40 Weeks Update

Just a little update on Anna Reaghan.  Yesterday her due date came... and went.  I honestly expected it to and have hoped it would as my mom arrives TOMORROW.  It has been my hope that Asa could be cared for by my mom while we're at the hospital.  We have wonderful friends who have offered to step in should Mom not be here yet, and we appreciate them and their thoughtfulness SO much.  It's been so nice to know we had people around to take care of Asa--huge peace for Mommy. :)  But I know he'll be most settled/least disrupted if he can be at his house, sleep in his bed, and be with his G-Ma. :)

Today we went to our 10:45 appt. only to be told around 11 that the dr. was being called in for a delivery.  They asked us to come back this afternoon instead.  I was not upset that someone else was getting to have her baby :), but I did have a few tears in the parking lot (I'm not 9 months pregnant or anything) over having psyched myself up for news about how dilated I was--whether it would be encouraging or nothing--and the let down of still not knowing, having to psych myself up all over again for the afternoon, worrying about Asa not getting a nap with our new appointment time, etc.  Matt was very sweet. :)

When we returned at 2:30, we were seen pretty quickly.  Nurses always comment that I'm still smiling.  It always kind of surprises me. I mean, I know I've had very smooth pregnancies, I know I can still breathe and sleep (mostly... last night was rough) and I'm not unbearably uncomfortable.  But it's not like I'll be pregnant forever!  Yes, my due date is in the past, but Anna Reaghan WILL be coming out one day very soon.  I weigh about 1 lb. less than I did when Asa was born, my blood pressure was the lowest it's been in weeks, I'm not swollen, I'm measuring right one, and we heard AR's heartbeat loud and clear the second the doppler wand was on my stomach.  Asa tried to keep making the "woosh woosh woosh" heartbeat sound after the nurse turned the doppler off.  She was very sweet to him and very engaging with him while she went about the measurements she needed to take.

We met the doctor shortly thereafter.  She said everything looks good and we had our first check to see if I've made any progress.  The answer is basically, "No."  That was the case with Asa at this point as well, but I know that first of all, I have wanted AR to wait and come after Mom got into town; secondly, LOTS of women are not dilated at all and show no progress and still go into labor on their own... even the same day as an appt. showing no progress or within days of then.  It would have been encouraging to hear I was dilated some, but it doesn't really mean anything that I'm not.  We have been scheduled for another appt. with our usual doctor (she's out of town all this week) next Tuesday, and from there I assume we'll set an induction date (most likely Wed. or Thurs. I imagine).  Pleaes pray with us that we don't actually NEED that appt. next Tuesday because I'm already in labor or have already had Anna Reaghan!

So that sums up where we are!  I have heard anecdotally that our bodies often know when circumstances align for labor to be a good thing--i.e. labor holding off until a desired support person (husband, mother) arrives in town, or even my mom's first labor held off over 2 weeks past her due date until my dad's law school exams were over!  So we're hoping the relief of her arrival does the trick... but we might break out some spicy food, just in case. ;)

Thanks for praying with and for us!!