On our way to check in to the clinic: Inage Birth and Women’s Clinic
At about 5cm: We’re halfway there!!!!
My amazing midwife, Eriko, who delivered Martha and was an amazing labor coach.
A sweet sweet baby girl, totally worth the effort! 
We are so thankful for God’s care and provision for us throughout all the little details of Martha’s arrival. Everything from the timing of it, to the kind and wonderful care of the clinic staff were clearly gifts from God and we are so thankful. Praise HIM!!!
I just got back from the clinic and the doctor I spoke to today is anxious to get this girl delivered, as I guess the neonatal mortality rate goes up by 30% after 41 weeks.
Side note: This one doctor who I saw today, while I like him very much, has an absurd number of statistics memorized. Every time I see him he tells me percentages and chances and risks all in numerical form… its kinda funny and I always want to tell him that statistic about what percentage of statistics are made up on the spot… my Japanese isn’t that good though, and while his English is pretty good, I don’t think he would laugh…anyway, back to my update:
SO, according to the non-stress test, Martha is doing very well and continues to love her watery home. According to the pelvic exam, I am not at all dilated or effaced, and the cervix is still long and tight (sorry for those readers who didn’t want that much information). According to the sonogram, She is still measuring somewhere between 3700 and 4000 grams which is between 8 and 8.8 pounds. From uterus size, though, he thinks she on the smaller side of that, not the larger. I really like the two doctors at my clinic, as they both seem to be great doctors and they always say or do things that make me laugh. Today I laughed when he told me that they have only had about 20 caucasians come through the clinic in the last 5 years so he wanted MY opinion about what we should do (I am, after all, caucasian so I have some authority on this issue). I told him I would like a few more days but I’m not so strongly against being induced today as I was even last week (post due date my personal opinions and preferences get less and less picky…). So we decided that if nothing has changed by Thursday, they will admit me Thursday evening and use a balloon mechanism (never heard of this before, but I think its use is like cervadil) to help ripen and dilate the cervix, and then begin pitocin the next morning. He’s concerned because my chances of induction not being successful are higher if my body is in the same state that its in today.
SO, you all can pray that Martha and I would get in gear and start working towards starting labor. Even if we don’t actually go into labor, it would be good if I had even a little bit more progress come Thursday and Friday. You can also please pray that the doctor would be gracious and permissive as far as letting Eric and my mom be with me during (and before) labor. All that time being admitted sounds lonely and boring to me… And of course, you can be praying ultimately for Martha’s and my health and safety through it all. May God be glorified in however this turns out.
Continue reading about Still no baby – but now we have a plan…
Nope, she’s not born yet. She’s not even close according to the doctor today. I had to go in for a non-stress test today, now that she’s two days past d-date. He said it didn’t look like anything was happening, but he told me that with second babies, its pretty common for the body to get into gear real quick so he said to still expect her any day. For those of you who don’t know, Noa was 2 weeks late and I had to be induced because I wasn’t going into labor. I am getting the feeling that that may happen this time as well, though I would be very grateful to not have to be on pitocin again. I am thankful that for now, even though they think she’s close to 4 kg, my doctors are content to let me wait it out. They haven’t really told me at what point they would want to induce. They are very pleased with how healthy we both are and are very encouraging.
Its funny because last time I was overdue, every day really felt like the end of the world. I remember crying a lot and despairing that there might not even be a baby growing in my belly. God has been very gracious this time to give me much more peace about an overdue baby. When I look back, I see God’s good timing in when Noa was born and I am excited to see when he will bring little Martha. In the meantime, he has given me a precious little Noa-girl who I can’t seem to get enough of these days (I think I’m having pre-separation anxiety, knowing I’ll be away from her when Martha’s born). Now I am almost completely free of my regular commitments since last week (except for one English class), so I have so much sweet time with her at home and it really has been a blessing. She’s learning and growing so much every day – with new words, phrases, abilities – that each moment is a treasure. If God gives me another 2 or 3 weeks waiting for Martha, I would be very thankful for those extra moments of just me and Noa. After all, it won’t be just the two of us all day long ever again (sniff sniff).
Granted, its hard to sleep and the discomforts of pregnancy grow exponentially with each passing day (I know why God made gestation to be 9 months, and not more). And, I had sorta had my mind set on a February birthday (Martha’s would be the first in my family). Also, Eric doesn’t like the feeling of having life on hold and every plan we make be tentative because we’re not sure if we’ll have a newborn tomorrow or not. So there are great pluses to her being born soon. Who knows, really? I’m just thankful that God does and that he has each of our best mapped out in his perfect plan. That is something that I really can’t cry about, can I?
Martha has been doing a great job of staying down. I haven’t felt her head for several days now, so I think we are in the clear. After my last experience with Noa being breech and trying several things and postions that people suggested, and after seeing some friends have breech babies and trying the same and even more things, I was not about to try all that crazy stuff again this time. However, SO MANY Japanese people suggested to us that the reason she was breech was that I was cold on the inside and needed to take more ofuros (baths) to warm my body up. Sounded crazy to me… BUT that has actually been the thing that I’ve done or not done before ultrasounds when she’s been breech or not breech. So, starting last week, when it worked for like the 3rd time, Eric made the household edict that I had to take a bath every morning (oh the suffering he puts me through ). Its really been great for me physically as I have had a lot less aches and pains, and half the time I actually believe it is what is keeping this girl head down. So, if you want one more thing to try or to suggest to someone with a breech baby, a hot bath is not a bad suggestion…
One week and counting til D-DAY. I’m hoping for/expecting a good 2 or 3 weeks til she actually arrives…after my great experience with Noa coming 2 weeks late, I like them well-baked 
Continue reading about my little secret about breech babies:
Sarah Pfeil, my teammember and friend, is also expecting. Calvin Jonathan Pfeil is due exactly a month after Martha and will be joining sisters Olivia (almost 4) and Annabella (2 and a half). I will have to give you a proper introduction to these good friends soon, but for now I wanted to share some pictures of our joint baby shower.
The ladies on our team took the time last night to celebrate these two little ones with yummy food, sweet fellowhip, adorable baby gifts, and prayer for their lives and families. Sarah and I were both so blessed by such a thoughtful and precious time. 
Lisa Stewart was sweet to host the shower in her home and Robert, her husband and resident chef and baker for the team, made this beautiful cake. It was not only beautiful, but delicious too!
And here is probably the best baby shower card I have ever received… and a good exaple to you of the wonderful world of “Japanese-English”
…because she’s like the dolphin and goes up and down and all around in her watery home. This morning, after a bit of an anxious night, the nurse did an ultrasound before admitting me and, once again, our little girl was HEAD DOWN! I know for a fact that she wasn’t head down when I woke up because I could see and feel her head up by my ribcage. But I guess she wanted to show off for the clinic staff. Needless to say, we are dlighted and thankful that, for now, we’ve avoided a painful and slightly dangerous version, but are a little nervous that this wiggle worm will never go down long enough to kick-start labor, and if she doesn’t, what that will mean for being induced or sliced open. Please keep praying as we have 4 weeks til they won’t let me go any further (I’ll be 38 weeks monday) and are in an uncomfortable but healthy position of just having to trust the Lord with this. I am just thankful to have a little bit more time before she’s out of my belly. I didn’t even take anything to the clinic today, I was so not ready and so in denial that she could be born quite soon. Hopefully this little episode will be the incentive I need to pack for the hospital and start getting out baby clothes.
Once again, thank you so much for your prayers. We are so thankful for the body of Christ and the way you minister to us through your prayers and messages. We are amazed at God’s love for us shown in such tangible ways.
Continue reading about We call her "Flipper Flipper Flipper…"
