The Induction Begins

20:00...Scheduled for 8pm, we got here on time. The receptionist at the entrance guessed my name immediately upon arrival. I wondered aloud if I was the only 8pm induction, and she said no, but that I looked like a Samantha. I think she was cheating and the enormous monstrosity of a bag and enormous bulging abdomen gave me away. Also, I'm bright white and not at all ethnic looking (especially with the current hair color), so I'm sure that helped her powers of deduction.

20:40... Waiting room and registration. Apparently it was a busy day and my room was being cleaned. Staff apologetic, and while I was feeling a little nervous, waiting turned out to be a good thing. It's a good way to kill the momentum of the moment and slow down the nerves along with it.

20:50... Finally taken back to L&D. Had to walk past the hoardes of blank-faced labor zombies aimlessly but constantly walking the halls in a pack. Approached my room.

21:00... In the room in L&D. Going through a list of a million questions with two different nurses. BP is running a little high, but not so bad. 130's/88-92. "Baby looks happy" on the monitor. Some contractions noted. Biggest bummer so far is that I can't see the monitor read outs which I didn't realize was my major form of entertainment in these situations until now. Nurses seem impressed that we're doing cord blood banking. Said they do it fairly frequently, but would like to see it done more. When asked, I said I'd be doing a combo of breast/pumping and bottle feeding. That followed with the inevitable pep talk for breast feeding, but I knew it was coming. I'm trying to open my mind at a slightly faster rate than my cervix.

22:20... Cervadil (which looks like a short, flat piece of paper attached to a fibrous string) administered. Cervix currently measuring at "a good 1 cm" and approx 70%. This will stay in for 12h. Can't get up and move for 2 hours, but after that I just have to be careful not to pull it out accidentally. Hoping for either labor or 2-3 cm of dilation in the morning around 10:30.

22:45... Hep-lock administered in left hand. I hate the hand. Nurses are pretty cool. The one used to work at the place I work now in Philly. Neat coincidence followed by big discussion about Kobe Bryant (a former high school classmate).

23:00... Ambien given. Husband goes home after setting me up with stuff. Friends text to notify if we need their help with dogs, etc.

Waiting until 12:20 when I can get up and pee again. Watching Seinfeld & Malcolm in the Middle until then.