39 Week Update *STILL PREGNANT*

Yesterday was the first day of week 39 of this pregnancy, and I honestly thought for a few moments there that it could also be the last day of this pregnancy!  I'll get to that in a minute...

Last week, week 38, was busy with just about any and every attempt to get this baby moving on out.  On Tuesday, I had acupuncture to prepare me for labor.  On Wednesday, my OB did a "sweep" of my membranes.  A membrane sweep, also known as membrane stripping, or stretch and sweep, is done during an internal examination.  The doctor moves her finger around the cervix to stimulate and/or separate the membranes around the baby from the cervix. This causes a release of prostaglandins which can help to kick-start labor.  On Wednesday I also mopped my hardwood floors to a sparkling clean shine while rocking out and dancing to all of my favorite Glee hits!  On Thursday, I drank a labor cocktail that had been given to me by a midwife.  On Friday, I must have walked close to three miles and bounced on my birthing ball for over an hour.  Friday was also the day that I lost my mucus plug.  On Saturday, I had another round of acupuncture to promote labor.  A few of you had suggested spicy foods... we've been spicing it up all week.   I even became desperate enough to partake in some "relations" with my husband a couple of times this past week in the hope that it would speed things along.   

Yesterday, Sunday,  I ended up being admitted into the hospital with contractions!  When I arrived, my contractions were coming in waves of about 4 contractions every 10 minutes, and sometimes even faster than that.  The nurses monitored me for almost an hour and then decided that I was definitely in labor and should be admitted.  Ryan and I got settled into our room and the waiting began.  I was certainly feeling the contractions, but it wasn't anything that was so bad that I was breathless or ready to start asking for the meds.  The nurses went ahead and started an IV drip so that when I was ready, it would be easy to administer any pain medications or the antibiotic that I would need for being Group B Strep positive. 

Within only a couple of hours, my contractions started to slow down.  I eventually fell asleep (thanks to the whopping dose of Ativan that they gave me) and when I woke up this morning my contractions had slowed to only one every 10 minutes or so.  I was still only 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced, so the decision was made to remove my IV and to let me come home and play the waiting game here. 

So, who knows!  It may start back up as soon as tonight, or it may be another few days.  I do have another appointment for acupuncture tomorrow, so I'm hoping that will help if things are still stalled out!

Regardless, rest assured that I will keep you posted.  HOPEFULLY MUCH SOONER RATHER THAN LATER!!!