BabyWatch: New developments

Well, still no baby. We did go into the hospital on Thursday night because I thought that my water broke around 4:30 that day. At Mike's insistence, I called the midwives. I was told to monitor for a few hours then call them back. At 7:30 I called them back and they wanted us to come in to just check to make sure it wasn't my water. After a few tests, they concluded it wasn't. I was asked to come in the following day (Friday) to get the Biophysical Profile done that I skipped out on Wednesday. We did. (And, parking wasn't as bad as I thought. Max amount of time is 5 hours for $7. Here I was imagining airport prices...lol.) Anyway, we were told Thursday night that if we didn't get a perfect score on the Biophysical Profile (test to make sure post-due baby is doing fine...breathing, moving, amniotic fluid level good, etc) they would recommend a c-section that day (yesterday). Of course, it didn't happen. The baby is doing fine. They couldn't tell us how long she is, but said she's 8 lbs 3 oz. We got to look at her for a little bit, and then went home. The midwife called to check on us and then told me to get some rest in case I went into labor last night. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but wondered if she saw something in the tests that made her believe last night would be the night. I guess not, since I'm still home this morning (wahh, wahhhh).

On October 16th (this Monday), I will be 42 weeks. Because of that baby's perfect score, the midwives have given us the weekend to try to have a natural birth. They are supportive of a natural birth, but the doctors are pushing for a c-section. They have scheduled us for Monday at 8:00 am. We have the option to sign a medical release waiving it. *If* we do this, we go back for another Biophysical on Monday. If the baby scores less than 8/8 (perfect score), they will, again, strongly recommend a c-section. I have talked to several professionals about the risks of going past 42 weeks and have done my own research as well (medical studies, articles, etc). I wanted to make an educated decision. Because of my previous cesarean, I am going to concede to a c-section on Monday. I don't like it one bit, but I don't want to risk doing harm to myself or the baby.

This morning, in a last-ditch effort to avoid a c-section and at the recommendation of my midwives, I took castor oil. We shall see what happens. Again, I've read that for some it works and for some it doesn't. I am desperate at this point. If nothing happens, at least I tried. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing the baby before Monday (fingers crossed).

And, yes...we will be delivering at Princeton. I was upset, but realize now that the parking isn't *so* bad. And one of my midwives told me that you have to pay to park at Mercer Medical Center, too. I haven't been there in a while, so I didn't know. I guess Helene Fuld and RWJ-Hamilton are the only area hospitals that don't make you pay.