Pregnancy Update
by Jenni
I am still pregnant. As in 41 weeks + 1 day pregnant = 8 days overdue.
I should have known better than writing a post extolling the virtues of waiting patiently and actively, celebrating the gifts of the moment even while longing for what you really want. Was I daring God to put my patience to the test?! If so, this past week has definitely given me ample opportunity to practice what I wrote about in Waiting for “It”. Some days, hours, minutes I’m successful and other times I start to flounder and feel impatient or negative–“Will this baby ever come?!”–only to have my wonderful husband or a phone call from a family member or a blog comment from a reader help me to readjust my focus again. This moment really is a gift and I’ve enjoyed some special memory-making times this past week which I could’ve missed if I’d been too focused on “getting there”…including a few bouts of hysterical laughter with Seth, which must be a great stress reliever. 😉
On Sunday, I had two older women share a piece of advice which I’d never heard before: “When the fruit is ripe, it falls.”
There’s good wisdom in that folksy saying. I looked it up online and learned that it originated with our friend Ralph Waldo Emerson. In other words, let things take their natural course and in due time, they’ll work themselves out. Or, as it applies to my particular situation, this baby will come when he’s good and ready. So even though I’m doing all the little things I can to help encourage him along, I’m also trying to stay relaxed and remember that it isn’t up to me to step up and “make it happen.” As a natural type-A / recovering perfectionist, it is tempting for me to place the burden on myself as though I just need to do something or perform.
This weekend I picked another bushel of apples from the orchard, mostly Golden Delicious. It felt great to be out in the sunshine, with the chickens and turkeys comically clucking around my feet to see what I was up to and if I had any scraps for them. Picking those apples returned my thoughts to “When the fruit is ripe, it will fall.” Because sometimes instead of waiting for a piece of fruit to fall, it’s best to pluck it from the branch, right?
As you know from Our Birth Plan my goal is to deliver this baby naturally. I believe the female body is brilliantly designed to be able to carry and deliver a baby healthily, and that medical interventions often impede that process in a normal situation. But I’m also grateful to have access to medical advancements if truly needed. Since studies show an increase in unhealthy outcomes for babies delivered after 42 weeks, we will go in for an induction next Monday if William hasn’t arrived on his own by then. I’d prefer not to induce because once you start down that road, it tends to lead to one intervention after another and even an increase in Cesarean sections.
Time will tell if the fruit of my womb is going to ripen and fall on his own, or if we’ll need to go fruit picking.
So please say a little prayer for us, that this baby would come soon. My 30th birthday is on Thursday and a baby in my arms would be the best birthday present ever! Meanwhile, I am seeking to live fully here and to savor each day as the unique and once-in-a-lifetime gift that it is.
Postscript–some technical details:
- Yesterday we had an ultrasound and non-stress test. Baby’s size, heart rate, amniotic fluid levels, etc, are all showing perfectly healthy and I feel good.
- I continue to have light contractions, but I guess you could call them Braxton hicks or prelabor, as they’re not increasing in frequency or intensity.
- I think it’s helpful to clarify that a “normal term” pregnancy is considered 38-42 weeks. Wouldn’t it take pressure off expectant mothers if we quit referring to the “due date” and started calling it what most medical professionals do now, the “estimated delivery date” or EDD? I personally am going to make that switch, starting now. 🙂
Love this!
Being overdue is not so fun. Sam was about this late. The days seem, well, long. Your attitude is awesome. It is nice to know that within the week you will get to meet him, even if you have to nudge him along. Modern medicine does have its benefits. I have gone into labor naturally and been induced, and the induction process doesn’t have to be terrible at all. I struggled with choosing to induce Alice feeling like “am I taking control of God’s role, choosing when this baby is going to be born?” and came to the conclusion that ultimately I wanted what was best for the baby, and in her case, induction was the best.
You’re doing awesome. I check FB everyday and think of you lots. Can’t wait for you guys to become parents for all the world to see (yes, I know you are parents now, but feels more real when ya got a baby to show off). 🙂 Love ya!
Thanks so much, Kristina! Absolutely it’s ultimately about what’s best for the baby. Thanks for the reminder that eventually, within a week (!) we will have a baby…he really is going to get here one way or another. 🙂
Ashlee was almost 42 weeks. Born naturally, at home with a nurse mid wife and her mid wife sister, who had us in stitches the whole time! BEST experience ever. I was very impatient at the end, as my sister in law and I were due same day, and she delivered early. Longest 2 weeks of my life, but worth every minute.
Continue to wait patiently. William will enter this world, not in your time, or in his, but in HIS perfect time!
Praying for you all!
Awesome–it can be done! 🙂
You are luck you are that far along. My EDD was Nov 29th, however my little boy decided that he wanted to come into the world at 33 weeks and 6 days. I went into preterm labor on Saturday and had a series of complications that did lead to a C-Section. I’m sad because I was gunning for natural child birth, but didn’t get my wish.
I am happy to hold him in my arms and I love that he is pretty big for a preemie, he is now 5lb 2oz. But like you said he must have been ready to come into the world because he is healthy and didn’t need any help during his stay at the NICU. I wish you luck and I hope you get the labor and delivery you want and it is truly a beautiful moment in time for you and your family!! Continue to wait patiently! He’ll be here before you know it!
Such a good perspective shift. When they’re looking to come early, we pray they’ll hang in a little longer; when they’re late, we pray they’ll hurry. Best bet is to receive the cards we’re dealt and find the blessings in our own unique situation. Thanks for the reminder! I’m glad your little guy is healthy!!
Oh, dear Jenni, I loved this! My Whitney was born on May 31, but I STILL – 24 years later – tell people her birthday is May 26 because her due date was so deeply etched in my brain. After Whit, I quit relying on due dates entirely. However, my grandson is due on March 4 and I’m holding him to it! 🙂
You know the saying :”Be careful what you wish for.” 🙂
Then again we shall keep you in prayers and I know God will guide and keep you through it all 🙂
Jenni you have a wise womans heart. William will be here before you know it. take care. unk
Praying for you both and for the “ripening” process! Blessings and lots of love! Marty and Linda T
Love the preggie belly and apple shot! Very creative! And those apples look simply amazing. Your little William apple will be beautiful too…
Thanks, Brenda. I love that–“my little William apple.” 🙂
You will have what you’ve longed for, shortly; just the way you want it.
Blessings,
Vinod
Jenni, our first son was born exactly on the “EDD”. . . Then the second son was 3 weeks early. . . . Imagine our predicament when our third son (Tim) arrived 3 weeks late! Praying for an easy and healthy delivery for you, no matter what day he arrives.
Wow, they were ALL over the map, Robin! Thanks for your prayers and support. Can’t wait to meet your newest granddaughter, Savannah!
beautiful post! I too longed for natural / home birth. I was all set. In the end I was induced – it didn’t end up in a C-section and I too had the best early birthday present of a beautiful boy 2 days before my 30th birthday. Second time round, same happened again, induced, but again no C-section. I will never know what it feels like to go into labour naturally but I have two naturally healthy boys – I couldn’t and wont ask for more 🙂 Hang in there – so soon you will see his little face. How exciting!
Cool, I like to hear that. Thanks, Cari-Jane!
Loved this post and your previous one! I’m also pregnant, started my 38th week on Monday and we’re expecting a girl, our first :). Last weekend I also started to have my own “I wonder if labor will happen tomorrow” moment then I read your last post and it reminded me to enjoy each moment rather than rushing to what is ahead. I’m saying a prayer for you guys so that your little one comes soon! Oh and the episodes of laughter are the best, I’ve had a few of my own and even joke that one of these days one of those bouts of laughter is going to push her out 😉
Hi Jenni,
I’m praying for you, my friend. I remember when I was pregnant with my second child. According to the due date my doctor had set, he was almost 2 weeks overdue, so we decided to go ahead with inducing. I was scheduled to be at the hospital at 7:00 AM, but at 2:00 AM my water broke, and labor began on its own.
I love your comparisons of fruit falling when its ripe vs. needing to be picked sometimes. The bottom line is God will keep you at peace, and you will know great joy in your heart not just from the blessing, but having received it in its due time.
Blessings to you.
What a beautiful and exciting time! I was ten days late and breach, but i came out just fine with no C-section. There is hope for a natural birth yet! Good luck!
We’re praying for you! I know at the end you’re so uncomfortable. It’s hard to sit, stand, walk or lie down! People say to get your sleep while you can but you can’t!
Thanks each one of you for your awesome comments, sharing your birth stories, and walking with me through this!!! I am so blessed by you!
So interesting to hear your perspective, Jenni. I so remember those mixed emotions of anxiously waiting and also trying to enjoy the final days of pregnancy. My midwives always reminded me that the average first time mom delivers ten days after her due date.
Also, loved reading your birth plan. I also was of the mind-set of trusting my body to do what God so amazingly designed it to do. I feel blessed to have been able to have a natural birth, but like you, was glad that I had medical options if there had been a need for it. Praying for you on your adventure ahead!
Hi jenni
I came across your blog from the blog you shared with Chrissi. I’m so excited for you. I just had my first, a boy on October 8th. My birth plan was almost identical to yours. But in the end I had to be induced at 40 weeks due to my blood preasure. I know things don’t alway go according to “plan” (and oh man was I tired of hearing that). I too am pretty type A and agreeing to the induction was so hard. I was very worried that all I had work for was going out the window. But know this I was induced on pitcion for 21 hours and still managed to have an awesome drug free birth! I am so glad my son Royal made it here safely and that I got the experience I wanted.
You are in my prayers! It’s all in his hands. Can’t wait to hear about it!
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