Non-Stress Testing

We went in to the hospital this morning for a "Non-Stress Test" - basically they strap a couple of censors around Jen's belly and monitor the baby's heart beat and also they can detect contractions. That all took about 30 minutes - it apparently could have gone a lot longer, but we were (as usual) perfectly normal.

We then moved to another room where the nurse did an ultrasound to look for the level of fluids around the baby - apparently there is a risk of the amniotic fluid levels dropping in the womb once you go past the due date as the placenta basically begins to die. Once again no concern there we had way more than enough fluid as well.

Finally we had a mid-wife come in and do another exam. She felt that we had made progress since our Monday appointment with our regular doctor, to the point that she did offer us the option of beginning the process of inducing labor today. Jen and I decided to wait until Sunday to see if anything happens naturally before inducing though. Jen has been having more significant and regular contractions since Wednesday - but so far they have subsided - so there is a chance we could avoid being induced.

If nothing happens, we will be heading for the hospital early Sunday morning and they tell us that the induction process can take as long as 24 hours. So there is a good chance before the weekend is over we will be 3 instead of 2.