It's official. I'm 38 weeks in just 2 short days, and I've been dilated 1 cm for a couple weeks now. Baby Reese has dropped. And dropped and dropped and dropped. As of yesterday's appointment she was at a -1 station, which means she's a smiiiiidge away from being engaged in my pelvis. -3 is a floating baby, while +3 is crowning. Locked and loaded!! =) (see diagram below to feel my pain)
Speaking of pain, as if I thought pregnancy couldn't get more uncomfortable, weeks 36-37 have been ROUGH! With her head so low in my pelvis it has been so hard to sleep... even in my comfy bed! I've turned to comfort on the couch because I think it offers my hips some support. She constantly rests on my sciatic nerve, so I've been having trouble walking and standing a lot without pain. My hips and back have been nauseatingly achy, but I'm pushing through! There's a light at the end of the tunnel...
Because my induction date is set for next Thursday!!
I'll be going in Wednesday night to receive the cervical medicine to help me dilate more, and Thursday morning I'll start pitocin to begin labor. It is still so unreal that this is about to happen... and John and I couldn't be more thrilled! Although it's possible I can go earlier, I'm glad my family knows when she'll be here so they can start planning their time off work to make it here from Indy. I'm so excited to have everyone around for the new peanut!! I've heard horror stories about induction, but I'm so super thankful for friends that have shared their success stories of induction! It's so encouraging! I even bought an app on my iPhone that shows me my Bishop score, which tells you if you are favorable for induction and the C-section risk rate. All you have to do is plug in a few factors that apply to your baby's position and your cervix, and it gives you a score! As of yesterday, my score was 7, which is favorable for induction% risk of C-section if I were to be induced today. If I dilate and efface even more before next Wednesday I'll be VERY favorable, which is what I want! So I've been doing everything to make myself dilate! Walking as much as I can (which has helped Reese drop, I'm positive of that), eating ungodly amounts of pineapple (which is said to ripen the cervix), bouncing on my yoga ball, and of course trying to do the deed. ;o) Hey- we won't be able to for quite some time after the baby so why not?! =) My friend also told me about morning primrose oil and borage oil so I'm going to try that this week!
Another big surprise over the past week has been her decrease in movement... my "little" peanut has grown a bit, I can feel it... and with her head so low I think she's pretty much stuck and ready to go. It was crazy because at my 36.5 week appointment she was moving like crazy and her heart rate registered at 174! It slowed to 164 this week, and I was surprised it wasn't lower because of her lack of movement. She's going to be my little workout buddy!
It has been an exciting February so far, and John and I have backed out of our Valentine's Day plans at the Melting Pot to save the money and just have a quiet dinner in together. A couple weekends ago I had maternity pictures taken my Petra Laszlo of Lily Photography and she was AH-MAYY-ZING! I love all the photos we got, especially the ones that included my hubby. =) He's so photogenic and so handsome! Also that weekend my mom and grandma drove up from Indy to throw me a (2nd) baby shower! I was so surprised and so thankful to see everyone show up because there was a huge snow storm that blew in that weekend. People drove from near and... not so near... to be there! I was so happy and we had so much fun!! Reese got so many things and I'm just so happy to see that she's so loved already! I have the most generous family and friends!
My TLG ladies at the shower! <3
John and I are planning on having our "last supper" next Wednesday at Max & Erma's so I can load up on tortilla soup and the ice cream sundae bar before we go into the hospital. This will be my last post before I'm officially a mommy, and I just want to express my gratitude to everyone who has read this and supported me through my first pregnancy! We also reach out to all of you who would be willing to send prayers and good thoughts our way as we head into Southwest General to become parents next week! We love you all!!!
Baby girl,
I will end this blog entry the way I began it when I first discovered you were growing inside me. You are so special and so loved, and your daddy and I will always be here for you, no matter what! God made you for a reason and you were put here on earth to fulfill a purpose, never forget that! We're so excited to meet you, and we know you will be the prettiest, sweetest baby girl ever and we pray for nothing but the best for you- always! Remember, God is good all the time, and all the time... God is good.
WE LOVE YOU! xoxo
Mommy <3
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