Yesterday's results: the baby is in position, although my cervix has not changed much from last week. Due to our 2 hour distance from the hospital, my doctor is wanting me to seriously consider inducing shortly after the due date (if I haven't delivered before then). I suppose this is to reduce any panic we may have once "it's time." This is something that I haven't considered hardly at all -- my plan (and Pat's) was to have this child as naturally as possible -- with as little medication as necessary. I know my mom is pro-induction -- it helps her travel plans! Inducing would involve 2 drugs (minimum) -- one to prepare the cervix and the other to help with the contractions. Something just doesn't feel right about it to me. Perhaps planning it out just wasn't what I envisioned for when I went into labor -- in some ways it's too easy. But I also fear this process may make labor longer than if the baby was ready to come out on its own (and I would like labor to be as efficient as possible). On the other hand, my doctor has delivered a few more babies than I have (:-D) so I want to heed his advice. Oh, what to do?
On another note, Pat and I went for a car seat inspection yesterday to make sure our seat was properly installed. One big surprise was that the seat we got is probably going to be too large for the baby (a Britax Marathon) -- despite the fact that the seat supposedly holds babies from 5 to 65 pounds! I say 'probably' because unless the baby is 22" long (which is a long baby) this seat's shoulder straps will most likely be too high above the baby's shoulders, which apparently is not as safe as if the straps were at or below the baby's shoulders. The inspectors said it is a great seat, and we will need to get one eventually, but a carrier-type seat is what we need. Talk about making me unsettled! Ahh! Babies R Us, here I come, ASAP! Here I thought I was all set to go -- the overnight bag packed and in the car, the nursery all set up, baby clothes and blankets pre-washed -- and now my car seat isn't right?! I'm a little frustrated with Britax's advertising - talk about misleading!
I understand your indecision on the drugs. In these scenarios, if I really trust my doctor (and sometimes, I don't think my doctor knows anymore than I do), I follow their advice. Perhaps you can take a middle road? Maybe instead of induction you can get a hotel closer to the hospital to reduce 'panic'?
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