Well, she was due yesterday but, as I rather expected, she was a no-show!
I had my 40 week appointment with the consultant yesterday. He did an internal examination and a membrane sweep to see if that might encourage things along. I must say, it wasn’t very pleasant, but it was all over in less than a minute. I was really pleased though, to be told that I am 1cm dilated already! Realistically, it probably isn’t as exciting as it sounds, because he said that my cervix was still thick and about 2cm long, so the thinning out process hasn’t really begun yet. But, it is still a sign that my body is doing something right, and is preparing for things to happen as they should… hooray!
He also booked me in for an induction if i don’t go by myself in the meantime. He has booked me in for 8am on New Year’s Day!!! Imagine how popular that’ll make me with the staff… they’ll probably be short on numbers and those that will be there will be full of hangover, or, at the very least, have only had a few hours sleep! Great.
I’m really, really, really hoping that baby will put in an appearance well before then as I want to avoid being induced if at all possible. I hate the idea of being in hospital from the very, very beginning to the very bitter end, i think it will make it more painful and more difficult to cope with the pain, meaning it is more likely i will need an epidural, which i’d like to avoid if possible.
I must say it was a bit of a whirlwind when we went to the consultant (as it always is!)… there was no discussion about why i’d need an induction, how i feel about it, what difference it’d make to my experience of labour, the increased risk of needing a c-section etc. I didn’t really ask too many questions as i’m so much hoping that it won’t come to that. And i have another appointment next Thursday, if i haven’t had the baby by then, so i can ask questions then.
There hasn’t been any sign that the sweep has worked, i must say. I had it about 4.30pm yesterday and there’s been nothing so far, not even any kind of blood or a show. A bit disappointing, really.
I’d like to think that things are going to happen soon. I can tell that my body is preparing itself, it’s just hard to say how quickly! Over the past week, i have had dull aches in my pelvic area, like mild period pains – although not very often and certainly not in any kind of regular pattern. I’ve also had a lot of tightenings and braxton hicks contractions, again not in any way painful, just noticeable.
I’m so hoping that things will happen soon. This weekend would be brilliant… so that we have our little girl for Christmas.
I will keep everything crossed and keep bouncing on the birth ball!
