Tuesday, August 3, 2010

40 Weeks (and 3 days) - Baby Agbai Report


Today was my 40 weeks dr. appointment and my mom was able to come with me! My appointment was at 10a.m., but the dr.'s office was closed due to a staff meeting until 1p.m. Not sure why they wouldn't have called me to reschedule, but I called at 1p.m. and they told me to come back so we went at 2p.m.

The dr. stripped my membranes which I spoke to her about last week. For those who don't know, stripping the membranes is the separating of the amniotic sac from the cervix which can release hormones to induce labor. I had heard it can get things going, but I didn't want them to move too fast last week since my mom and sister Lauren were just arriving this past Friday. I had read about stripping the membranes and the general consensus sounded like it wasn't going to hurt too bad, well, IT DID! It was one of the most painful experiences I've had yet. At least it took less than five minutes, but it felt like a deep, intense pulling as though an organ was being detached from me. OUCH.

The pain was so intense I had to squeeze my mom's hand, and I could hardly breathe. I asked the dr. if that was what labor felt like, and she assured me it didn't. Baby Agbai was completely still during the procedure, but after she started moving around a bit making her usual angular protrusions similar to this:


Beyond the stripping of the membranes the dr. explained that for the baby there really isn't a benefit to going to 42 weeks and would recommend inducing at 41 weeks. The issue is I have an "unfavorable cervix" (I wish there was another term for that!) that is not quite ready for labor. If I were to be induced prematurely, say last week, it increases the chances of a C-section, which I am adamantly against unless mine or my baby's life is in danger. 

Since I will be 41 weeks and 3 days pregnant as of next Tuesday which would have been my next prenatal appointment, she didn't see any reason to let me wait past this Friday for an induction. Honestly for me, having my mom and sister here with the expected arrival of my dad on Friday is an incentive to get things rolling. The family is on a tight schedule with my sister Lauren returning to college on August 10 and my brother Michael starting college the following week. Despite this, my mom has been very clear in that I shouldn't rush to induce because of the family schedule. I would hate for an induction to result in a C-section and even worse to get to 42 weeks and have to induce and end in a C-section anyway. So many possibilities, but I do know getting closer to 42 weeks will increase the chances that my cervix will ripen on its own.

The good news is my baby is healthy and her heartbeat is nice and strong. Tomorrow morning Uka and I will go to the hospital for the NST (non stress test) which will include fetal monitoring and an ultrasound. If her fluid is low, I will be admitted immediately for an induction. If not the dr. said she'd release me and probably schedule an induction for Friday anyway because next week I'd be 41 weeks+ and as mentioned above there isn't an added benefit on getting to 42 weeks. Well to me, the added benefit is letting my cervix ripen naturally!

I'll post another update tomorrow pending being admitted to the hospital, but honestly, I've made my wishes known in prayer, and I believe God will allow me not to go under the knife. I trust God, and I've seen Him come through for me time and time again so I'm not scared!

Now on to the traditional Baby Agbai Report:

How far along: 40 weeks and 3 days

How big is baby: (from 3DPregnancy.com) Congrats! That bun in your oven is fully baked! That's the good news. The possibly not so stellar news: Actually giving birth on your due date is hard to do—even for overachievers. In fact, many first-time moms go up to 2 weeks past their due date (sorry!). Hopefully now that baby is cooked to perfection, he'll come bouncing out any day now. Other last-minute progress:

Because some of your hormones are passed into your baby's system, your baby's genitals (scrotum in boys and labia in girls), and even his or her breasts, may appear enlarged at birth. It can be alarming, but rest assured it's perfectly normal.

At birth your baby has a total of 300 bones. Some of the bones will fuse together later, which is why an adult has only 206 bones. Fascinating, no?

Babies vary in size at this point, but the average full-term baby weighs around 7 to 8 pounds and hovers around 19 or 20 inches. That's about the size of a ... BABY! Of course, tell that to the mother who just delivered a 9-pound baby vaginally!

Stretch Marks: More under my belly, but Uka's become obsessed with keeping me moisturized. I swear he thinks I'm a turkey to be basted!

Sleep: I get up so often to use the bathroom and change positions. It's SO hard to roll over now from side-to-side, and I've started being awaken by strong contractions, however they're sporadic and not worth measuring.

Best Moment This Week: Well there are a few! My mom and sister Lauren arriving from Ohio, getting to go to the Agbai family reunion (it was Saturday and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it with the impending due date) and my other sister Ariane getting to move into her own E. Harlem apartment.

Movement: Still in karate mode and making angular protrusions

Sex of the Baby: Girl - the 3rd ultrasound wasn't able to reconfirm but perhaps tomorrow's will

Food Craving: Mexican

Belly button In or Out: Still popped at the top

What I Miss: My summer body

What I'm Looking Forward To: Meeting my lil' chubbzy in person! Also, if I'm not admitted to the hospital tomorrow I'm looking forward to seeing a matinee of "Inception" with Uka after my NST. It'll be our last date before baby!

Milestone: Membranes stripped so hoping things will get moving

4 comments:

  1. Loving your blog and congrats to you. Your newest follower real wives of chicago. Hope you able to stop by our blog soon.

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  2. I'll admit I never knew what stripping the membranes actually meant! Thanks for explaining. I'm hoping baby Agbai decides to make her appearance before Friday so you don't have to be induced.

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  3. @Real Wives Of Chicago Thank you for the follow! I've returned the kindness =)

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  4. @Sarah You're welcome Sarah! We'll see what happens today . . .

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