39th Week Baby Jax Birth Plan

Well, looks like Jax is stalling...... in my 39th week now! I have been dilated for close to a month, and our bags have been packed for weeks! Our predicted dates, the 12th, the 15th, the 18th.... have all passed and we are days away from the big holiday. As my belly grows insanely big (bigger this time versus last), I am feeling more uncomfortable, more pressure, more acid reflux and heartburn throughout the day & night, and a sharp pain in my lower left side of my pelvis making it more difficult to walk. I am officially a waddler, and boy are my feet, ankles, and hands swollen! Occasional cramping, but still no contractions. I have tried everything from the red raspberry tea, foot massages, spicy food, pineapple, even long "waddles" around the coast and neighborhood, to help bring on contractions, but Jax will not budge. I don't remember being this impatient with Taj, but probably because of the looming Christmas holiday I feel more stressed with Jax's birthday plus again this time I dilated early and it has been a slow progress since.

After reading up on the 39th week I found out that the baby's weight is pretty much set at what it is now, and that if we head closer to the 40th and 41st week there is less benefit to the baby thriving off of the placenta. So after much thought and discussion, Brad and I decided that at today's 39th week appt we would try to follow through on my midwife's earlier suggestion (to get induced at the 39th week mark if I continue to dilate, etc.) Right now that sounds like gold. What's the next best thing to being able to plan the exact date and time of your baby's birth? A Pitocin induction. This basically means that since labor has already started for me weeks ago (the dilation and effacement of the cervix) and I keep steadily dilating, i can be administered Pitocin (which is given about 99% of the time now in the labor process) to jump-start my contractions. If the OB agrees and gives me the green light, I am given permission to go to the hospital, get induced, get my epidural once contractions start up, and deliver our baby possibly tonight or tomorrow morning. A perfect scenario when you think about the planning ahead we can do in regards to dropping Taji off with my sister and such. At my appointment later this afternoon I will find out whether our birth plan will be approved, whether we will need to schedule the induction or I can just arrive at the hospital this evening. Fingers crossed!