Pre-Waiting

With all the excitement that came from the discovery of slow progress at my last doctor's appointment, I find myself now carefully monitoring every single possible little bodily sign that labour might be approaching. So far, I've got nothing. In fact, I haven't even had a Braxton Hicks contraction in the recent past. I have a feeling baby girl will not be coming for a while yet.

So, I have decided to do my best to "encourage" labour - starting after Sunday - when she'll be full term. I think I'll try the red raspberry leaf tea, some acupuncture, some exercises, maybe some spicy food. Sex is out of the question, I'm just too big right now. I'll do what I can, I mean, it can't hurt right? Does anyone have any suggestions I haven't thought of? Advice and ideas are totally welcome!

(As an aside, my dear friend N who threw me the baby shower, just had her baby a few days ago at 37w1d. She was 6 days ahead of me in her pregnancy. I spoke with her the morning before she went into labour and she was heading to work, had barely done any baby preparations, hadn't even packed her hospital bag. When I told her she had better get crackin' she said, "Oh I know, I'm going to get everything done on the weekend [referring to THIS weekend]". She went into labour that evening and had her baby boy the next morning. So maybe that's the way to go into labour? Perhaps if I go back to work, unpack my carefully organized hospital bags and maybe return some of the baby items we've collected??)

It's so funny. For the better part of my pregnancy, I have been terrified of pre-term birth and having a low birth weight baby. Now, I'm more terrified that she'll be really late and really huge. Everyone keeps telling me that Maya will come when she's good and ready. I suspect this is true no matter what kind of labour "encouraging" actions I take.

So here I am, in the pre-waiting phase. As of Sunday, I'll be officially waiting.