Sunday, September 04, 2005

One Week & Counting

Well, my due date is officially one week away. I'm beginning to be flooded with the normal questions: "Are you ready?" "I bet you can't wait, right?" "How are you feeling?" "What does the doctor say?" And my favorite: "You still haven't had that baby?" I have so far been able to swallow the instinctual smart-a$$ responses and give sweeter, more southern-acceptable answers instead. The truthful answers are:
  1. No, I'm not really ready. We still have one more big phase of this move that will not happen until Wednesday. That's when the professional movers come and get all the stuff we couldn't get ourselves or with the help of friends. (By the way, a huge THANK YOU to all who have helped us during this crazy time!) In all the absolutely necessary ways I suppose I am ready, but there's lots I feel I won't get to in time. This leads me to the answer to the next question....
  2. Yes, I can wait. Honestly, as the reality of motherhood approaches at what seems to be light speed, I'm scared to death of labor & delivery, and how radically this is going to change me and my life. I don't think I'd mind if this baby came a full week late.
  3. I'm feeling excited, scared, thankful, anxious, awkward, happy and tense. These varying emotions run through me at a rate of about one per second. Physically I'm feeling like there's someone inside me who wants to get out. She's running out of room in there, after all, and growing by the day.
  4. The doctor says (or at least said, at my last appointment) that I'm not dilated and he'll "let me go" another week. Of course, I won't even be at my due date for another week, and I am giving no indications that I'll need to be induced before then. He also says everything is fine.
  5. Take a good look at me. Do I have a newborn in my arms? Is my belly still protruding rather roundly? Am I still waddling? What do YOU think?!

At least on a blog I can be sarcastic without offending the well-intentioned folks who just want to show they care and are mostly reduced to the trite questions everyone asks at this stage of pregnancy.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, it's Lisa Glasscock here...

I am glad to hear you talking honestly about the feelings you have. I never hear people say that (of course John doesn't let me get around expectant women!). I have baby fever, but I am also scared about the idea of labor and raising a child. Yay, Amanda! You blaze the trail and I'll follow it! I'm glad it's going well.

Martha said...

Amanda,

Let it out girl!! People truly just know your uncomfortable and have no clue what to say. People say the dumbest things when they don't know what to say. Sometimes a hug and a prayer go so much further. I am thinking of you and please feel free to ramble at me whenever you would like. I have BTDT!! Hugs My friend... Hope she likes her warm cozy place and wants to wait at LEAST another week.

Anymore on that mucus plug?

Jackie said...

Oh girl, I can relate SO WELL to what you're going through. I was overdue and people freaked out that I was at work, people in stores freaked out when they asked when I was due and I told them it had past.

All your feelings are perfectly normal. And don't worry about being so "southern-appropriate!" I've lived here my entire life and I have no problem giving a smart ass remark to a stupid question. Of course, I do it with a smile, LOL.

One day Celsie brought her baby to the office when she was about 2 weeks old. When I held her, I had a panic attack!! It slammed me like a freight train that in a few months my life would be turned upside down and I would be a MOMMY. I'd have a little life to nurture. I seriously freaked out. My heart was beating 90-to-nothing, I almost hyperventilated and nearly threw up.

As for labor, it's different for everyone and I really think the anticipation (dread) is way worse than the actual process. Just keep in mind that the pain won't last forever and you'll have the best reward imaginable when it's all over.

I'll also be the first to tell you the first 6 weeks are rough, but you'll make it through. Things get better by leaps and bounds after that. People looked at me like I was crazy when I'd tell them things were really hard when they asked how things were after Ashleigh was born. Sorry folks, not gonna lie! But with that said, don't let people freak you out. I never went without a bath, brushing my teeth or eating. I didn't get as much sleep as I'd like, but I got enough. Know that you have a wonderful hubby who will help all he can.

Also know you can call and cry on my shoulder anytime you like. I certainly won't be judgemental at all. I remember all those feelings quite well.

Amanda said...

i am not patient at all. this last week has about killed me because i know it is God's timing, not mine, and Dillon needs every minute in there that he can get!

i agree about the questions. i am to the point of not answering the phone - isn't that rude? :) well, whatever keeps me sane.

i am checking every day to read baby news! you still haven't had that baby???? :)