Last Friday, as I sat with monitors strapped to my belly for my latest NST, the nurse popped in and out of our little curtained-off cubicle. During one such pop-in, she asked who my doctor was. When I told her, she responded, “Huh. I’m surprised.”
I knew exactly what she meant. I think I mentioned that my doctor is an older Indian lady, but what I may not have written here is that most of her patients are also Indian. Or Pakistani. I think one of them is Filipina. Many of them wear hijabs and speak Arabic. Or Urdu. Or Hindi. Most of them speak English with the receptionist. Or sometimes French.
It wasn’t difficult to see on the day of my very first appointment that I stood out. I’m the only white chick in the waiting room.
Apparently, that’s not all that sets me apart from Dr. K’s other patients. When we discussed the prospect of inducing again yesterday afternoon, she insisted that I’m the only one of her patients who has requested not to be induced. Most of her patients, according to her, are begging to be induced once they hit 38 or 39 weeks. In fact, she said, she usually has to tell her patients they have to wait, no matter how uncomfortable they claim to be.
She actually used the word “exceptional” to describe my attitude–and I don’t think she meant it in a good way. She repeatedly said, in a condescending manner, that since I “seem to know everything,” she couldn’t force me into it. Hubby told me afterward that he thought she was being genuine. That I was educated about my choices. But that is so not what she meant.
In the end, we did end up consenting to her faxing a request to the hospital for Thursday or Friday. If they have the space for me. I wanted to at least give my body a few more days to do what it knows how to do.
This morning, I could go on and on about the many other things she said yesterday that annoyed me, including poo-pooing my visit to L&D, claiming I “panicked” over the mucus plug. But the truth is, it’s all moot. I woke up at 2:30 feeling crampy and have been having contractions on-and-off ever since. I’m hopeful this means I won’t have to be induced at all. I may even get to meet my baby girl today.
Something Out of Nothing 
Thinking of you and hoping today is the day!!
Daryl – you know your body best – good for you for being the exception! Praying you have this baby girl soon, sounds like she is ready to make her big appearance! All the best!
Best wishes to you, and way to stick to your plan!
I too hope that today is the day! Or at least very, very soon. Good luck!
Oh, good grief. I’m annoyed by your doctor for you. Seriously, I wish she was more supportive of your choices because that could take you so far while you’re in this waiting limbo and then laboring and delivering your little babe. I’m so glad you’ve stood firm in what you want. Wishing you lots of luck and love in the days ahead!
Fortunately, she won’t be there for the delivery. I hope whichever doctor is on call is more willing to listen to my preferences!
Hoping this is it for you, if the contractions don’t seem to get going, you can always try nipple stimulation again. From the sound of your doctor it sounds like you might have to fight for the type of birth you want, so be prepared for yourself and your hubby to advocate for what you want for both you and baby girl when she is born. As an above comment said, you know your body best. You will instinctively know what position you want to birth in and what you need to do. Don’t let anybody tell you any different.
Try to wait as long as possible before heading to L&D and you are more likely to get the natural birth you are hoping for. Take a long walk too, it will help get baby moving down and keep contractions going!
Coming out of lurkdom to tell you how excited I am for you. Though I haven’t been commenting, I have been following along. I went into labor the day (!!) I scheduled my induction too. Wishing you a quick and easy delivery.
Thinking of you today. I hope you get to meet your baby very soon x
I live in Vancouver and I am surprized the doctor is suggesting induction at this stage. I have an IVF baby and my pregnancy was low risk as well with no complications. Despite my anxiety, my doctor insisted if the baby passed NST we wait until 10 days over due to induce. She expressed there is lower risk with having the baby naturally and less of a chance for a C section if the baby arrives naturally. I ended up being induced in the end and labour was rough (no contractions to one every two minutes very quickly). I wonder what my labour would have been like if she arrived naturally. Regardless, I hope your baby arrives when she is ready. Congrats and hope for joyful delivery! Stay strong!
I was truly amazed at the pressure to be induced when I was pregnant. And I had a midwife! She kept bugging me to do a stretch and sweep, until I finally caved at 40w5d. It did nothing except make me lose my mucous plug. I did end up being induced at 41w2d after a poor NST, but at least I felt good that I didn’t do it until there was a real reason to do it. I sincerely hope you don’t have to go there, and that you’re labouring as we speak! Best of luck!!!
Well if today turns out to be the day I wish you lots of luck and hope all goes smoothly. I don’t blame you for not wanting to be induced, I didn’t want to be either but didn’t have any choice. If today isn’t the day then I hope she decides to come soon!!
Good luck!!!
The day after I booked my induction, I had my son. Nothing like a good induction scheduling to get labour started ;). Hope all goes smoothly!!
Good luck! I hope it’s everything you want the experience to be!