The wait...

Waiting to go into labour is an experience that is equal parts exciting and excruciating. It can't be likened to anything else - it is one of the few things in life over which we have absolutely zero control. I am 39 + 1 today, and feel quite certain that this baby will be late... I feel fine, look a little soft around the egdes and puffy (probably as a result of how much I have been eating - all restraint has gone out the window, food has become a bit of a comfort), and am actually at peace with my inability to exert any real influence over the process. Very different to how I was feeling at this point last time - desperate and cranky, I deliberately isolated myself and was focused solely (and rather stupidly) on getting things started.

I undertook all the usual, old wives' tale-type approaches - yes, I reluctantly had sex, ate pineapple and drank pineapple juice (which only exacerbated the heartburn I was experiencing) walked and walked and walked, and stuffed myself silly with chilli. When none of that worked, I resorted to acupuncture, a move that, given my generally very sceptical views on alternative medicine, demonstrates how absolutely desperate I had become.

Did it work? Well, perahaps it was starting to... I was already well overdue when I had my first session (which I found painful at first, but ultimately very relaxing). I had the second a few days later, and the next day finally had a show. But there is no way of knowing whether that would have happened without the acupuncture! I have a little laugh inside when people share their natural induction "success" stories - because, when you think about it, given that all of these things are being undertaken at the pointy end of the pregnancy, when you are supposed to go into labour anyway, there is simply no way of ascertaining the success of such methods.

Anyway, as those of you who have read my blog from the beginning already know, I ended up being induced at 40+9, and Otis was born 10 days past his due date. As far as inductions go, it was relatively straightforward - I was already 2cm dilated when they broke my waters and switched on the Syntocinon, and it was all over within 6 1/2 hours. But I did then suffer a post-partum bleed that was horrific and painful and left me quite traumatised. So induction is not really an option for me this time. I find it hard to believe that my body will ever go into labour of its own accord, but the midwives assure me that it will! At the Birth Centre they don't even discuss induction until 42 weeks anyway, so I've awhile yet before that option comes into play...

Until then, I am OK with waiting. I am enjoying the anticipation and the mystery, to be honest - it's such a different experience this time around. I don't feel desperate. I've let go of trying to bring it on... Well, that's not entirely true. I am inserting Evening Primrose Oil capsules of a night. So far all that has done is deposit an oily residue in the toilet when I wee the following the morning! But I'll keep going with it. My midwife tells me that at Wollongong Hospital they have had some success in avoiding medical inductions using this natural method.

I look forward to having a proper labour story - you know, something along the lines of "I woke up in the middle of the night and found the bed was soaking wet", or "I started having contractions whilst watching the Survivor finale" - a story of surprise and spontaneity.

Watch this space!