Fetal Monitoring

I had an appointment at the hospital this morning for fetal monitoring. It's common to have this testing done if you go past your due date, because they need to make sure that the baby is still doing well and not under any stress. This was a two-part test that involved a biophysical profile and a non-stress test. The biophysical profile was done with an ultrasound. They monitored Noah's body movements, breathing, and amniotic fluid. The non-stress test was done with a fetal monitor in which two sensors were strapped to my belly. They monitored Noah's heart rate and my contractions to see if he was receiving enough oxygen through the placenta and my circulatory system. For each thing that was tested 2 or 0 points were given. The maximum score was 10 points. Noah scored a perfect 10! So he is healthy and under no stress. That means that they have no reason to induce earlier. We are sticking to plan A - I will be induced on Monday, March 8 if he is not here by then. I'm glad my little guy is doing well! :)

Update from the Doc

So I had another OB appt today. Thankfully Dr. Cady is now back from her week-long vacation in Mexico! I've been 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced for about 3 weeks now. Same today. I have an induction scheduled for Monday, March 8 unless he decides to come sooner (and let's pray he does!). I talked to Dr. Cady about the prostaglandin gel versus the pitocin. She said the prostaglandin gel is only used to ripen the cervix, and since mine was already "ripe" she wouldn't be using that on me. So that would mean pitocin. But she said that I'm a perfect candidate for pitocin because my body has been preparing itself already. She said that it would be just the little push I would need if he's not here on March 8. She also said that it's the labor that hurts, not the pitocin (although I still believe that naturally entering labor would be less of a shock on the body than being medically induced). I'm glad we talked about it and I'm a little less afraid of induction now. BUT I still hope he comes naturally before Monday...