My "due date" of May 1st has come and gone now. I am having small contractions off and on. But they aren't regular, long lasting, or very strong. My body just seems to be "practicing".

The doctor is now having me come every 3-4 days to check how the baby is doing. She monitors his heart beat and the amount of amniotic fluid. Right now is doing great. The fluid is at a good level and his heart beat is perfect. As long as he is not stressed, she will let me go to 42 weeks. If I get to 42 weeks, though, she wants to induce labor. :(

I really don't want her to induce labor. It is just a bad spiralling chain of events when they do. I have read and heard from experienced mothers that the drug, used for inducing labor, Pitocin, makes contractions more painful and happen more often. Because of this, you then have to have an "Epidural" just to cope, which makes the mother and baby groggy and drugged. Then it is very hard to push - so hard that they have to use forceps or suction to pull the baby out. Ouch! Also, the Pitocin stresses the baby - alot of times, to the point that it is dangerous to proceed without a cessarean section.

As much as I dislike this whole "induction" process, I guess it is better than facing death during delivery. And this system has lessened the infant mortality rate. I will stop complaining. Most of us have been delivered or delivered that way.

I have been trying very hard to avoid this whole procedure and have it naturally. If done naturally, the mother and baby are alert, not as traumatized, and have an amazing bonding experience. The recovery time for the mother is also much quicker and easier, making it easier to take care of the newborn. So, I am doing everything I can to get him to deliver before the 42 week mark. I am walking about 3 miles every day up and down hills. I am eating spicy foods. I am using visualization and meditation techniques. We'll see how it comes along.

My contractions do seem to be getting stronger this afternoon. Hopefully I will avoid the induction!