Thanks for everybody who has checked in on me today…if I haven’t called or emailed you back, it’s because I have nothing real to report and it’s just been a bummer. So today is my duedate, and at 3:55 am I woke up from a vivid dream where my water had broken. I got up and went to the bathroom and thought that it really had, then I came back to bed and thought I was having contractions for the next hour. I was so excited, and finally at 5:20 I woke up Derek to suggest that we should call his parents since it was after 6 for them. He had missed out on everything (apparently he woke up enough to turn his alarm off when I talked to him at 3:55, but he’d slept through the subsequent hour of “I think this is another contraction” murmers) and asked me if I was sure. I realized that if my water had broken for real, it should have been leaking more like it did with Tommy. I wasn’t really leaking, but I wasn’t sure. Then I decided to wait for one more contraction before calling Mom and Dad Muller. It never came. So I think I just psyched myself out about the whole thing. Tommy did decide to get up at 6 am, though, so I didn’t really get to catch up on that missed sleep.
I’ve been crampy and uncomfortable all day, so it was encouraging to go in the the OB at 1 and have her say I was 3 cm dilated. Hey, I know it still doesn’t really mean that much, but I HAVE been making progress each week. And I was 3.5 cm after three hours hard labor with Tommy, so when it really does happen, I’ve got less to go than last time. She stripped my membranes again (I didn’t know you could do that twice), then I came home and drank more raspberry leaf tea, so I’m definitely crampy and contracty this afternoon. Of course, last Monday I cramped and contracted for 15 hours and it just settled down to nothing, so I’m not super-optimistic that this discomfort is doing anything. Hannah was here to watch Tommy during my check-up, and she was optimistic that she’ll be back by tonight…let’s hope she’s right!
Yesterday everybody came up to me at church and told me how sorry they were to see me there. It was really sweet! Our pastor came over and asked how I was, and I told him that honestly, I wished I was at the hospital rather than church. As a father of five, he was very understanding and prayed for us right there–even asking that I would have to get up and leave in the middle of his sermon to go to the hospital! Well, it was a good sermon, so I’m glad I heard the whole thing. I’d heard that Maggiano’s eggplant parmesan induces labor, so we went there for lunch and had a fun and productive Sunday. (Derek is really sick of the phrase “I hear that _____ induces labor”… of course, I’m only trying the pleasant-sounding things–walks, raspberry leaf tea, eggplant parmesan, pineapple, etc.) A few more errands, another load of laundry, and I feel like we’re (still) ready…
Looking ahead, I have an appointment scheduled with my normal OB-GYN for next Monday, and if I haven’t gone before then, we’ll go ahead and induce next Wednesday (the 13th) when he is going to be at the hospital. That will be almost a week and a half past the duedate, so I feel pretty comfortable having that date. And I know that I will no longer be pregnant in ten days!
I keep checking in. I tried all the things you are too… stripping membranes, raspberry tea, etc. Hopefully he/she will come sooner than later. I just heard from Janet that Emily Somerville’s water broke last night and she’s at the hospital now, though she’s only 2 cm. At least you’re ahead of her in that regard! Keep us posted.
Everything will be fine! I got your message and I will call you tomorrow…keep doing what you’re doing and be at peace! Will keep praying…
Hey girl! I’ve been thinking about you today! I was glad to get an update on your blog! I’m praying for you and can’t wait to hear the story of this little one! I’ll talk to you soon!!!
I think you got spoiled when Tommy came promptly on schedule. 🙂 I know it’s uncomfortable, but it is coming soon soon soon! And horay for those 3 precious cm!!
Keep your chin up, dear — 3 cm are better than none!!! We’re still praying and sending lots of love… you’re almost there! 🙂
3 cm. Just remember… your body is doing this (and it’s been somewhat easy to get there so far!!) and will continue to work. Every cm bigger is one less that you don’t have to work at in hard labor!