"Quick, quick, like a lagomorph. Not, slow, slow, like a gastropod." A phrase commonly employed by my high school biology teacher. He was a rare find, entertaining and educating us. And, I remember things he said, more than fifteen years later. But, I'm breaking the rule, and being a gastropod, rather than a lagomorph. I'm okay with that - the magnitude of giving birth seems like something to work up to.
At yesterday's OB visit, we found that my cervix continues to thin. (Not too much longer until I write an entry that doesn't contain the word cervix. I can't say the same for breast.) Not to be too graphic, but she could fit a fingertip through it. But there's a big difference between a fingertip and a head, even when the former belongs to an adult and the latter to an infant. Every week, as she checks my cervix, and my body tenses in discomfort, I pray that the miracle of life truly is a miracle - a miracle is the only thing I see making it possible to push a child out of what is now a very tiny space.
I'll hit 40 weeks in the next week, so I guess the OB felt compelled to bring up the possibility of induction. Gah! At least let me hit 40 weeks, give me some evidence that Bean's growth is out of control, that there's not enough amniotic fluid.... Don't tell me that, if I show up at next week's regularly scheduled visit, you'd like to schedule an induction. For the next day! Forty weeks is a guideline, an estimate, an average. Not a cut-off. Thankfully, when I exclaimed, "The next day?!" she responded with, "Okay, we can go for another week."
She seems like someone with whom I can bargain. I wouldn't continue my pregnancy at the risk of Bean's health, but, as I've said before, we run late in my family. If my body's not ready and Bean's not ready, and all is still safe inside, I'm willing to continue incubation.
Posted by Shokufeh at November 3, 2005 01:48 PMMy friend Staci had bloody noses, too ~ only during pregnancy!
It *is* a miracle. The best and most amazing feeling EVER.
Posted by: Lisanne at November 3, 2005 02:25 PMI guess you aren't at the stage where you are saying - "Just get this Bean out of ME!" :) You are right, s/he is a safe place and I admire your patience.
Posted by: Steph at November 3, 2005 02:59 PMI have learned that school medicine is somewhat wrongly obsessed about all this, and unfortunately it's spreading over on too many women; all this measuring according to schedules and empiric data. And even when you deliver, they tie you to graphs to tell you when to prepare for the next wave. Like, yes excuse, it's just your body and the baby in there and your nerves and body chemisty. I sometimes wonder who they think they are.
You don't have to do everything they suggest - especially when you can feel it is wrong. Your body knows best what to do; it's been a healthy pregnancy and you're in good touch with yourself, so rely on that.
Posted by: mademoiselle a. at November 4, 2005 03:41 AMI totally agree with Mlle A. Your pregnancy has been smooth and healthy so far, and as long as you're "comfortable" carrying Bean past 40 weeks, I see no reason why the doctor should tell you any different. Your body is making itself ready for the birth on its own timeline. Also, from what I hear, induced labor can be quite traumatic for the mom and baby. So if your doc gives you any gruff, send her our way!
Posted by: arin at November 4, 2005 10:18 AM