Wow! I can’t believe I am sitting here writing about the final 3 weeks(ish) of pregnancy. This is going to be a little real & raw look into what week 37-40 looks like for me.
First off, let me just share that I have had a pretty easy pregnancy. I am not saying that to brag by any means, but the general issues that a lot of women encounter have not been an issue for me. My mom had 4 of us & had amazing pregnancies, so I always hoped that mine would be very similar to her — and thankfully it has been so far. No real morning sickness, no overwhelming nausea. Some minor food aversions and just exhausted, but that can be fixed easily. A breeze of a second trimester & a healthy, growing baby which was SO amazing after a loss. Headed into third tri waiting for the shoe to drop a little bit. Failed the one hour glucose test, but passed the three hour one. Worked out up to right now 3-4 days a week at a HIIT gym with some minor modifications. No heartburn. Minor acid reflux if I eat right before bed. Mostly growing right on target & negative for GBS. Seriously, if you have been paying much attention, I’ve had it easy right?
Well honestly, I’ve been struggling lately. This is all going to probably sound selfish, but why do babies have due dates if they dont actually mean a dang thing? Our “due date” is December 8th, but we know that he can come basically any day now up until two weeks after that (but please come sooner because that’s basically Christmas). All along, I have had such a nice pregnancy that I just assumed I would wait as long as it took for him to come earth-side. Now that I am 3 weeks out, I legit was looking into what it looks like to be induced. I’m starting to be very uncomfortable. Food doesn’t sound good basically ever (and I’m rarely hungry). I’m not sleeping super well. None of these are worth taking him from the safe environment where he is growing & thriving, but selfishly, I am just ready to move to what is next. 40 weeks is a long time. And if I was guaranteed a baby on Dec 8th, I could suck it up, but I just feel like this little guy is going to be totally content in there and not come until later and that is the thought that is killing me.
I know I have options, but I am just so ready to meet him, ya know? We were pregnant with our first babe August of 2020 and then lost him and found out we were pregnant with Ryder April of 2021. I just feel like I have been waiting for a baby for over a year now because of our loss. Im ready to hold him and know he’s okay.
Honestly, the main point of this post was to let you know that you are not alone. If you wanted a natural birth, but have had moments when you considered an induction — you aren’t alone. If you feel like all you’ve done the past 3 weeks is eat dates & drink red raspberry leaf tea — you aren’t alone. If the thought of drinking more water makes you want to throw your water bottle across the room — you aren’t alone. If you feel like you are wearing down at the end of pregnancy — you aren’t alone. IG can make pregnancy seem super glamorous, but there are definitely days when we all just want to lay on the couch and not do a dang thing — you aren’t alone.
Either way, you got this mama. Whatever you decide to do in the coming weeks when it comes to delivering your baby is totally up to you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t doing what is best for you and baby because only you truly know what that is.
XOXO,
Hil
hrmarciano 