40 Weeks!

As a girl who tries her hardest to be early and often fails by a few minutes, I shouldn’t be at all surprised that my baby seems to want to come later than expected. I stupidly told everyone that I thought I would be early (based on some misguided notion that I could will it so because my mom was early with her three kids).

Apparently, you can’t coax babies out of you on demand. Of course, I tried all the “natural” induction remedies suggested by midwives, doctors, moms and anyone else with an opinion and access to the internet. Just a tip-raspberry leaf tea, labor tinctures, sex, evening primrose oil, pineapple, spicy foods, walking, climbing stairs and all the other methods–don’t really work. Despite your best (and sometimes incredibly uncomfortable) efforts, your body isn’t going to go into labor until it’s actually ready. Unfortunately, for many women this is after the due date and may even pose some risks necessitating in a medical induction. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that for me, but I am starting to get a little scared of the baby getting even bigger in the womb over the next week or two. Although I am realistic and flexible, my natural birth plan does not include delivering a 9+ pounder. I know fat baby = healthy baby, but it has to still come out of me. Yikes. How do some women do it?

Just when I had come to terms with the idea of the birth, I’m realizing that I have no idea what’s in store. But, at least I do know that I get to meet my little one in a week or two, one way or another. That more than makes up for this waiting game. For the sake of my sanity and my perineum, let’s just hope he or she is a good swimmer!