Ode to oxymetazoline

I am suffering. From what my doctor calls pregnancy rhinitis. It's a fancy way to say I'm congested because of all the extra blood flow in my sinuses. My doctor's drug of choice is Claritin D. However, I can't take that just before bed time, when the rhinitis really gets raucous, because it keeps me awake. As if I don't have enough trouble sleeping these days.

My drug of choice is oxymetazoline and not just because of the way it rolls off the tongue. That stuff works. Unfortunately, my OTC nasal spray of choice not been studied thoroughly in pregnant women, so I made the informed decision to use it sparingly. Don't judge. The nights that I do use it result in blissful, breathable sleep. I love it so much that I wrote a poem about it two nights ago whilst drifting off. You're shocked, I know.

Oxymetazoline

You understand my plight

Oxymetazoline

Assuage me through the night

Fearless you go like a mighty spelunker

Plowing your way through my sinus bunker

Through thick and thin you infiltrate

Congestion you eviscerate 

Oxymetazoline

When can I see you again

Oxymetazoline

Rhinitis best friend

Third

My poor, sweet third child. How unloved will he feel when he grows up and realizes he got no prebirth blog recognition? I often think I'll write some things down for him to look back on one day, then I get busy or just forget before I can get to the computer. I blogged every detail of my first pregnancy. Naturally, I did less the second time around. This is my first post in ages, but at least I'll get one in before he's born. If you're reading this in the future, son, I love you!!

These are the things that keep me awake at night. That and the heartburn. I actually had the nerve to tell a friend not too long ago that being pregnant with a boy didn't seem any different to me than my first two pregnancies, except that this time I hadn't really had any of the DV. You may need to see the age old posts from my first pregnancy here or here to catch up if you're not familiar with the DV. If you don't have time, just know that DV is better known as heartburn.

No sooner had I bragged to my friend that I was DV free... of course it hit me days later. I won't mention the fact that the leg cramps haven't been a problem this time either. Otherwise, all three pregnancies have been very similar. I'm hoping that labor will come naturally this time, because I don't know if I can handle the pitocin this time around. Jack thinks I'm crazy to not want to induce labor. "It's so convenient! We pick a day, then I can schedule work around it, and we can line up someone to watch the girls and answer the phones at the office..." There are lots of reasons on Jack's list for me to take the needle. One of my favorite words is defenestrate. You should look that one up.

I realize it's "convenient" to know the exact date your child will be born. What isn't so convenient is the pain and suffering I've got to endure for convenience sake. No doubt natural labor will be quite awful, but it certainly cannot be worse than pitocin induced labor. The first go round with SB was a breeze. Annie was a different story. Who knows what will happen this time? I'm not saying I won't be begging for it in a few weeks...but hopefully this kid will be a bit more respectful and come on out on his own.

I'm 37 weeks, so we are on the final countdown. I'm sorry, son, that I don't have as much time or energy for creativity, but I promise to try very hard the next few weeks to write a few things down for you.

XOXO
Mom