My Birth Plan (as of right now..)

I have been terrible about posting on my blog lately.
Forgive me.

So! I wanted to write this blogpost because quite a few people have asked me about my "birthplan." Well.. I don't REALLY have one.. But I kinda do. It's confusing. Here we go.

As some of you may know if you follow me on twitter, (@EagerlyExpectin), I was induced with one dosage of p-gel around 7 am on Wednesday, October 3rd (my due date.) I have an unfavorable cervix, and I am not showing any signs of progression towards labor, so my doctor gave me the option to be induced with the p-gel when I was 40 weeks to help get my body to go into labor, and if that didn't work, I am to come back when I'm 41 weeks to be induced with the drip. My doctor's vaginal labor policy is no mom can go past 41 weeks. All doctors are different, and this is just my doctor's view.

Some of you may disagree with being induced this "early" I guess I should say (since I am not 42 weeks yet). I NEVER wanted to be induced. My mother was induced with me a few weeks before her due date and she had a terrible labor. Not just that, but I personally believe that when the baby AND the mother's body are ready for labor, then THAT's when the baby should be born. That's why I wouldn't let him induce me until at LEAST my due date. The only reason I am going along with the plans of induction is because, according to my doctor and an ultrasound, my baby is on the chunkier side. Now, I am VERY aware that there is NO way of knowing for sure how big a baby is in the womb, and I know that the weight of the baby and the size of the mother don't always depict whether the mother can vaginally deliver the baby. BUT, if the doctor is correct, and Sawyer is a big baby (supposedly weighing over 8 pounds at 40 weeks) then I don't want to risk her growing TOO large for me to not be able to push her out and my labor and delivery resulting in an emergency c-section.

Did that last paragraph make any sense?? haha :)

ANYWAYS. So, I'm still pregnant, obviously, so the p-gel didn't work for me this past Wednesday. I was having great, regular contractions and was completely effaced, but my cervix just would not drop and dilate. So they released me to go home (which I did, only after going to Golden Corral first for the lunch buffet. I was STARVING from not being able to eat for 7 hours! Labor is gonna be so hard for me.. Bahahaha!)

So, my doctor told me if I do not deliver naturally by this Monday to come back to the hospital and he will administer the drip to me to get my labor started. Now, if I can go into labor and do start dilating, GREAT! I'll be ecstatic. Also, I will be receiving an epidural. I have done quite an amount of research on whether I wanted pain medicine, and have talked to multiple women about the pros and cons of receiving or not receiving an epidural during labor, and my conclusion is I do indeed want one :) Haha. I'll do an entire other blogpost on all that some other time.

But, if I get into labor and am still not dilating or progressing, then I will either be released to go home and come back in 2 days when I'm 41 weeks to be induced one final time (remember, my doctor won't let me go past 41 weeks) or I will end up having a c-section. Honestly, I haven't made my decision either way yet. I'm praying that I go into labor and everything runs smoothly so I don't even have to think about any of that!

I believe that a woman has every right to have a vaginal or cesarean birth, whatever she chooses. I personally want a vaginal birth, but I do not in any way, shape, or form disrespect a woman's right to chose to have a c-section. I know plenty of women that prefer one over the other and vice versa. I used to be against c-sections (for myself, not women in general), until I learned that I do have an unfavorable cervix and natural delivery might be difficult or even impossible for me. In the end, I want Sawyer to be safe. And if that means forgoing experiencing natural child birth and having a c-section to keep her from having any life-threatening complications, so be it. She is my priority and I will always put her safety first.

So, as it stands, I will be heading to my hospital on Monday, October 8th at 6:30 am to be induced with the drip. I'm hoping to go into labor and once I am 3-4 cm dilated, receive an epidural, and deliver her vaginally without any other interference. I'll let y'all know how that all plays out.. Haha :)

xoxo,
Tayler