Had a midwife appointment today

I found out today that I'm GBS+ again. I know they can work around it at the birthing suite but it still adds a layer of complication and urgency to the birth that I wish wasn't there. I means I have to go in earlier to make sure I get a dose of antibiotics so I can't labor at home very long, it also means that I may end up staying on the postpartum floor instead of going straight home to my own bed.

I thought I would be more rattled by this news, but the midwife was very reassuring, and I'm just going ot trust her. It's too late to change anything about my birth "plans". The chips will fall where they may.

I am still thinking of this birth as something that will happen in some distant future instead of, say, tomorrow. Or tonight. I had my first "oh my god is this labor" moment the other day when a contraction literally took my breath away, and then another followed right behind it two minutes later. From what I remember from waiting for Naomi is that I had those moments several times a day for two weeks, so I know I have a long time to go.

I declined the offer to check my cervix today. I remember how crazy those numbers made me last time, and I'm not doing that to myself again. I'd rather just ignore the meaningless numbers and listen to what my body is saying: nothing doing yet, don't hold your breath, it's going to be a little while. If I had heard I was a centimeter dilated and 70% effaced, like I was at this point last time, do you think I'd still listen to my body? No, I'd be sitting here obsessing, expecting every twinge to turn into full blown labor.

The baby has to stay inside until Sunday. We're using this weekend to finalize the preparation of our house. I am also decorating for Christmas this weekend, because I hate a half-assed decorating job, and that's certainly what I will get if I wait until after the baby's born.

Somewhere in my first or second trimester I posted on a message board about my predictions about when the baby would come. My guess was Dec. 4th, mid-afternoon, girl, 7.5-8lbs. That still sounds about right.

Comments

[jessica]

i think you'll have a boy on december 6. hehe....

[Jennifer]

OK, time to delurk. I am such a lurker and I read your blog and I know you understand about lurking. So I will type fast and hit send before I become a lurker again.

Anyway, I am also pregnant and not too far behind you (32 weeks today). I was GBS + with the first baby and did a hospital birth and all that. I got tested earlier this time and was GBS +. I'm doing a homebirth and we are retesting again at 34 weeks and if I am still positive (she has me on a holistic treatment plan for the GBS that involves mega flora and garlic and some other stuff), I am going to do IM shots of antibiotics.

She says those are more effective, or at least that some research shows that to be more effective. I'm not sure if you have to do it a certain time before labor or what, though.

Anyway, I don't know if they would do that or if it's an option for you or if you are interested in it, etc. I just thought I'd mention it because it would allow you to labor at home for longer AND to not be hooked up to an IV at the birth center.

OK, that's all for now. Back to lurking. :)

Jen

[Running2Ks]

I'm sorry about the GBS, and I offer you good vibes for the rest of the pregnancy and labor!

[Adria]

With the twins I broke down and had my cervix checked in early labor. I was a 7 and incredibly psyched. My midwife told me she was afraid my water would break on the way home. I know you can imagine my dismay when 8 HOURS LATER I had still not had this baby. I wish now I'd not had that information and the accompanying expectations.