Fluid Drama Update

On Monday, I went in for my NST (nonstress test) and ultrasound to check the status of my fluid levels. Macey aced the NST, but we discovered that my fluid levels had dropped once again-- this time to less than 7. So, when I met with the doctor, they asked that I come back today to repeat the fluid check and NST. If my levels had dropped to a 5 or less, they were planning on inducing me right away. If my levels continued hovering around the 6 or 7 mark, the plan was to get me to 39 weeks and then induce me.

I'll be honest: the talk of induction didn't thrill me. Yes, I am uncomfortable. Yes, I am ready to meet my daughter. But I'm also realistic. I know that when your body isn't really ready to have a baby, inductions sometimes fail. I know that when inductions fail, they result in c-sections. I also know that c-sections aren't the end of the world. But if I can avoid a c-section? I'd really like to do that, please.

I looked on the bright side of induction too, though: there would be plenty of time to arrange a babysitter for Camden (no calling my parents at 3am as we rush out the door to the hospital). I could choose which doctor in my practice I'd like to schedule the induction with and wouldn't run the risk of ending up with one of the OB's from another practice that covers my doctors' shifts when none of them are on call. Knowing that stuff gave the whole induction thing a silver lining.

When I went in this morning, I was told that Macey once again rocked the NST. I headed into the ultrasound room, tucking away that piece of good news to help soften the blow of what I had come to expect as the inevitable decline in my fluid levels. You can imagine how shocked I was to discover that my levels had actually increased to nearly 10. I guess all of my water chugging is finally doing something other than making me camp out in the bathroom all day and night.

When I met with the NP after my ultrasound, she told me that they would still offer me an induction next week since we had already discussed it, but at this point, it would be an elective induction, not a medically necessary one. She went on to discuss how it's much more common for inductions to result in c-sections when our bodies aren't ready to go into labor on their own. Essentially, she was echoing all of the thoughts and concerns I've had over the past week.

And so, my decision is to wait this pregnancy out and trust that my body knows what it's doing. I'll go back in next week for another ultrasound and NST just to be on the safe side (because you just really never know with my fluid levels-- they seem to have a flair for the dramatic). But hopefully, hopefully, I will get to go into labor naturally, just like I did with Camden. I'm so thankful for this opportunity that didn't seem like a possibility just a few days ago.