So Much for Drugs

After my monitor at the clinic yesterday came back clear (no contractions), Ofrit (my midwife) suggested I try a black and blue cohosh homeopathic combination to try and induce labor over the weekend. Her reasoning is: if I go back on Sunday to the clinic, which I need to do every 2 days now or get branded with child abuse even before said child is born, and I do have contractions, they will send me straight to the hospital. As opposed to other people we know, the hospital will not send me home, even if its obviously too early, because I'm post-C. Instead, they'll keep me there and try to induce. The combination of an induction, contstant monitoring, innumerable doctors poking their heads in to give their opinions, and midwives who have to answer to said doctors instead of to me, could lead to a more stressful time, less progressive labor, and if the baby's heartrate starts to drop as a result - boom. Straight to the operating room.

So the idea is to naturally induce over Shabbat, so that I don't have to go back to the clinic at all on Sunday, but instead will be either going to the hospital, or if I do go to the clinic on Sunday, and from there to the hospital, it will be with real labor.

Yesterday afternoon we went on a goose chase in Modiin looking for the cohosh mixture that Ofrit had recomended, to find that really we could get it easiest only in Rechovot. So we picked Eden up, and took the new speedy 431 down to Rechovot. Promising Eden pizza on the way home worked. If only she hadn't insisted on reading the mapbook. Seriously, we need to start taking dramamine with us in the car.....Well it could have been worse, but I had wanted to give her a nice, calm, normal evening before going into labor. Which it wasn't.

But its just as well, because I've been taking the cohosh since 5 AM, with nothing substantial. Sure, something different than yesterday, and enough to make me just want to sit, lazy, around the house. But nothing leaving me screaming in pain. Nothing that needs us to send Eden over to Ben's parents. I think she's a bit disapointed that she won't be sleeping there tonight. We are bit disapointed too.

Here's what I think (since you are reading this, I assume you are interested): The baby will come out when she's ready. And I might prefer to just leave it that way, herbal remedies or no. I mean, even if it comes to next Wendesday (which is when the clinic doctor said that she would either induce or schedule a C), I'll take the induction. They don't use pitocin for VBACs here, which already makes for a less agressive induction. And then come what may. I'll try to avoid an epidural, and if the baby's heartrate is fine, I see no reason that they would push for surgery. If the baby's heartrate is NOT ok, then I will be pushing for surgery.

I will take Ofrit's advice though, and continue to take the cohosh tomorrow and see what happens. It does feel kind of weird, taking it every 1/2 hr (I'm taking little pills, not a tincture). Going all the way to Rechovot to get it did feel a bit like buying drugs, which is a weird thing to buy when you are pregnant. (Ok, or any time). Taking them is also a bit annoying - every 1/2 hour!!

Completely different note: I finished the first season of Mad Men (in 2 days....oy.) I really liked it! I suppose I'll have to watch it all over again with Ben, but looking forward to downloading season 2 and 3 when available. What a suprise, a un-comedic drama that I enjoy.

Post-script: After 2 days of taking cohosh and no caffiene, I was ready to quit. Ofrit agreed that it just wasn't working, so on to the next try: Acupuncture. I never thought I had it in me, but we shall see.