How do you stay patient at the end?

[Galatea]

This is my 4th baby and I will be 35 weeks tomorrow. Despite knowing that babies come when they are ready, I still am impatient. I need ideas to not be impatient. Do I have to ban myself from MDC and pretend I am not pg?

[taralv]

This is my 4th pregnancy as well, and I will be 31 weeks tomorrow. It just cannot go fast enough - every week feels like eternity. I'm not a big fan of pregnancy (other than the end result), so I've been counting down ever since the horrible MS hit in week 5. Anyway, the first three kids tend to keep me pretty busy, that's the only thing that really distracts me from just feeling overwhelmed with impatience. We've been running around doing dentist appointments and orthodontist appointments and trying to get everyone set for fall clothes, etc... and that helps to keep my mind off of the impending labor/new baby, etc... I'm just ready to be able to breathe, and eat without getting monster heartburn and sneeze or cough or laugh without peeing, etc... so, I'm not sure if that helps or not. I guess for me I just have to accept that I am impatient for this to end.

Tara

[TifosiGirl]

I'll be 42 weeks tomorrow and all I know is: One day at a time. Also lots of distractions, to do lists and making plans with friends and family.

Hang in there!!

[CourtneyATW]

I am almost 38 weeks and right there with you.

I always get impatient at the end, but I also deal with lots of early labor for weeks and weeks, and it gets SO old! Plus, having been induced for all 3 so far, I sit and fret that I won't know when it really IS labor since my body cries wolf constantly. To give you an idea, I had somewhat regular contractions from Friday evening into Saturday noonish and then nada.

Plus this time I think I am extra impatient because it is my last and I am just ready to put pregnancy behind me in general. And this time I have Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction or possibly even a Diastasis (actual gap in my pubic pelvis joint vs just loosening and twisting). I am normally a VERY active and VERY independent person, so sitting on the sofa while others do things I normally would irritates me. I read in one place that sometimes SPD causes depression because of the pain and lack of mobility. I can see that. I am not depressed, but I do feel useless.

My only coping mechanisms are to keep busy with getting ready for baby as much as I can. I am the type who is 99% ready in the 2nd trimester (before I get big and uncomfy), but I have been working on my hospital bag, preparing and revising care info for my boys, keeping my doulas and the 2 family members who are "on call" to come help with the boys updated, and so on. We haven't settled 100% on a name, and won't, but I spend some time browsing names to see if anything new catches my eye. I also have been crocheting baby hats and such for some time this pregnancy (crocheted for decades, but after looking to buy a hat on Etsy for Baby Girl, I decided to just make them myself) so that keeps me distracted... and when it doesn't, I recently decided to learn how to knit.

Still, it's tough.

[loveneverfails]

Find ways to mark the time in creative ways. My choice is changing nail polish colors every week, and embracing that I will not actually give birth until 5 years from now, so might as well settle in for the long haul. It worked very very well in my DDC.

[CherryBomb]

Not very easily! I'm coming up on 34 weeks and wishing i could fast forward. Usually I actually handle the end fairly well, but after back to back m/c I've been pretty neurotic this pregnancy, and I'm ready to have a baby in my arms.