Will She or Won't She?

I just got back from my 39 week prenatal appointment. Good news, the baby is no longer facing OP. She is OA, facing my back like she should be. She has descended further into my pelvis, although she is still not engaged. The doctor told me that I was 1cm dilated. This came as quite a surprise for me! I was 2cm last time, how could I possibly be 1cm this time!?!?!? The doctor explained that I hadn't lost any ground, it's just that when the baby's head is just sitting there, the cervix tends to close around it. He said it's totally fine and normal.

So I asked the doctor what I needed to do. I reiterated my fear of having an excessively large baby. I asked if we should schedule an ultrasound, or whether he had an idea of how large she is. He said, "Sometimes I'm more accurate than an ultrasound, but sometimes I'm a pound off. Do I think you're having a 9 pound baby? Yep." And the way that my doctor normally speaks, I fully expected, "Do I think you're having a 9 pound baby? Nope." BUT NOOOOOO. He said yep. Damn. He said I'm in a gray area where she could easily come soon. I'm not overdue... yet. But at some point I might want to consider an induction to get her out before she turns into a ten pound baby!!

So the hospital can't schedule inductions any further out than one week. So anytime between now and next Wednesday. I've decided that Friday seems too soon. I really want to give my body time to go into labor naturally. Next Wednesday is too late. I want her before then. So we're thinking next Monday. That will give us a weekend to spend time with Bruce and to prepare him for his sister's arrival. It's also after payday, so we will be able to pick up any last minute things we still want or need. Plus, Monday is far enough out that I might just go into labor on my own and not have to be induced at all!

The whole thing I'm afraid of is a repeat of Bruce's birth. I was in labor for about 16 hours from beginning to end. I pushed for three hours, but since he was face up my pushes did nothing but ram him into my pelvis. Finally the midwives performed an episiotomy and used the vacuum extractor to get Bruce out. I wish I knew why things happened that way to help me prepare for this birth. Could I not get Bruce out simply because he was face up and hooked on my pubic bone? Was it because he was 9lbs, 10oz? Was it just a nasty combination of both?

I wish I knew, because then I could relax and think to myself, "She's going to be a large baby, but at least she is in the correct position for birth." I can do it. Either way, she is going to come out. I just really don't want to do the vacuum route again. I want to it on my own! Bah!!

Either way, I'm glad to find that my stretches and exercises have helped her turn. I did so many pelvic tilts, and spent so much time on my hands and knees trying to encourage her to flip around! And she did!! Now lets just hope she stays in this correct position!