Plans for Birth

From the beginning, I was told that Baby will have to be born about 2 weeks sooner than the estimated due date of 27 September 2007. The consultants explained that in diabetics, the placenta deteriorates and doesn't work as well towards the end of the pregnancy. Also, babies of diabetics can often grow abnormally big (too much sugar in the blood). Therefore, for diabetics, labour is normally induced.

They will first check if the cervix is ripe and if not, they will insert a pessary to help ripen the cervix. Sometimes more than one pessary is needed. This may start the labour process. If it doesn't, the midwife will break the membrane, i.e. break the water. This may then induce labour. Finally, if still nothing happenss then some drugs via a drip will start contactions. People were telling me that it was really painful to be induced... yippee... not!

So, in early September, following all the scans and checks, an appointment was made for me to be admitted to hospital to be induced on 13 September 2007 (2 weeks before EDD). Ihad to call up on the day at 6pm and then come to the hospital at 9pm. So, I thought that I had one and a half weeks after finishing work to sort out the last minute shopping and packing, and then check myself into the hospital.

And, in anticipation of the birth, my mom arrived on Saturday 8 September.