Any Day Now...

On Monday, I found out that I'm walking around dilated to a 3.5-4.  No big surprise since I have been having contractions on and off since Thursday, in fact, on Sunday, they got rather close (8-10 minutes) for quite a few hours.   I did this with both of my other kids.  It seems to be my magic number and then once I get past it, I just fly! Thomas I was at a 4 for a week before I delivered him.  And Toby for 3 1/2 weeks before he arrived.  I was at the hospital for less than 1 1/2 hours with each of them before they arrived.  That is counting from the second I walked through the hospital doors until they were handed to me.  I also dilated twice as many centimeters with Toby as I did with Thomas in that amount of time, I've done the math, and if this baby follows suit, and I don't catch on before I did with his brothers, I have about 45 minutes.  That's not a lot of time considering it takes at least 15 minutes to take care of the little paperwork involved (I'm pre-registered) and get undressed.

It occurred to me that the contractions started 11 days after my last 17p injection.  Interesting, huh?  I guess my doctor was right when he said that the effects would wear off after 7-10 days.

I have been trying to notice every cramp, ache and twinge of pain.  I'm trying my best to make it to the hospital before the contractions are right on top of each other and have me bent in two.  The problem is, there usually isn't much time going from feeling relatively fine to being in pure misery.  My sister made the statement that she thinks I've become sort of skittish...I believe she is right!

My doctor told me not to wait until they are five minutes apart and not to wait an hour until I've had regular contractions either.  Once I am sure that they are the real deal I am to get to the hospital.  Whether James is here or not!  So I have friends on call to swing by, pick the boys & I up and drop me off at the hospital where hopefully James can make it before the delivery.

So, today, I am officially nine days away from my due date.  I have an induction set for Sunday morning.  It was going to be Saturday night but there was a conflict.  Saturday night, Sunday morning...it really doesn't matter to me.  You pick your battles in life, this wasn't one I cared to fight over.  My doctor told me that since I'm already so far dilated, she's just going to break my water and give my body a chance before giving me any meds to bring on the contractions.  Which I'm fine with!

If I go into labor on my own, I am trying to accept the reality that I probably won't get an epidural.  It's a harsh reality to accept especially since having Toby almost five years ago, all I've ever dreamt about if I had another child, beyond not having another premature baby, was getting an epidural. I really don't want a 3/3 record!  Sure, I go fast, but let me tell you, it still hurts like HE*L!

I still have no idea if I'll make it until Sunday.  Actually, I'm uncertain that I'll make it until this afternoon.  Yep. Skittish.

Until later,

Emily