Porterfield Family

Aidan Jay Porterfield

Born on 09/27/07 at 11:18 am. We both are doing great!

Just an update...we don't have him out yet...I have changed the due date to October 1 - my induction date.

I had my appointment today and guess what? Nothing is going on…I am still a fingertip dilated and around 80% effaced. My cervix is “sorta posterior” and the baby is at -2 station. All that basically means that there is not much going on.

Oh well…

I was offered to have my membranes stripped today, but I figured I will wait until Tuesday. Jason is convinced I will go in labor next week, so we will wait and see. The thing with membrane stripping and all the exams is that none of it really means/does anything. Membrane stripping may help to start labor, just like intercourse, nipple stimulation or herbs, or castor oil or walking or eating eggplant or pineapple or simply sitting around the house and doing absolutely nothing. You would think today with all the technology advancement we will have better ways to predict; speed up or slow down labor.

I am feeling a little bit discouraged today, mostly because the doctor (she just joined the practice and it was our first meeting) told me that if I do not want to get induced I should consider having my membranes stripped. I guess the worst thing that can happen is nothing…

Today is my due day according to the ultrasound; obviously this baby is in no rush to come out! I will be very much surprised if I go in labor this week at all. I am hoping next week. A lot of people say I would go on or around 26^th – they all “predict”, but honestly 26^th is full moon.

I am feeling really good (no cramping, I sleep through night, no pains or aches, no heart burn or whatever else they promise you) and I am in no rush to have him either, however the lack of clothes that fit is getting very annoying. I promised myself that I will not turn into a pregnant lady with dirty hair and in sweatpants; so far I have been doing good.

At my last appointment (39 weeks) I was still a fingertip dilated and about 60% effaced, but I was told that things are a bit different from week 38 and everything is moving in the right direction – whatever. My next appointment is on the 20^th, we will see if anything has changed. My first NST is scheduled for the 25^th – they will check the baby out to make sure he is not stressed and I can go on with my pregnancy. My induction date was set for October 1^st. I am hoping to go naturally and not to be induced.

I have a bunch of photos that I need to post, but I have not resized them yet.

Let’s see what else is going on…

I am still working. My mom has been cooking dinners for us - so nice to come from work and have food ready! Last weekend we went shopping for my mom, I cannot wait to shop for myself! We also did a lot of walking! Weather is so nice! It finally cooled down, so I am trying to spend as much time outside as possible before the baby comes. We went on a driving tour around our area to check out covered bridges – I will post photos, I promise. I look like a giant woman on photos though; I did not realize how big my belly is, especially when I stand next to my 5’ tall 100 pound mother. I am a giant! I look like I can swallow her. So I told her – no more pictures with her! Of course Jason and my mom both told me how small my belly is and I only look pregnant and not fat…yeah, right...they need to take better pictures then J

Week 38 was very busy. We were doing grant reviews in Emmitsburg, which means long hours at work. We did not even have a chance to take pictures! I am slacking…

I had my first exam last Friday and the doctor said that I am a fingertip dilated (mostly because she stuck her fingertip there) and about 60% effaced. None of this really means anything. I managed to put on 5 pounds during that week in Emmitsburg, thanks to all that catering we had. I ate nothing but croissants, pasta and potato salads and dessert, hence 5 pounds. My doc thought that I was retaining water – as if. So she asked me to lay off food, well she said I should eat a more balanced diet, like I don’t know that. The thing is, I know what heavy carb diet does to me…

In other news, my mom is here. She flew in on Monday and will stay until January, so we will have all Holidays together. We will take some more pictures and I will post them ASAP.

I am still working and plan to work right until the baby is ready to come out. If I do not go in labor on my own they will induce me the first week of October, I will find out the actual date this Friday. A lot of people think that at this point the pregnancy is misery and expectant mothers cannot wait to have their babies. I am actually enjoying it. It has been very easy. Granted, I do get tired faster, walking is not as much fun, my belly is really big and I bump it into things. But the baby is allowing me to sleep through the night and does not push or punch me in any organs, so I really cannot complain. I think the two of us are really enjoying each others company and work as a team.