Are You There God? It’s Me, Still Pregnant. {40+ Weeks}

40 weeks pregnant!

Friday was my due date. I was really hoping I would be sharing baby boy’s birth story by now, but alas, here we are…3 days overdue so far.

If you’ve never gone past your due date, you probably don’t really get how this feels. Friday was a tough day overall since I’ve had plenty of signs that labor is near {early last week I was dilated to 2.5, 80% effaced, had show, cramps, back ache and more}, but not a single consistent contraction.

It feels positively maddening, though yes, I know due dates are just guesstimates. Once you start going over though, issues may come up such as low amniotic fluid and fetal distress — all of which may send you into an induction. Needing pitocin for Karina’s birth, I know I’d like to avoid that at all costs. Also, being part of the 3-12% of women who feel no or very little relief with an epidural, I know I don’t have much to rely on besides my own attitude.

Thankfully, I was 5 days over with Kinley, so I do have some perspective and know he is on his way. For now, I’m just trying to remain positive as I wait for the unknown.

One might think having some extra time is a good thing. True, there are some perks, but otherwise, there are a few things that make you crazy when you’re just sitting around and waiting:

I have to shower daily. I wouldn’t want to be the stinky mom-to-be, so I know I have to shower {and shave} daily — just in case. Not that I don’t usually, but sometimes I am more liberal and go an extra day. I feel like I always have my hair slightly styled a bit for the sake of impending baby photos…Even though we all know after birth, no mom looks her best and that’s what’s beautiful. I’ve also been obsessed with keeping my nails and eyebrows groomed, which is annoying. I don’t know how you put together mamas do this every day!
I can’t travel far. Not that I go too far most days anyway, but when you are 25 minutes from the hospital, traveling 25 minutes in the other direction — alone — with two kids — probably isn’t the smartest idea. Also, my husband has a 35 minute commute home, so lord knows what will happen if I start laboring while he is at work!
The stalking. God bless all who check in on me, but it can be frustrating when you’re super pregnant and on edge. Believe me, if you know someone who is around 40 weeks pregnant and you have a close relationship, she will call/text you when the baby arrives. A simple text saying you are thinking of the person is nice. Just don’t keep bugging them about specific signs because babies are tricksters.
The advice. This isn’t my first rodeo, so it hasn’t been bad at all this time around with people telling me how to make the baby come out. If it’s an old wives tale, I have tried it! If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that they are all crap. Your body will go into labor when it’s ready — period. But, trying the silly tales has been a fun distraction for me, so I have rolled with it.
Strangers say stupid things. People always say stupid things to pregnant women, but this pregnancy has been the worse for me and it’s bad at the end since you are VERY obviously preggo. On my due date, a woman at Meijer asked if I was having twins and proceeded to tell me without any shame that my baby was going to be huge, then ask all about my delivery plans and if I would breastfeed. I kept my composure surprisingly, but next time, I will probably give her a piece of my mind since my patience is nearing zero.
It’s isolating. Nobody knows how your body feels except you. I lose my breath going upstairs, it’s achy 80 percent of the day, and nighttime is the worse. I am up 5 times to use the bathroom and moan back into a somewhat comfortable position. My little man moves a lot at night too, so I always feel on high alert looking for signs of impending birth or wondering if I need to start timing my very erratic contractions.

POSITIVES:

I’ve had plenty of time to prep for my job and schedule things as needed {though my blog posts here may be sporadic for a few weeks}, and I’ve had plenty of time to do fun things with my girls.
This baby *should* be plenty healthy since he will be born after 39 weeks. {Please spread the word: 39 weeks is now considered full term. 37 weeks is no longer the “safe zone,” as baby’s brain and lungs aren’t always fully developed.}
I will not be part of the 12% of babies who arrive prematurely. {Bless those mamas and babies!}
I have a baby growing inside of me and that is more than many can say. Infertility is something I feel insane amounts of compassion for and struggle with understanding {why does God let this happen?}, so reflecting on how lucky I am has really helped me focus and stay positive.

At the end of the day, I know this baby is just making his own story and blazing his own path.

So until he arrives — hopefully completely on his own, and preferably soon — I will be taking a lot of baths, listening to Enya, meditating, and trying to stay positive. I’m determined to make this my best birth yet, even if he ends up being 10 pounds like I am predicting 😉

Any good juju you can send my way would be greatly appreciated. Just don’t ask when he is coming because I have no clue!

For mamas who have gone over your due date, how did you remain positive while waiting?

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