She's Finally Here!

Sylvia Ann Meisler came to the outside world on Friday 12/21 at 4:46am. She weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long.

Now it's Monday 12/24 and we're back at home. falling more in love and getting adjusted.

Birth stories and tales of home life to follow!

Thanks to eveyone who offered love, support and cheerleading.

Induction

Unless something happens between now and this evening, I'll be checking into the hospital around 7 or 8 to have labor induced.

The baby has dropped dramatically in the last two days; perhaps she's even more ready to get the show on the road?

My midwife says inductions can take up to four days, or can move things along in a day even. We'll see how cooperative this girl wants to be.

Wish me luck and smooth sailing; I'll report when we're back home - all three of us!

Stillness

There is a foot of snow on the ground after last night's and this morning's storms swept through. All the neighborhood kids are thrilled!

After days of trying walking and various other methods to encourage labor, today's approach has been to not think about it or act to bring it on. My doula says my lack of labor is not due to my lack of trying, and she agrees with me that this baby has her own agenda.

Still, it's hard not to feel a little defeated, although that emotion is overshadowed by my excitement. I'm trying to be calm about the possibility of induction, to not think about the cascade of interventions that could possibly be the path ahead. All the positive stories about surgical birth, and all the encouraging words in the world (especially from people I love) do nothing to dissuade my commitment to the plans for an intervention-free birth...but a plan is just that: a plan.

I have very minimal control here. My daughter will come in the way she sees fit.

No Pins, But Needles

Went in for acupuncture Thursday to try and induce labor. It's now been 47 hours, and the acupuncturist said if anything was going to happen it would in 48.

She also said at the very least it would make the induction go more easily.

We'll see if anything happens between now and Tuesday night.

On a Schedule

My obstetrician backed off not wanting me to go past the 11th, and instead has scheduled an induction for Tuesday 12/18 if I haven't gone into labor on my own by then.

Most likely they would start with prostaglandin gel, which may or may not trigger labor. If not, the next step would be to administer the synthetic hormone pitocin, which may or may not move things along. If not, it is unclear whether more pitocin would be called for, or if breaking the amniotic sac would come next. Docs don't like moms to go too long with a ruptured sac (and the accompanying risk of infection), so more extreme measures like surgery could be called for.

I am not excited at the prospect of being induced. All I really want is to be left alone, and to let this baby decide when she's ready to come out and trigger labor. But being gestationally diabetic earns me "special" treatment. The docs want to take these interventional steps to prevent the tiny percentage of catastrophe (stillbirth) that is associated with pregnancy and diabetes when moms go past term.

I appreciate that they have my best interests, and that of the baby, in mind, but they're not the ones facing the possibility of a pitocin-induced, sped-up, more intensely painful labor that is not supported by the release of hormones and endorphins that accompany normal labor.

Walking...or Waddling

In an effort to move things along, I've been walking for about an hour a couple of times a day. There is snow, and there has been ice, on the sidewalks outside, so I've been trying to think of all the indoor spaces conducive to walking.

So far I've taken my parents to Lowe's, the botanical gardens conservatory, Home Depot and the Meijer's on Jackson Road. We plan to shake it up tomorrow by hitting the Meijer's on Carpenter Road. Call it comparison walking.

Or waddling. The baby's head is so low down, and I'm finding it harder to keep a pace faster than a glorified shuffle. Plus transitioning from sitting to standing is a bit uncomfortable. Once I'm up and stand for a minute it's all good, but those ligaments down low are not happy at first!

Opening

As of Tuesday I am one centimeter dilated, and the baby has her head very far down. My doula senses that my body is ready, and now it's just up to the baby to decide to make that huge transition into a full human being. Perhaps she's pondering it all, a tiny philosopher?
I'm walking, dancing, sending her messages that it's mostly great on the outside.
I hope she comes soon!

Cold

When I woke up this morning it was 12 degrees outside. Cold.

And I also have a cold, which I've been nursing for four days now. Apparently, it's not uncommon for women to get a cold at the end of their pregnancy; perhaps nature's way of ensuring that we'll actually sit down, lie down, rest and physically prepare for the labor ahead.

Also a great excuse to eat my mother-in-law's chicken soup, which has magical medicinal qualities...not that I need an excuse to eat it.

My parents are here, braving the Michigan cold to ancitipate this baby's arrival. They reside in Florida, where my dad has informed me (no fewer than three times in the last 12 hours) that the temperature when the left was 80 degrees. So it's cold here for them.

Off to the Shadow Art Fair in Ypsilanti today to do some holiday shopping and supporting of local craftspeople!

Blessingway

Two weekends ago my dear friends threw me a blessingway. What a lovely afternoon! I was pampered, encouraged, treated to delicious food, a facial with homemade products, a footbath and massage...I didn't want to leave!

We also did a cast of my belly so I can look back and remember just how large I am now. And show my daughter how small she used to be!

For me the blessingway is a bridge I've crossed. I feel so much more prepared to labor for and deliver this baby. I've got some strong, intelligent, beautiful, caring women backing me up, and I'm ready!