38 Weeks

Yes, I made it to my 38 week appointment despite my doctor thinking I would.  Over the past week there were two days where I had "real", stop you in your tracks, contractions.  They were very short and only lasted about 15 minutes total.  I thought this was going to be the start of my body moving through the phases of labor but unfortunately the contractions never came back.  So a few days later I went through the regular routine of my weekly appointment.  Dr. S asked me if I wanted to have my "membranes stripped", which they offered at 38 weeks.  She explained that it was where she would take her fingers and run them in-between the amniotic sac and cervix.  It was supposed to release prostaglandins, and 60-70% of women who had it done went into labor within 48 hours.  I was in a panic.  I didn't know what to do.  I wanted Baby T out, but I didn't know how I felt about a medical intervention to help it along.  After I thought about it a minute I decided to go forth and be stripped.  I figured it was not a medication or drug meant to induce labor before Baby T was ready, but a more natural way to get things moving.  The doctor informed me that I was dilated to 4 centimeters and 70% effaced.  I had thought getting my membranes stripped would of been painful but honestly it wasn't bad, just uncomfortable.  So now the waiting game continued.