Went to the midwife today.  I am 3.5 cm dilated, still 80% effaced.  Baby is estimated to weigh around 8 pounds.  The baby’s back is usually shifted over to my right side (hence back pain on my right side), but now the baby’s back appears to be somewhere in the middle.  The baby’s heart rate was variable (it would speed up, then slow down, then speed up again), which is exactly what they want to hear.  I go back to the midwife in a little over a week if I still haven’t delivered by then, and at that point, we’ll discuss the next step (which I am assuming includes speeding things along somehow).  I DO NOT want an induction.  I will do everything in my power to avoid that.  At 41 weeks I will be fine with having my membranes stripped, but I do not under any circumstances want synthetic oxytocin!!!!  I will walk this town all day long in the heat if I have to.  I will go for a bike ride.  I will pole dance.  For the love of God, I just don’t want synthetic hormones.