So a few threads have me wondering...

[MaerynPearl]

well that and I woke up after a REALLY weird dream with a realization that... when I had my DD, it was perfect timing.

I had been so stressed about my aunt making it down to get my son before I had to leave for the hospital since she was going to be the one to watch him. Ended up that I went into labor while staying the night at her house and I didn't have to worry about it at all!

So, I have heard other stories about babies waiting to come until the timing is right. (Whether its because mommy is sick or Daddy is gone and as soon as everything falls into place, Mommy goes into labor) And of course, I know that isn't ALWAYS the case... but...

Do you feel like it was for your past babies?

Do you expect it to be for this one?


DS obviously did not wait until timing was right, he was induced due to some complications with the pregnancy.

But very much felt like DD waited until I really relaxed about that one fear (I was prodromal a month before I finally went into labor with her)

And I have a few fears right now about wanting things to be done before DD2 gets here, and in my dream last night I kept telling everyone she will be here in three weeks when everything is done!

I have been prodromal this time for a couple weeks already... so I guess my mind just put together waiting until the time was right with DD and the prolonged prodromal, with the fears about wanting to be ready this time and the already prolonged prodromal!

[laughymama]

I was discussing this with my midwife. I mentioned how I will always wonder what DS1's (Induction) birthday would have been had he been allowed to come naturally.

I've been prodromal since last Sunday and it's got me thinking about this as well. I don't mind the waiting but the daily "Is this it..." moments get a bit tiring. It's a comforting thought for me to think that this little one is just waiting for the right time.

I really have been fretting over last minute things that I feel I need to take care of before the baby gets here. I keep telling everyone that I need at least 2 more weeks. I wonder if once I do relax he/she will finally decide it's time...

What a good discussion!

[MonP'titBoudain]

That was certainly the case for me with both kids. DS was early, but my body still let me know that I *had* to get certain things done and asap. Then suddenly, I was in labor and left reeling a bit, but I still had gotten everything that needed to be done, done. With DD, she waited til I was ready and very pleasantly even started labor in the middle of the night so ds slept through the bulk of it.

I have a feeling this one won't come until my midwife is back in town from her exam next week. I'm more anxious than I want to admit about her possibly not being there (she's a good friend as well as my mw and I'm comfortable with her back-ups, but I still strongly prefer her to be there). We'll see!

[St. Margaret]

Well, I REALLY wanted DD to come on the 23rd... I did NOT want the 20th (Hitler's birthday, Columbine, and MJ day, which is FINE if you're into it, but it's all wrapped up in bad associations for me-- graffitti at the schools where I've worked, that kind of thing). The 20th is I think also my IL's anniversary and I wanted a separate day from that. Earth Day would have been cool... but I was soooo excited that DD could be born on Shakespeare's birthday! I had just finished teaching Romeo and Juliet, and on my last day, the kids did this whole party/presentation for me, with speeches and one sang the Italian version of the aria they use as the theme music in the old movie version we watched... I was crying so hard. Come on! It was even the 423rd birthday on 4-23!

I was surprised she came that day, b/c she was my first and it was only a day or two after my due date (and I knew right when I conceived).

Also, DH asked me that Sunday if I could please have the baby so he wouldn't have to go to work Monday (he was starting to be miserable at that company). So Monday was the perfect day, to stretch his leave out the longest over work days

I think babies do listen, sometimes. I've heard mamas say they knew when their preferred care provider would be on duty and told baby to shoot for that day, and it worked Of course some births have horrible timing, but I figure you never know what else might have happened some other day.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by St. Margaret

Well, I REALLY wanted DD to come on the 23rd... I did NOT want the 20th (Hitler's birthday, Columbine, and MJ day, which is FINE if you're into it, but it's all wrapped up in bad associations for me-- graffitti at the schools where I've worked, that kind of thing). The 20th is I think also my IL's anniversary and I wanted a separate day from that. Earth Day would have been cool... but I was soooo excited that DD could be born on Shakespeare's birthday! I had just finished teaching Romeo and Juliet, and on my last day, the kids did this whole party/presentation for me, with speeches and one sang the Italian version of the aria they use as the theme music in the old movie version we watched... I was crying so hard. Come on! It was even the 423rd birthday on 4-23!

OOOH!

You have given me hope that I WILL have my 9/4 baby (9/4 will be my 28th birthday. I know a LOT of people with August/September birthdays and if she has to share one I would prefer to just give her mine)

I have been really hoping for that since the beginning. It is 10 days before my due date... with baby #3... and if I am anything like my mom its a feasible day!

By 9/4 everything should be done, bought, cleaned, prepared and in place... and we will have a bit of extra money just in case we think of something we need we didnt get (we are crunching for money right now)

[AZgirl2207]

With DD, labor started the day after we found out when we could move into our new house. Of course, that meant that I was moving with a one week old baby--but I could quit stressing about when the house would be finished.

With DS, on a Sunday I was labor-ish but kept saying 'it's too early, you aren't cooked yet, I'm not ready' (this was 36 1/2 weeks) Waves stopped, I had a great week of good sleep, made 10 freezer meals, and had two chiro appts. The next sunday, I felt labor-ish and told him 'ok, if you are really ready, go for it' He was born less than three hours later.

[Aliy]

with DS1 things were all set in order. Dh started his night job the day he was born ( there was no rooming in at our hospital) so it was fine for him to work. And with ds2 I was really stressed that my grandma wouldn't be in town and he came 1 1/2 days later after she got into town. I'm guessing if that is my stress this one is going to have to go full term casue my hopeful sitter is going to be aways till a few days before the due date. I don't know we'll see how it works out

[dannic]

With my second, I had her en route because no one believed me that I was in active labor--but it ended up being perfect because it edged me into homebirth.

My third was a HB and I was worried about my MW making it as she is 2 hrs away. She was supposed to come for my home visit on a Thurs but called Wed morning and said she felt she should come then and would it work for me. She came, we had our visit and she said she was going to her daughter's to visit for an hr or so before heading home. That evening, I went to her daughter's to borrow something (she was a friend) and my MW was still there! She said she wasn't sure she should leave and was trying to decide whether to head home or stay over night. As we were leaving, my then 3 yr old called out, "By, S! See you in the morning!" My MW said that was her answer and stayed over. I went into labor at 2:30 am and MW was 10 minutes away.

We're envisioning a similar situation or even a slightly longer labor to allow MW time to make it this time. And I'm on a dead line too since she goes out of town Sept 1-5th and I'm due the 28th. We're praying for perfect timing.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by dannic

As we were leaving, my then 3 yr old called out, "By, S! See you in the morning!"

AWWWW!!!

Its so awesome that both your midwife and your daughter seemed to know!

[Mosaic]

What a fun question!

I believe that my babies chose the perfect time, but they were not the times *I* would have chosen!

DD1 was born 38w1d. It was "perfect timing" because I woke up that morning finally committed to having a baby, and DH was going to leave that day for an out-of-state business trip for 5 days! We were on our way to the birth center to get checked and he was still planning on leaving, until they said I was 6cm.

DD2 I just *knew* would come early and quickly. I kept telling everyone she was free to come any day after the magical 37 weeks mark, and DD flew out exactly at 37w0d.

For the record, both girls came after writing my thank you notes for baby gifts. Like I couldn't have a baby unless my thank you notes were done!

[fyrwmn]

dd had perfect timing...she was born on her due date. plus, she waited till i had a good portion of the house painted and set up (we had just recently bought the house an dmoved in). dh told her throughout the entire pg that she needed to be born on her edd. we knew exactly when she was concieved because the military sent dh's unit home for 2 nights when they got back to the US from Iraq, and then they had to go back to the base to demobilize for a week. so...she was our deployment baby and was due (and born) on veteran's day.

we'll see how this baby does . it's baby #3 for us and is due 2 days after dd's bday. dd keeps saying she wants the baby to be born on her bday...here's hoping

[momasana]

My labor with DS started right after we got home from seeing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in the theater. So yes, in that nerdy sort of way, it was perfect timing because DH and I really enjoy HP, and it was the last time we got to go on a movie date for a long time.

[HeatherB]

My 2nd (first HB) was pretty much perfect timing. I started having early labor the morning I had promised my mom I'd substitute teach for her. All the teachers (at a private school I attended so I've known them forever) were all aflutter, wondering what they'd do if I went into labor. I said not a word to anyone, but went home in the afternoon to find a box of newborn diapers I'd been waiting on (WAHM-made and rushed to me as fast as she could!), and then I discovered that DH had cleaned and organized the whole bedroom - moved boxes and furniture and set up my new glider rocker, etc. - while I was gone. I was floored! And no one knew I was in labor. That was a Thursday, and DS was born at 12:48am on Sunday - 48 minutes into my MIL's 60th birthday.

Of course, with my first, we thought it'd be good for him to come on the 10th (my edd was the 12th) and have the whole week with my mom off of school for spring break to be with us. Labor didn't start until the next Saturday, and he was born Monday afternoon - with spring break now over! Still, it's a good day and it suits him well. Oh, and I was glad he skipped the 17th (St. Patrick's Day), and even that he didn't come on the 16th (when I went into labor, but was a friend's DD's birthday).

I liked the date my 3rd picked - 9/27 - because he's my 3rd and 9x3 is 27.

With this one, I have wondered if the stress of being in a house we are selling while waiting for our new one to be built, etc., would be a factor. At this point, we are planning to move when baby will be 2-3 weeks old (had hoped to move before birth), so hopefully we'll be peaceful and ready at the point when baby is ready to come. But it's a very interesting question!

[WifeofAnt]

I hope this one waits at least until DH comes back home! He'll be in training until I'm 38 weeks... then my mom flies in a week later.

[cchrissyy]

DD's birth had remarkable timing. I had sent DH and her big brother away for the weekend to let me relax completely. I was 41 weeks already. anyway, the moment DH walked back in the door, having left DS at grandma's, serious and regular contractions began. It was exactly like my body was rested and ready but just waited for my support person to be there.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by cchrissyy

DD's birth had remarkable timing. I had sent DH and her big brother away for the weekend to let me relax completely. I was 41 weeks already. anyway, the moment DH walked back in the door, having left DS at grandma's, serious and regular contractions began. It was exactly like my body was rested and ready but just waited for my support person to be there.

Awesome!


I love your stories ladies and its really making me feel better (despite the nightly contractions, bloody show and other signs) that I WILL make it to September when everything will be ready!

[Funny Face]

Ds came the morning before I was suppose to take my final for my nursing degree. It was inconvenient but not the end of the world. I'd really hoped he'd cook just a few days longer.