Progress, but No Baby Yet

Another week, and no baby. We are officially at Day 271 of pregnancy, with 9 days to go until our due date. My OB visit today confirmed that I'm making progress: 3-4 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and Baby at station 0. Still presenting the head. I asked the doc if she had a size estimate, and after her disclaimer that these estimates aren't always accurate, she speculated a weight in the low- to mid-7-pound range. That's great to me! The other good news is that the hospital transition is completed, so we will be going to St. Vincent Women's Hospital.

Dominic and I are amused that our baby has been so good about listening to our requests regarding timing of the big arrival. Dominic is so busy at work now, there is no good time for Baby to come, but I don't think we can delay until after Thanksgiving, when things might calm down for him. My latest time wish is that Baby will hold off until after Labor Day (no pun intended). This is due to my somewhat neurotic worry that all the "good" nurses will be off on vacation. Also, Mom is watching Mary's kids on Saturday all day while she and Matt attend a wedding in Louisville. I figure we've waited this long: what's a few more days?

The docs have offered to induce me, mostly to have more control over the labor and delivery due to the heparin. If we induced, we could plan when my last heparin dose would be, which would significantly increase the likelihood that I could have an epidural. I've taken a pass. I do not want to be induced unless it is medically necessary/recommended. Besides, I've come this far with essentially no pain, so I'm that much ahead of the game.