The Final Countdown

You're singing the song now aren't you...

OK, this is it, we're in the last days. I am set to check in to the hospital on Monday night. I'm supposed to call L&D at 5pm, and they'll tell me when to come in. I'm classified as an "A induction", so I'm first in line. There are also "B" and "C" inductions, and those are for things like large babies, past due, convenience inductions, etc. Finally, all of my problems come with a perk..."A" inductions are viewed as medical emergencies, so they pretty much never tell you to wait another day, but they may say come in at 7pm or 8pm or something. I think I'd rather come in at 7pm because I don't want to deal with the nursing shift change, but we'll see. I can have a light lunch at 11am on Monday, then after that just clear liquids. I'm going to be freaking starving!

Anyway, so Monday night, they'll do the cervical ripening, meaning they'll place Cervadil and see if it gets my cervix going overnight. Tuesday morning, they'll start the pitocin and away we go! If for some reason the pitocin doesn't work on Tuesday, then they'll consider stopping the induction, giving me some heparin (I take my last dose Monday morning), letting me eat, and then trying again Wednesday. We should have a baby by Wednesday at the latest though....can you believe it?

My appt with Dr. Swaim went great yesterday. This little one is still head down like a good girl! My cervix is soft now, but not open at all (which is why we're doing the ripening). Dr. Swaim's practice shares call across like 7-8 doctors so you never know who you'll get for a delivery. But she said she really didn't want to miss this one so while we've scheduled the induction next week with the greatest likelihood that she'll be there, she also said to have the dr. on call page her if I go into labor on my own this weekend : ) We were all so giddy yesterday, it was just hilarious.

When the nurses were calling in my induction to the hospital, I had a moment that I think I'll always remember. She was giving them all my info, and I heard the particular statistic that I've heard so much (and that I've heard change over the years)...."She's a gravida 5, para 0"....that means, she's been pregnant 5 times (the twins count as one pregnancy) but has no living children. People look at you differently when they see/hear that stat...even nurses who have probably seen it all. The nurse on the other end of the line must have said something about it because my nurse said "Oh I know, we're all very excited." After next week, that statistic will change forever. All of the pain associated with those few words will all of a sudden have been worth it.

Patrick continues to be completely ready and totally in control. I, on the other hand, am starting to freak out. I was freaking out as soon as we set the date in the office. I just cannot believe that it's here. THREE days and we'll start this process. Mind you, I have all the normal fears: not knowing what to expect, will she be okay, will I be okay, etc. But mostly, I'm just overwhelmed with emotion that we made it. All of us made it...and we're so ready to start our new life as a family.

I don't think I'll get a chance to update again until she's here...three days until we head to the hospital...~ 80 hours...not that I'm counting.