February 01, 2008

No, I have not had the baby

I'm now a week overdue and going to have some monitoring done at the hospital today to make sure Tiny's still happy in his apartment. If he hasn't made an entrance before Monday, we'll start prodding him with things and hoping he responds. Already the Postie and I have been trying out all the advice people have given us, and I have to say I am adviced out.
We've been:
  • taking walks sideways up steps and slopes which must look ridiculous to passersby
  • drinking raspberry leaf tea
  • eating prunes, kiwi crush and spicy foods
  • pressing various pressure points (which did nothing for my morning sickness either, so I'm sceptical about it all)
  • various activities that usually lead to getting pregnant rather than unpregnant (I'm blushing as I type this)
  • and I went and had acupuncture done three days ago to no effect.
I just did a google search to read up on medical techniques for induction to see what I may be in for, and found a whole bunch of people who think it's wrong to induce labour just because you are sick of being pregnant. It seems there's no aspect of pregnancy or parenting that people have strong opinions about, and think is appropriate to guilt others out about. I'm not even a parent yet and I'm so over it. My philosophy has always been everyone's different - some of us needed anti-nausea pills to keep their jobs in the early months, some didn't. Some want caesars and epidurals, some don't. Their bodies, their choices. I'm going out of my freakin' mind with the anticipation of Tiny's birth, and if inducing him at 10 days overdue is what I want to do as various 'side effects' of being pregnant catch up with me and make me miserable, and the risk of Tiny getting distressed increases, then I'm gonna. I haven't had a good sleep in weeks, am getting increasingly grumpy at poor Postie who is equally anxious about it all, and that's not a healthy way to start our lives as parents is it?

17 comments:

Martha Craig said...

I was induced twice, no amount of pineapple, curry, naughty stuff or anything else would shift the little buggers. I know I shouldn't offer advice, but I'm going to anyway - GET THE EPIDURAL AS SOON AS THEY'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. I've done induction with and without, and trust me, get as many drugs into you as you can manage. Of course I won't judge you if you don't ;-)

Anonymous said...

I reckon being late is cool. I was born over a week late and it meant the difference between being a scorpio or a sagatarius; so I'm happy!! Babies are often early - so isn't it okay for babies to be a little late? Kate, www.fossage.typepad.com

AMCSviatko said...

If it's any help I was due on May 8th and didn't bother turning up til the 24th - and even then they had to drag me out with forceps :-/

There was an article in The Evening Post about a salad which induces labour - pop up to the Library and check - it was probably around 1994-96 so I'm not sure if it was cut and pasted under the old system or captured on the database...

Good luck!

Special K said...

I was born 19 days late like you kate - so I'm a sagg not a scorpio. I never gave it much thought until it happened to me. I should be lucky there is nothing wrong with Tiny and that he wasn't premature - I thank the universe for that. But still, when you're 1398 degrees and spend almost every waking minute (and there are a lot of them) on the verge of going into labour, it plays with your mind somewhat.

noizy said...

...when you're 1398 degrees...

indeed, can't be much fun in this heat.

But, to reiterate Martha's point, when the time does come...

GET THE EPIDURAL AS SOON AS THEY'LL GIVE IT TO YOU

Mrs Govier said...

When it FINALLY happens, good luck! Paul and I are thinking of you.
x

Anonymous said...

i wish i'd ask for my first to be surgically removed sooner. the stress leading up to it was horrid. most of my friends are home birth women and i often defend a woman's right to feel safe and comfortable whatever that means for them. it's a healthy baby and a healthy mama we want the most at the end of the day - the process comes second i think.

good luck.

a friend of SSS.

Martha Craig said...

I was 3 weeks late too - making me a Sagg. I'm observing a pattern here,the Masters of the Universe don't love Scorpio Girlz.

Anonymous said...

The Postie was due on the 8th and arrivd on the 20th, so now he knows -----May of course!
Sorry about that (in case its genetic!)

kimberlee said...

hey hope you are still doing ok.
you can do what you like about the induction and you will get no judgment from me. best of luck and take care!
-kimberlee

Nomadic Emma said...

I told you! Tiny is soooo going to be born on my birthday!!
xxx

Anonymous said...

I was two weeks late and still had a dodgy heart (although I am totally fine now, no meds, nuffink), so screw it - induce if you have to. Like you said - your body, your choice, your baby. There is way too much pressure on parents, typically from other parents. Stay strong - we're all rooting for you.

Anonymous said...

First babe induced early due to preeclampsia and still a relatively "normal" birth - all happy and healthy. Second whipped out in emergency c-section 5 weeks ealry - all pretty much happy and healthy. You will do what you need to do and it will be the right decision because it's your decision. Good luck!
Rachelle

sas said...

Positive energy and thoughts of a happy healthy birth, when its right for you and Tiny and zooming through the interweb to you...Sas

Mel Archer said...

Good luck - thinking of you today....

Nikki Elisabeth said...

Oh feck. I was really hoping you weren't going to go far over. It sucks a whole heap doesn't it?

I can't think of any positive things to say as I bet anything I attempt will make you want to choke me.

xoxoxoxo

P.S. NOTHING works (short of medical induction) the little toads seem to come when they want.

Tane said...

"Various activities that usually lead to getting pregnant rather than unpregnant"

That's quite the rudest thing I've read on a blog.

Stay strong. You know best for you and Tiny. Hugs from London.