38 Week Appointment

This morning I had an appointment with Dr. Gabel.  After failing the NST last week, going downtown for another NST on Sunday evening, and feeling more cramping, we were anxious to hear if things had progressed and to set an induction date for the 39th week.  Eric came along to this appointment so he could hear all of the details firsthand.  

The baby's heartrate was in the 130s and my blood pressure was good.  I was down 3 pounds from the previous appointment, but that appointment had been in the afernoon and this one was in the morning.  So that probably accounted for some of the difference.  Dr. Gabel checked my cervix and said I was still 3 cm, but now 70% effaced.  Since we were discussing an induction in the next several days, she also said she would do a membrane sweep to see if that would get things moving.  Her professional opinion was that I would not need an induction, but I should also still make a 39.5-week appointment just in case I was still pregnant.  We left her office with instructions to expect a phone call from the hospital to schedule the induction.

After seeing the doctor, we went to the NST room.  The baby was moving a bit and we saw appropriate heart accelerations and decelerations, so we were sent on our way after 20 minutes.  I went straight to school where I met the person who would be my temporary long-term substitute until Madison Polley can take over for the remaining 10 weeks of the school year.  She is going to shadow me today and tomorrow to get a feel for how my day goes, meet the students, and become familiar with where I store materials.

Now we wait to hear from the hospital about an induction date.  I don't know whether it will be at exactly 39 weeks (so Friday, 3/11) or later in the 39th week.  I also don't know if they will schedule inductions on the weekend, or whether we will wait until after the weekend (so Monday 3/14 or Tuesday 3/15).  

No matter which date we're given, we have just a matter of days before we get to meeet Chocolate Chip!