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39 weeks...and still pregnant. In ordinary circumstances, this would just be a nuisance, what with the constipation, the reflux, the trouble getting into a comfortable sleeping position at night, the limited mobility, but with JP scheduled to deploy in 2 weeks, it's an issue.

A major issue.

It is imperative that he be here for the birth. Imperative.

I am NOT having this baby without him. Absolutely not.

This is why I agreed to having my membranes stripped during my 38 week visit, to get things going. Stripping membranes means having the practitioner sweep their finger around the cervical opening, separating the bag of waters from the uterus and manually removing any of the adhesions that have formed. This apparently stimulates the release of prostagladins that can stimulate the onset of labor. There are some studies saying that this is a safe way of potentially inducing labor if done weekly starting at the 38th week, so I agreed. Lots of women report only mild discomfort due to this procedure, describing it as a rougher internal exam like routine dilation checking, but for me, it was more like TORTURE.

It didn't last long, but OH MY GOD, it hurt. Maybe I'm a wuss when it comes to pain but yes, it was not a good feeling.

For the next few hours afterwards, I felt like something was potentially brewing: irregular contractions and cramping, but that pretty much died down and now, 3 days later, nothing.

Still pregnant.

My general feeling is that the baby has to be ready to be delivered for these kind of methods to work, and I don't want to force him out if he's thriving in there and doing just fine. But, I do want him to make his debut soon for our family's sake.

With Jolie, I was 10 days late. My cervix was closed until the very end so stripping membranes wasn't even a possibility. I was so uncomfortable during those last 10 days- rapidly retaining fluid - that we tried lots of "natural" methods of labor induction. Long mile-long walks, spicy foods, all those old-wives tales that are supposed to help but I really don't think any had any serious effects. (Our hospital does not do routine labor inductions unless it is medically necessary for the mother or baby.)

So, I'm torn. I just want this baby, preferably on his own accord, to initiate this process asap, but do I do more to help things along? My next appointment is Monday and I think I'll agree to another stripping session: I don't think it will induce labor if I'm not ready, but if conditions are ripe, we might as well get this party started.

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