A Still-Pregnant Pincushion

Today will be my 4th day straight of acupuncture treatments to try to get this baby moving out (thanks Emily!).  I feel like a real-life pincushion (not that the needles hurt, just that it's literally what I look like when I'm having a treatment!).  My anxiety about needing medical induction is rising, with opinions coming at me from both medical and personal avenues.  (I never realized how the question "Have you had the baby yet?" would make someone who is overdue feel.  Not that I don't understand and commiserate with everyone who is excited; it's just a lot of pressure and guilt when your body hasn't yet pushed out the cute little bundle of joy that everyone is eager to meet.  And the pregnancy hormones don't make it any easier to cope with this issue of wondering why baby hasn't yet arrived.)

Both of my parents are of the mind that, as my dad put it, "The pear only falls from the tree when it is fully ripened."  I'd like to stand by that philosophy, but there are medical reasons why an induction could be necessary in the next week or two.  The doctor is keeping a close eye on how the baby is doing with regular nonstress tests (the next of which is scheduled for Sunday), so I'm really feeling that, as long as baby is doing ok, there's no medical need for induction as of yet.  Even he says that labor doesn't start until the baby produces a specific hormone from the adrenal glands, but he still recommends induction after a week past the due date.  I'm trying to stick by my guns that if baby is fine, I don't want to be induced unless it's medically necessary, but that is very difficult when there aren't too many people around that agree.  I know the risks to both me & baby increase as time continues, but a lot of my research has shown that first-time mothers don't tend to give birth until 41 weeks naturally anyway and that one medical intervention (like a cervical dilator medication) can lead to others (check out this Mayo Clinic website on induction risks).  At least I'll get to have a quiet prayerful hour at church to contemplate things right before going for my next exam on Sunday morning.

Anyway, enough talk about my nervousness about medical interventions.  I have been a cleaning fanatic this week; no, not because of any increased energy on my end but more because I'm bored being home from work with no baby to attend to.  In the last few days, I've changed out the summer clothes for winter items in our closet & dressers, cleaned & reorganized the fridge & freezer (I couldn't believe how gross it was after only 6 months since the last cleaning!), and washed a few of baby's things.  Our niece made beautiful slipcovers (thanks Justine!) for this nursing pillow (similar to the Boppy type) that I got online for free.  (I'm so glad she is putting my sewing machine to good use!  I am pretty crafty, but I never could get used to the sewing machine!  So much for following in the footsteps of having a seamstress as a grandmother and a father who had a stint as a tailor!)

Justine picked out some pretty cool fabric patterns!

If it ever stops raining, I intend to get out and walk today.  Walking is supposed to be another natural inducer of labor - something about gravity helping pull baby down further into the birth canal.  I think I'll make it productive & wander down the street to CVS to pick up the last book of stamps that I'll need for the baby announcements.

I also tried a yoga labor-inducing dance on YouTube for giggles.  I'm sure I looked ridiculous!  I did, however, find a pretty decent 10 minute pregnancy meditation soundtrack that helped relax me.  Here's to happy thoughts about baby's impending arrival, whatever method that takes.