Nine months pregnant.
So much anticipation. So much excitement. So much…dare I say it? Discomfort, lack of sleep, contractions, you name it. People asking, “Have you had the baby yet?” To which, I don’t know, how do you even answer that?
But the truth is, once we hit that last month, every little contraction, every different sensation…we wonder if it’s the beginning of what we have waited for. We have been pregnant for so long. We have put in our time, friends. We are ready for the beautiful, awesome baby that we have dreamed of and prayed for. Some extreme baby goodness is right around the corner.
But the waiting can be so draining. It can be hard physically, emotionally and mentally. So, how can we relax and let the baby come when baby is ready? What can we do as we wait for the process to unfold?
Trust your body
It’s easy to question our bodies near the end, especially us VBAC mommas. Will I go into labor? Will my cervix dilate? Why hasn’t my cervix dilated yet? My view on the topic of dilation before labor: cervical checks at the end of pregnancy mean nothing. Nothing, my dear mamas. If you want to be checked, please do what you need to do. I chose not to have any because I didn’t want to get excited or depressed as I believe those emotions would have GREATER impact on my labor than how far I was dilated before labor. It’s a very personal choice, but I had to look at the facts. One can be 3 centimeters weeks before going into labor or nothing and go to into labor the next day. I also didn’t want the risk of my water possibly breaking from a check and interfering in anyway. I like how this is explained in more detail here. So, if you do or if you don’t get checked, please don’t let it determine your outlook on how you will birth. Because it doesn’t mean anything. Okay good, we’ve settled that.
The best way labor can start is if we allow it to start on it’s own. Of course there are times where because of medical reasons when inducing has greater benefit than risk. But if mom and baby are healthy, the best thing we can do is leave it alone. Anytime we intervene, we need to be ready for the chance of needing more interventions. And anytime we alter the course of natural birth, there is always that possibility. For my VBAC, I didn’t feel as though I needed anything to get labor going. Again, my personal choice. No castor oil, pineapple, or other random things. I fully put my trust in my body and my baby. Have you seen the article about the baby’s lungs initiating labor? If baby isn’t ready, it doesn’t matter what we try on our own. Baby isn’t ready. The best thing we can do is what we normally do: eat well, rest, walk, laugh, cry, take care of our daily tasks. Baby will come.
Face Your Fears
Sometimes near the end there can be times of different emotions including fear. Fear of what’s to come, fear of what might happen and even thoughts of other births we have had ourselves or friends we know where the outcome wasn’t good. Instead of shoving them away or pretending they aren’t real, a great thing we can do is face them. Say them out loud when you are on a walk, write them down or talk to a trusted friend. But please, get it out. I find when I can talk through my fears and acknowledge them for what they are, I can better see the truth. And sometimes my fears aren’t really truth at all. Bringing them to light has allowed me dispel them with the actual truth and my mind and heart instantly have peace. If there is anything in your mind that troubles you, face it and then release it.
Trust The Father
If you don’t know me, I am a believer of the God of the Christian Bible and a follower of Jesus. But trusting God has been instrumental in my life and if you are a believer, you know what I am talking about. But you can trust God with your life, with your baby’s life and with your birth. He’s right there and loves you. Find a scripture or scriptures that speak to you and that you can hold onto. If you start doubting, speak that word out loud. Turn on some worship music and sing. And I mean sing. Don’t just listen but say the words and it will change your heart.
If you have made it to your ninth month in pregnancy, well my dear mother, I give you a round of applause. It’s not easy task growing a baby. It’s really not. And it’s so important. It’s so honorable. Your child, your baby is so precious to you. This baby you love already. But this baby will grow up someday. And this baby will impact our world in one way or another. You are doing a mighty thing, so please remember that.
And as you wait, I pray peace over you. I pray for physical rest over your body and a calmness over your mind. It’s amazing to think that you carry so much within your womb. And though the waiting can be hard, difficult, trying, sometimes scary and many times exhausting, when you see your baby for the first time. Wow. All the waiting will be oh so worth it.