Being Pregnant
Trying Not To Focus On The Date Date
Here I am, 38 weeks pregnant and literally glowing in the sunshine!
One thing I picked up over the course of my pregnancy was the concept of a “guess date” rather than a due date. People get so wrapped around a single day, even when only 5% of all babies are born then! Over the course of my pregnancy, I’ve had three different guess dates. The first was May 22, as predicted by my LMP and the second was May 24 at the first peek of our little bean during an 8 week ultrasound. Then finally I was given the date of May 16 during an ultrasound at 13 weeks and I have been moving toward that day ever since. However, now that it’s May and that day is only 14 days away, I can’t help but have a secret countdown inside my head.
At one point during my pregnancy, I was convinced this little boy was coming early. I was born a few days early and my husband comes from a family of early babies. And now that I’m sporting a giant round belly, it seems like every where I go, people want to know when my due date is. Co-workers pass me in the hall and comment on how “that baby must be coming soon!” Strangers stop me on the street and ask when I’m due. I always want to be vague and simply say something like “sometime in mid-May”, but now that I’m so close, it’s getting harder and harder not to bust out a gigantic smile, completely abandon my thoughts on a guess date and reveal that secret countdown.
I grow a little more anxious to meet our new baby every day. Every time I feel him wiggle or feel a sudden surge of pressure I wonder, when will he be ready? As easy as it might seem to focus on a due date, I’m just preparing myself that any time, any day, this baby might decide to join us in the world. But I’m also happy if he wants to cook in there just a little longer, too.
How close was your baby born to your due date?
psst… Remember last week when I wrote about sunshine and maxi dresses? Well, I opted to sport a maxi skirt this weekend instead! And just as Michelle noted, it was super comfortable!
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7 Comments
[...] I actually make it that far, my baby is scheduled to be induced on May 30, which is 2 weeks past my due date. Considering that I’ve been hoping for natural childbirth during my entire pregnancy, I [...]
Inducing Labor: Feeling The Pressure Of A Deadline at Being Pregnant commented on Jun 01 11 at 7:38 amKelsey commented on May 02 11 at 4:32 pmI heard over and over that first-time moms always deliver late, so I was thrilled to have my baby boy a day early! There’s nothing wrong with counting down, is there? So exciting!
KateTietje commented on May 02 11 at 4:54 pmMy first was born at 39w1d, and my second at 38w4d. Despite this, I’m expecting this baby at 42w. Don’t ask. I could be totally wrong. I don’t even tell people a due date this time, it doesn’t seem right. I’m convinced it’ll never happen anywhere near that date. I just say “early August.” (And yes, I “have my dates right,” I know exactly when this baby was conceived!) Oh, by the conception dates, my first was 39w3d. This time we just went by conception date, not LMP (which was the same anyway) or ultrasounds.
Brooke commented on May 02 11 at 6:36 pmWe are in a similar boat! My LMP date is 5-23. Early u/s put me at 5-18 and 19 week u/s at 5-15! So I am right there with you! Here’s hoping for no more than 41 weeks for the both of us : )
Monica commented on May 02 11 at 7:15 pmLets see, my first was one of those rear 5% who is born on their due date. She was born with 43 minutes to spare on that day. My second was 4 days early, my 3rd was a planned c-section because he was breech and he was 1 week and 1 day early, and #4 (who is 3 months old TODAY) was exactly 1 week before her due date.
christine commented on May 03 11 at 1:06 pmI still have a range, from the 4th through the 13th. The 4th is tomorrow. Ho hum. I’m really enjoying telling random strangers who ask that I’m due tomorrow. Hey, you asked, why are you running away…
Sarah commented on May 12 11 at 12:14 pmI am going through that same thing right now. Today is my “Due Date” and for the past 2 weeks I have been wishing that our little boy would come before the “date” but I am here now, and he is still cozy inside. We have a Dr. appointment today but it is hard not to think about anything else but when will this big surprise arrival happen. The only frustrating thing I am experiencing is telling strangers how close I am to the due date and their comments back about how small I look and how they are sure I will be very late. Not what a first time expecting mom really wants to hear!
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