A Watched Pot Never Boils

It's Sunday at 2:15 (Central). Which means the membrane stripping did not work.

I swear I can feel him smirking in there. But I have to laugh myself- or maybe AT myself- he's a little bugger. He's not coming out until he's ready!

There have been some progressions, so it seems this labor-thing is going forward. I've got another check in the box. No real contractions and his Dad just said to whoever's on the phone: "he's in no real hurry." It's not even his due date yet, so he can hang out for a couple more days.

Maybe I shouldn't be so ready to get him out. One day, be it the first day of school or some teenage year, he'll be the one pushing me out.

Or maybe not...WROTE TOO SOON!

Ugh.

Okay... I was told at my last appointment (Tuesday) to call today to set something up for Friday to have these membranes of mine stripped. The tricky part is Dr G's nurse , who I've met and know, isn't in today. I was told to ask for E and she would make a note in the computer that I was coming in. Because Dr G will be on call Friday though Sunday, she doesn't have available appointments. But I can't just show up, or whoever's at the front desk won't know why I'm there. Hence the call to E today...

Strike one: I called at about 12 and E was out to lunch. Could I call back later?

Strike two: I called back at about 2:15, and spoke with the receptionist- let's call her R.
I ask for E.
R asks if I'm returning a phone call from E.
I say: "No, I'm supposed to call her today."
R: "Let me go talk to her."
I'm put on hold.
R: "Ma'am? E says she didn't call you."
Me: "I know. Dr G told me to call and ask for E, to set up an appointment for tomorrow to have my membranes stripped. But I know she's on call, so I was told to call E and have her put me into the computer for an appointment."
R: "Okay. Well, E is Dr X's nurse, and she does laser. Let me check with T who's Dr. G's nurse. She might know."
I'm put on hold again...
-Can you guess if T knows anything about me calling?
This goes on for a while, and I don't feel like typing it out.

Anyway, no one there seems to know (or can understand) why I'm calling. R takes a message and now I'm waiting for 'someone' to call me back.

So... I don't know if this membrane stripping is going to happen tomorrow. There are tornado warnings and it's raining like crazy. We'll see if 'someone' calls me back. I'm only on strike 2. If I don't get a call back, I'm not going in... I'll just have to wait and do this thing the old-fashioned way.

Maybe I just haven't gotten it that this isn't about me! Maybe I can get some ice cream?

WROTE TOO SOON!! T called me back (that's right, not E) and told me to come in tomorrow at 10:30... I'm a little apprehensive because she told me to ask for E.
I did not get any ice cream.

Got any weekend plans?

I will have my membranes stripped on Friday.

I decided to go for it for the following reasons:

• The risk of infection with me is very low. Dr G said it was a concern with women who are Group B Streptococcus (GBS)positive. I am Negative. GBS is not to be confused with Group A Streptococcus- which causes Strep Throat. I'm Negative for that too.

• I've never broken a bone, or had to have major surgery (I don't count having my wisdom teeth pulled 'major'), or really anything that has tested my threshold for pain. I figure this procedure can't hurt as much as giving birth... even if it IS the most painful thing I've ever endured. Ha! Just wait until I'm checked into Labor & Delivery.

• I won't be messing with his yet-to-be-determined Birthday because it might not work. He'll come when he's ready, and if he's not ready, he's not budging. He's pretty strong. Before I knew I was pregnant, and he was still a zygote, he went tubing and ran a 5k.

• Last but not least, I consulted my Mom. After our conversation, I felt that she supported the decision, or at least didn't think I was playing God.

Dr G told me to wait until Friday. She's on call this weekend and if stripping my membranes encourages labor- then she'd be the one delivering! Which I think seems to be pretty good timing. But then again, it's not up to me.

Jump another 20 weeks

So I'm horrible with keeping up with this thing. Probably because no one knows about it... yet.
I blog on MySpace (www.myspace.com/jmmh), since it's known to everyone and I know how to use it. Notice there aren't any pictures here?

I'm 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant. 10 days to go! But I think he'll come sooner. More on that later...

Not too much else has been going on. This pregnancy has been pretty smooth sailing so far.

I go to see Dr G today- I go weekly- and she's stripping my membranes. Maybe. I haven't made up my mind yet. I thought I was 100% 'go' for it, but then I consulted the Internet. (I really should stop doing that!) It's a procedure that doesn't always work and I wanted to know some stories of women that had it done.

Now for the pro/con list:

PRO: If it works, I'll have a baby in 24- 48 hours!

CON: There's a risk of infection. If I got sick, or Andrew got sick, I would feel extremely guilty for being selfish and wanting him NOW. This is the major one I'm worried about. I'll have to see what Dr. G has to say.

CON: The procedure itself hurts. Dr G described it as 'mean.'

PRO: If it works, I (okay, We) can hold Andrew in 24-48 hours!

CON: I kinda feel that I'm messing with his natural birthday.
-Flip side, but not quite a pro: He's coming when he's ready. The procedure doesn't always work.

CON: I'm not even at my due date yet. I could wait a week, until I was 39 weeks.

PRO: If it works, Andrew would be here in 24-48 hours!

Right now (3 hours before the appointment) I'm split 80/20. I want to meet this baby!