamin K injections


Obviously if I have to have a C-section, these things will change, but I want to stay as close to my ideal as possible. I'm also allowing flexibility if the pain becomes too much for me to bear.

Due Date!

Today was my due date, and no baby yet. I guess he's on Shirley Standard time. My friends always tease me that I'm fashionably late for everything.

I had a doctor's appointment this morning, and the doctor told me that the baby has dropped further down, and that I'm 1 cm dilated. I had kind of figured that there had been some progress, because I 've been feeling alot of pressure on my pelvic bones, and more crampy feelings in my lower abdomen.

We discussed induction, and he said that if I haven't gone into labour by next Wednesday Nov 22nd, that I should call the hospital and make an appointment to be induced. I need to call the hospital at 6:00 pm and go in and get this cream for my cervix, and I should be in labour by next Thursday.

This means only 1 more week until the baby comes! (At the most)

Cloth diapers

I went and bought these finally. I have been looking for them everywhere, and it seems that the only place where I can buy cloth diapers is at Sears. I got some good ones, Kushies. I got waterproof ones and some regular ones, and they're velcro fasteners, with gathered sides. So there won't be any worries about sticking the baby with pins, and less worries about leakage.

It cost me a pretty penny. I spent almost $150 for 10 waterproof, 16 regular cloth diapers, diaper liners, and washable nursing pads for me. And they were on sale! My comfort is that I know it would be a lot more expensive to pay for disposable diapers on a monthly basis. Not to mention that I hate the idea of throwing out 200+ diapers a month into the landfills.

My friends all tell me that I'll switch to disposable once I actually have to use these, and wash them on a regular basis, but I'm pretty determined. I can see myself using disposables on long trips, and maybe even switching once I have to put him into daycare, but I want to try to keep it up as long as I can.

Last Day at work

Today was my last day at work, and I ended up staying at my desk trying to wrap things up until about 7:00 pm. That meant that I was late for my French class, but the teacher understood. I've been staying at work late for the last couple of weeks try to wrap everything up, but I just wasn't able to do it. I had gotten myself all caught up on my current files, and my desk was cleaned out and ready for my replacement, but I had a bunch of filing (including creating the files) that I just couldn't get through. Oh well.

I don't have to go back to work now, until December 2, 2007. It's kind of hard to believe. I don't know how I'm going to handle it. I've never had that much time away from work or school since I was a child.

Nursing Bras - Plus size

So I went to the store that the Breastfeeding class nurse recommended to me. Maryleena's. I was able to find a bra that fit, although it did seem to be a bit too big in the band width, it fit everywhere else. I figured since it was only $33, and most of the other bras I had seen were much more expensive than that, I would go for it.

I picked up a Bravado bra in size XL++, which apparently translates to a 42G Bra Size. The band is too big, but I guess that's the price I pay to find a cup size that'll fit. They offer them in a bunch of colours, including leopard print, but they only had white in my size. :) It's really comfortable, probably because it's more like a sports bra, than a traditional bra.

If this one works out, I'll probably go back and order some more in different colours.

Surprise Baby Shower

The girls at work threw me a surprise baby shower today. I had been expecting them to do something, but I didn't think it was that day. They were very secretive, and make great liars. My supervisor lured me into the Training room under false pretenses, and everyone was there. They had arranged a ton of food, and decorated it. They had all chipped in and bought me a stroller and car seat combo. Another woman who had just left on Maternity leave herself came back and brought her baby with her, so it was fun getting to see a little newborn too.

Since I had already been given a stroller and car seat by a friend of mine, I've decided to return the one that they bought for me, and get store credit. We still need quite a few things, including a playpen, so I think I'll be picking those up with the credit, and keeping the second hand stroller that I was given. The second hand stroller had all of the same features, except it's a little bit older.

Plus I got to bring home leftovers for dinner, so I didn't even have to cook!

Dr. Appointment

I had a doctor's appointment today, and he gave me the results that were compiled from my ultrasound. According to the measurements that were taken, we're having a VERY big boy. He was estimated to weigh about 8lbs and 13 ounces. The doctor also let me know that I should expect him to gain about a half a pound a week until I deliver. That means that at full term, this baby will be about 10 lbs 5 oz! This also doesn't bode well, for my long held belief that I will go overdue.

I was also told that his head radius was 10.2 cm! Now I remember learning in my birth class that I am expected to dilate about 10 cm when I deliver. Hopefully, his head will be malleable, and I will stretch enough, because the numbers don't seem to mesh. :/
The OB said that Cesarean is an option as well, with larger babies. My OB also said that we can use the vacuum, if needed. (He doesn't use forceps) Basically we'll have to wait and see, just like with any other birth.

Also for Halloween, I dressed up for work and to give out Candy. I wanted to dress up as something that would take advantage of being pregnant. So I put on overalls, a t-shirt, and running shoes. I wore a crown, had a scepter, and a sash that said "Ms. Conception". It went over very well, and I received a lot of compliments on it. I was all excited to give out candy to the neighbourhood kids. I had carved a pumpkin, and bought a box of 80 chocolates. We only had 5 kids show up. Five! Bill was happy to have the chocolates for his lunches though.