40 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Gale #2

Well, today is my due date, but no baby is here yet. With only 2 hours left to the day (in our timezone), I am not expecting her to arrive on July 2nd. Hopefully she comes soon. I am definitely ready to hold her in my arms as opposed to in my belly.

I kept meaning to take belly pictures to track my growth, but life was busy and other things took priority. I serve as secretary to the Young Women Presidency at church, and the first counselor in the presidency was just under four weeks ahead of me with her first baby. She has had her baby, but I was always so jealous of her baby bump. Mine popped out earlier and was bigger for the rest of her pregnancy. She does have more height... Anyway, on the Sunday before her due date (if I remember correctly), another lady at church thought it would be fun to get a picture of us two together. So here is a picture of me with my friend, Megan, at 36 or 37 weeks. 

Megan and Nikki
36 or 37 Weeks Pregnant

Despite the horribly hot weather, I got into my "picture outfit" today so that we could take a 40 weeks picture. Here is my big belly that is ready to pop.

40 Weeks

As you are all aware, I am hoping to have a VBAC. At the beginning, my doctor stated that my body needed to progress on its own, or I would need to have another c-section. So on June 6th, at my 36 week check-up, I had Dr. Smith do a pelvic exam to see if I was dilated at all. Though it wasn't much, I was happy to find out that I was dilated "a fingertip." The next week, at my 37 week check-up, I was dilated to 2 cm; and then at 38 weeks I was 3 cm and 50% effaced. I was very optimistic given my progress. Then we had my 39 week check-up this last Wednesday, June 29th, and there "hadn't been much change." I was honestly a little bummed by the news, but at least I am at a 3 and 50% effaced. Given that my cervix is dilating and thinning on its own, Dr. Smith has stated that if need be (after 41 weeks), we can try breaking my water. Also, given the fact that my body has progressed some, he would be willing to try pitocin as a last resort. Women who have closed cervix's have a much smaller chance of having a successful VBAC with pitocin, but mine has been progressing some on its own, which would give me a somewhat better chance. The risk of a uterine rupture goes up about 1% (up to just under 2%), so we can weigh the benefits and risks if we get to that point. But hopefully, my body will just go into labor on its own. We've been walking a lot, hoping it might help, but no luck yet. We'll let everyone know how it plays out. We can't wait to meet our little girl and hold her in our arms!

For those who are wondering whether we have picked a name, yet, we would like you to know that we have started to lovingly call her, "Gator." We are excited to be the parents of Allie and Gator. We have not chosen her real name, yet. And we don't plan on choosing the name until we see her. We have several possibilities to choose from, but we want to make sure that we pick a name that fits.