Thu 26 Jan 2006
Medical Update, Week 39
Posted by Liza under Pregnancy
Today I met with the youngest and most inexperienced of the midwives. I adore her personality, but when I ask her things like "how big do you think he is?" or "is he in the right position?" she says it’s impossible to tell.
The more experienced midwives offer opinions in a lovely authoritative voice, and since I’m starving for information, I like that. Even if they are just opinions and could be completely wrong. Unfortunately, the only opinion that this midwife offered was that it could be as long as THREE MORE WEEKS.
I actually told her, in that conversation, to please stop saying that, because there was no way that was going to work for me. I had a moment when I was afraid I was going to start crying if she said it again.
On the plus side, my blood pressure etc are all excellent. I’ve resumed gaining weight. And Smudge’s fundal height is 39 cm, which is average. (Young Midwife does not appear to share Experienced Tired Midwife’s opinion that Smudge is big. But since I am objectively gigantic, I think I believe Experienced Tired Midwife.)
Also on the plus side, Young Midwife wrote down a list of supplements that I can start using, including Evening Primrose Oil capsules, and teas including raspberry leaf and black cohash. She warned me that several of them have "don’t take while pregnant" labels, explaining that no, now we WANT the baby to come out, so it’s ok for me to take them.
She also recommended that Jill and I have a date night, starting with the Eggplant at Scalini’s (45 minutes from where we live) or McKinnon’s (20 minutes).
Unfortunately, although the restaurant reviews are nearly universal that McKinnon’s very good Cajun food and Scalini’s is mediocre Italian food, the labor-inducing eggplant dish at McKinnon’s is a seafood casserole, and I’m not a seafood fan. Maybe I’ll just buy some eggplant and make something at home.
Would everyone please help send labor-inducing vibes, thoughts, prayers, hopes, or suggestions our way? Please????? The only one the midwives have asked us not to do is castor oil.
January 27th, 2006 at 1:27 am
In addition to the teas, spicy food and evening primrose oil, I have read that enemas are supposed to work pretty well, if you’re brave enough to try one. There are Fleet Enemas available at most drug stores. I have also heard that orgasms can soften and ripen that cervix and induce labour and stimulating your nipples can release oxytocin and stimulate contractions.
Good luck, I am totally sending early labour vibes your way…
January 27th, 2006 at 8:45 am
Dear Smudge,
It’s time. You know it, your moms know it…..Do you really want to hear stories about the enemas your mom did to induce labor? Think about that. It will be particularly horrible when you’re 17 and trying to impress someone and you bring them home for dinner and the enema story comes up. Yeah. I thought so.
Thank you,
littlestpea
January 27th, 2006 at 10:26 am
don’t they say mild exercise (i.e. walking) promotes labor? what about a nice long walk before dinner on date night?
and for more convenient eggplant dishes, what about spicy eggplant from a good local chinese place? that sounds more tempting than those two restaurants.
January 27th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Oh yeah, you need to go get some Bhurta, a spicy east indian eggplant dish that is totally delish! That oughta do it…
January 27th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Spicy eggplant dishes — great idea!
I’m a little nervous and a little optimistic about the Bhurta suggestion in particular.
I learned the hard way that Smudge hates Indian food — over the course of the first half of the pregnancy, I had it 3x, in 3 different cities, and was sick as hell all night all 3 times. Otherwise, I’ve barely been sick all pregnancy.
On the other hand, maybe that means it would really work. Experienced Tired Midwife supposedly thinks that the reason eggplant works is because most Americans don’t often eat it, and so it irritates our digestive systems and gets lots of action going around the uterus.
January 27th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
I’ll be sending good labor vibes your way. I totaly know how uncomfortable you feel. Isn’t it nice to have someone who listens to all the whining though?