I saw the OB today.  I have developed these excruciating welts on my lower abdomen.   David thought they looked like hernias.  Turns out they are actually edema and there isn’t anything I can do about it except give birth.  When I say excruciating I mean they are the worst pain I have ever felt and I have broken bones and torn ligaments.  At the same time.  And lucky me the edema is EXACTLY where my third trimester round ligament pain is located.

The OB explained that either vaginally or C-Section this is not going to be a pleasant birth.  Because of the painful edema there is really no hope of an un-medicated vaginal birth – even if the baby didn’t weigh over 10 pounds already.  And the risks of infection after a C-Section skyrocket with this much swelling.  How much swelling you ask?  Well I gained NINE pounds between last week and this week.  That more than doubles what I have gained for the entire pregnancy.  However, “from the looks of your belly, feet and hands I’d say it was all water weight.”  If I didn’t have “fabulous” blood pressure he said he’d be worried.

My clinic won’t do a C-Section before 39 weeks if the mother or the baby is not in distress.  I don’t think my emotional state counts.  And as far as the Little Dude goes he appears to be as happy as a clam in there.  So I go back Tuesday and if I haven’t progressed into active labor – and really at “maybe” 40% effaced and “about” 1 cm dilated, I can’t imagine going into active labor between now and then – we will “work something out.”  He is seeing me on Tuesday and is on-call on Wednesday.  So as it stands now it looks like he will sneak me in on Wednesday.  He has already indicated that I am not a candidate for induction so cross everything and if you’re that sort pray to your God that I’m having a C-Section on Wednesday.  My sanity is at stake.