Not Today

Ok, so our son is not going to be born on the 21st!  Heather (midwife) came to check my cervix a little after 9 and found that I was 1 cm dilated but not effaced at all, though my cervix was soft.  She did not want to start me on pitocin because she didn't think it would be effective at that point.  Instead, she gave me a dose of Cytotec.  It's a pill inserted near the cervix that helps it to soften and to hopefully start some labor and contractions.  It's required that with a dose of Cytotec that they monitor you for 4 hours.  So, I was hooked up to a wireless heartbeat and a contraction monitor.  Jake and I walked around the halls for a long time, talking.  He also went out to get three movies and some food for himself.  They told me not to eat after midnight the night before, so I was really hungry... but as soon as they gave me the Cytotec they let me have breakfast.

So, at around noon or 12:30, Heather came in again and was pleased that I was having regular contractions (~5 minutes apart).  She couldn't give me another dose of Cytotec because of that, so there was really nothing left to do but wait.  We asked if we could go home and "wait" and she said that was fine.  If my water broke or if my contractions became so intense that I couldn't talk or walk through them, I should go back into the hospital.  Otherwise, we're to go back tomorrow morning at 7:30 to start the Pitocin.  They're assuming that by tomorrow morning, my cervix will be "ripe" enough to use Pitocin.  I sure hope soooooooo!!!!

I've been in good spirits most of the day but I'm starting to get pretty cranky right now.  I'm still having contractions but I don't think anything will happen overnight.  I'm feeling bummed out that things didn't go as planned and that I have to sleep another night while pregnant.  It was nice spending this morning with Jake though.  Kind of like a date.  Lila had fun with her grandmas and Emily, they went to the mall and she napped in her car seat for 2 hours.  We watched Evan Almighty on TV and talked a lot (Jake and I).

So, that's that.  Hopefully tomorrow is the day!!!