Induction Ahead!

After weeks of rotten headaches, swollen feet, high blood pressure, protein in my urine, and floaters - we are getting induced.  Preeclampsia reared it's ugly head.  It would have been today the 27th, but they didn't have room for my induction, so I get to go in the 28th at 7 am.

This day is bitter sweet to me as it will mark the two year passing of my father and the welcoming of my first and only son.  The excitement is building around here as the girls await the arrival of their brother we've nicknamed "Moose" and his anxious father, grandmother, and others await his arrival.

Me? I'm excited, and scared.  My body is beginning to remember what I have been through before, and though I don't remember the intensity... I remember enough.  All my body knows is inductions when it comes to getting labor started but after today's visit, my cervix is almost 4 cm dilated.  Two weeks ago it was 1 cm with some wiggle room, 90% effaced, and at a -2 station.  So I've made progress with some help from acupuncture in that department, as well as the acupuncturist helping with my awful headaches I was having.  Even if relief there was only a day and a half with that... I did have REALLY great results in the appetite department after I saw her.  I ate a WHOLE Costco hot dog (they're huge) and a chicken bake!  I've NEVER eaten that much in my life - ever!  I was grateful to be able to eat!

So as I prepare for one of the last nights I sleep without the cries of an infant to wake me... I pray for courage and strength to get through what lays ahead of me.  I know I'll have to watch my (postpartum) depression, I'll have an infant to care for, and a plan for a return to work full time soon.  That's a lot to worry about but I keep telling myself it's one bite of the elephant at a time.  Just one.  Looking at it all in the here and now gets overwhelming, so I have to remind myself just do what you can, the best that you can, with what you have, and let that be enough!

Progress

I'm 36 weeks today by LMP though my son is measuring 3 weeks ahead of that by ultrasound we had done in August.  He's gonna be a moose!

I've been having labor pains since a week ago Thursday when I lost my mucus plug and it's been uncomfortable since.  Hospital visits have happened, got monitored, and sent home.

The most frustrating was 4 am this morning.  I was still having painful contractions after they tried to stop them with a shot of terbutaline... Said they might see me in a few hours but to go home and labor.

I've been sleeping most of the day, trying to get myself the rest that will be needed ahead.  Contractions now just feel like bad period cramps and I've learned to live with this phase.  But if they get picked up again and I'm miserable, we're headed in.  I'm just afraid of giving birth on the side of the road if I wait it out.