As your mother I command you to be born on your due date!

My lungs still feel squeezed for air. My stomach still can't accommodate much food. My belly doesn't really look any different (just bigger, mind you. A lot bigger).

But all of a sudden it feels like the baby's head is bobbing up and down on my bladder! 

Does that mean I've gone through lightening?? Has the baby begun its descent?Or am I just inching closer to the end, which is still four weeks away?

It is so hard to judge the signs of labour - especially when a total lack of experience with this whole birth thing makes you nuts every time you have a "symptom." Rather, every time you THINK you have a symptom. 

"I just had back pain," I'll say to myself, speaking loudly while alone in my office. "Nope. Nope. It's just from sitting in a weird position. Oh right, and I'm wearing heels. That was dumb of me." 

No matter how many times I read the handout from prenatal class - about how to recognize the signs of labour - I still make myself crazy evaluating all the strange twinges, aches and sensations I've begun experiencing as D day approaches. 

Weird leg cramps. Suspicious lower back pain. Having to pee all the frickin'  time. 

I don't honestly believe I won't recognize it when it happens. I'm a living, breathing, (mildly) competent individual (sometimes). I’ll know when I have a contraction and when my water breaks and when there’s “bloody show” (why does it have to be so gross?). Right?

Regardless, I fear I'll wait too long and have to deliver the baby myself in the passenger seat of our car. (This actually happened to a Toronto woman nine years ago - I know because I interviewed her and her adorable daughter in 2007). 

Or, worse - I'll get to the hospital too early and have to sit in the L&D room twiddling my thumbs and wincing in pain for hours and hours. 

Maybe I'm just on edge because whenever I tell anyone I'm 36 weeks pregnant they say "oh, it could be any time now!"

No! No it can't! I'm excited to finally meet the tiny creature that wakes me up at 4 a.m. by threatening to emerge from my belly button (what's left of it). But, I want my last four weeks of freedom!!

I just do. I have projects to finish. One last nice dinner to eat with Ted. Nails that need painting (desperately). A car seat to install for heaven's sake!

So, kid, if you're listening, please come on your due date!

Comments

[sarah]

it's terrible isn't it? you're given this 'due date', which you circle on your calendar, tell anyone who asks - it's at the tip of your tongue for the whole time.... and then the big day comes... and goes.

really, they should give you a due month & save us all the grief.

best of luck!

[New Mommy Too]

On the morning my contractions started (HOURS before my water broke and the plug dislodged) I kept flipping through all my books and information packages because I couldn't decide if they were real or false. A few hours later when my husband woke up and stumbled downstairs I was still standing at the kitchen counters reading while rocking side to side and doing my breathing exercises. He asked if "it" had started and my answer was a pitiful "I don't know..?".

The first birth is always scary, because of everything we don't know but once it's over you'll be amazed with the experience. Good luck to you and Ted!

[oakfern]

My due date is 11 days away. I know lightening has happened as the doctor confirmed the baby's head is "engaged" in my pelvis. This is why I have to pee constantly. On the one hand I want to meet the little thing, but on the other, I have loose ends to tie up and based on the due date I was given it would seem I have the time I need to tie up those ends. You'd think after all these years there would be a sure fire way to know if you are in labour! Good luck with it all. I am sure you'll do fine.

[newishdad]

Best place in Toronto to get an infant seat installed is 51 Division (416-808-5124) - call to make an appointment. I believe the officer's name is Sgt Sofi. It took all of ten minutes and it is free. I paid them a visit in Dec before our baby arrive in Jan.
It sounds crazy, but one of the things that worked well for us was going out to see a movie - someone else recommended this. We saw an early evening movie and by 4 AM that morning my wife started to feel the contractions. Coincidence? Probably, but it was a good excuse to get out for one last date.
Also - we went for a walk once the contractions started (they started at 4 Am and we went for a walk around 11 AM) - really helped to get things going and to keep the contractions going at more regular intervals. My wife was worried we'd go to the hospital too early and we'd be send home. We waited (about 1:30 PM) just the right amount of time and I think the walk helped.

[Andrea G]

I'm "due" on the 28th - baby #3. Eventhough I've experienced two previous labours, I still wonder at every decent sized pang (feels like menstral cramps) that this is "it". I was out dancing at my best friend's wedding the night before my first and when we left the reception, it felt like the baby was going crazy in there - 3 hours later my water broke in bed (go to the dollar store and get a plastic table cloth and put under your sheets now! It was a flood)- 38 hours later, after being put ont "the drip" and an epidural, she emerged.
My second was not so dramatic - midwife had to break my water - back again on "the drip" and again, an eipdural - whole ordeal was about 7-8 hours.
My first was born the morning after my due date (water broke ont he due date)- the second was right on the mark. I hope this one is close too as I still have a few things to do before Saturday! (And I hate missing dealines - so he/she better not be late!) Wish me luck and good luck to you too.

[Louis]

Good luck you know how kids are they do what they want to do.lol

[Robin Smith]

Pregnancy brings many speculations to the would-be mothers and their families. In one had there is joy of the new baby’s arrival, and on the other hand there is nervousness regarding the safe delivery of the baby. In such a state, we rely most on the healthcare professionals.

http://abcd121.createblog.com/blog/entry.php?id=29184