ok. I'm measuring 42 weeks, the baby is good, there's still extra fluid. His growth of nearly 2lbs in the 2 weeks between my last 2 u/s scans is normal. I tested positive for Group B Strep, and so will be given antibiotics when I go into labour.
Here are my questions and the answers I got:
Am I having a giant baby?
Laughter. He's big, but not enormous, just bigger than average. The scan weights are accurate to a pound either way, so he could have been anywhere from 6lbs2oz to 8lbs2oz. (which means he could now be 8lbs2oz or 10lbz2oz. Sweet jebus.)
Why is he trying to claw his way out of my cervix? That hurts.
That's probably not him, but the pain is likely caused by the separation of the cartilige in your pelvis, and is normal.
How many people can I have in the labour / delivery room?
2, and people can't be coming and going.
Do I labour and deliver in the same room?
Yes, unless we need to take you to the OR.
Can I deliver on my side or sitting up?
Yes, we don't put women flat on their backs, they're at about this (demonstrates about a 45 degree angle) level. The only thing we don't really encourage is standing up or squatting, because that makes it very difficult for the doctor to control the baby's head coming out.
I heard this silly rumour that people with lower back tattoos can't always get epidurals. That's bunk, right?
No, that's true. Do you have one? Let me see where it is. Ok, now where are your hipbones? Ok...hmmm...it's quite possible that they won't be able to give you an epidural, but you'll have to see the anesthesiologist to be sure.
But, I googled it, and didn't find anything! dammit!
Ok. Also, I don't even know that I want an epidural. Do I really need to decide that now? I want to sort of see what happens before I decide.
No, of course not. You shouldn't know yet. It's a great attitude to have that you'll just take things as they come, and if you need one, you can get one.
I also heard you give a shot of something right after the baby is born to deliver the placenta, what's that about?
It's a shot of oxytocin, and it's been shown to speed up the 3rd stage of labour greatly. It also helps to slow the bleeding. (it's the same hormone your body produces naturally when you start to breastfeed)
Will it cause me to have contractions for hours afterward?
No, not at all. Especially being a first time mom, you probably won't have much after-labour pain at all.
What happens with the baby right after he's born?
We put him right up on your belly, unless you've had a c-section, then he'll go right to the warmer. We give you about an hour to bond etc in the delivery room, and then move you to your post-natal recovery room.
That's it. I felt really good leaving the appointment, even though I'd had to wait an hour and 45 minutes to get in. Looks like the epidural debate may have been resolved with no effort from me. I get to go for a tour of the maternity ward on Tuesday at lunch time. Next week when I go in for my appointment, IF I go in, she'll do an internal and sweep / strip my membranes. That's where they separate your membranes from your uterus (just with a finger while they're checking dilation, not with some evil tool), and it generally gets things moving along. Good to know.
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