Things to Say When You're Overdue

[flyingspaghettimama]

Tomorrow is the 2 week (14 day) mark since my FIRST due date, which I STUPIDLY told people. Then I've got another due date in a few more days...and the MW says maybe they're all wrong anyhow. I hate to say it, but I'm starting to see the benefits of induction. But then I remember, no, I won't actually like that at all...didn't last time. But, WAAA!

So what do I tell people? So far I've got...

"Yes, I'm part elephant" (They gestate for like 2 years, I think)
"I supposedly had him a few weeks ago but can't find him anywhere...oh, there he is"
"I messed up on dates. He's due in January."
"We've decided to go for the Guiness Book of World Records for longest gestation. It's a joint effort."
"Have you seen who's President? Would you want to come out?" (this doesn't work with Grandma though, who loves GWB)
"We're hoping he's as lazy and mellow after he comes out as he is about coming out..."

Ok, they're not all winners. But I enjoy providing the "devil may care attitude" about the whole thing. Even if I only feel that way about 50% of the time...

My MW is even calling me now to find out if anything is happening. Argh! Performance anxiety! Join the club...

[flapjack]

Oh, it won't be here for ages yet. My due date isn't until the 14th (pick your own number, obviously)...
Not long to go now...only 35 days to go (adjust the number until Xmas...)
Well, we thought we were having a baby, but actually it's just too much pizza...
Huh????

The best one I've seen yet, though, is a visual gag: the mother who went 2.5 weeks overdue, missed the school run for a whole week because she was in hospital and then on her first outing in public left the baby at home and pushed her 3yo in the buggy whilst talking about her big baby and the benefits of epidurals It made me feel better...

[flyingspaghettimama]

Originally Posted by flapjack

The best one I've seen yet, though, is a visual gag: the mother who went 2.5 weeks overdue, missed the school run for a whole week because she was in hospital and then on her first outing in public left the baby at home and pushed her 3yo in the buggy whilst talking about her big baby and the benefits of epidurals It made me feel better...

That is freaking hilarious.

[beansavi]

I so know how you feel. My first baby was born at 43 weeks, and only because my midwife broke my water. He was 10 lbs, 6 oz, and so my stomach was huge the whole freaking pregnancy. I got all the "twins" comments, "you're further along than you and the midwife think" comments, etc.

Same with my second baby (a girl)

and now same with the third, a boy.

So, I have perfected the art of thinking "f@*# off" while telling them:

"You're just saying what everyone else said with my first two pregnancies, but everything is accurate, and there's only one baby in there for sure." I also say, "This is just the way I do it and the way my body is built". Then I break eye contact, even though I'm giving a weak smile to be polite. That shuts them up right away.

If this is your first, just tell them everything is fine, and the babies come when they are ready, and the time is right.

I believe there is a spiritual element, too, to when delivery happens, so have faith in that and know that it is normal to feel like the baby will never want to come. But s/he will!

These last weeks are good preparation for the vibe we have to have as parents: patient, having faith in the ultimate wisdom of the universe, and a sense of humor when others annoy the crap out of us!

[MamaFern]

Originally Posted by beansavi

These last weeks are good preparation for the vibe we have to have as parents: patient, having faith in the ultimate wisdom of the universe, and a sense of humor when others annoy the crap out of us!

that is so true! ive been trying to figure out what im supposed to learn from this experience.. and its that. i never got to this point with my son.. thanks for sharing that.

[crsta33]

Ppl call and ask if I've had the baby...I keep telling them, very patiently, that I do *have* the baby, he's just not *out* yet! :

*sigh* And my elusive due date is still a few days away. I realized this morning, I've never been this pregnant before (dd was born on Friday night before her Monday due date...Friday has come and gone and I've got another Monday due date coming up)

I did so well with the first one. I was elusive with the date, convinced I would go up to and over it, and she was out before I'd even really gotten impatient. Prodormal labor with this one has totally messed with my mind.
I'm going to be in full-blown active labor, or perhaps even pushing, before I believe this one is actually on his way.

Christa

[offpill]

I totally understand the aggravation of prelabour. With my first, I planned on going over, at least about 41 weeks like everyone told me so at 38.5 weeks, I was entirely surprised by labour. With my second, I got impatient after 38 weeks (damn fool that I was) after 2 weeks of irregular/regular off/on labour contractions and delivered at 39.2 weeks.This time, I will be 39 weeks tomorrow (by my estimate not for a few days after that) and I am puzzled by the prelabour contractions. Is it doing anything? When will labour begin. Why can't I just be patient and wait for 40 weeks or more like everyone else?

[flyingspaghettimama]

Originally Posted by crsta33

Ppl call and ask if I've had the baby...I keep telling them, very patiently, that I do *have* the baby, he's just not *out* yet! :

Ha...I was reading some other thread along these lines, and a poster said that she was tempted to start telling people, "good thing you called, because I wasn't planning on letting you know or anything." I thought that was rather clever and would work with certain well-humored family members. I told my mother tonight that my baby was planning to hold tight until the next election.

Is this the first stage of labor - bitter attitudes with close family relations?! Low tolerance for needling questions? Cranky-butt responses? I'm THERE! I am so there.

I just wonder - will I still be pregnant in a week? 43 weeks? It seems not so impossible...

[flyingspaghettimama]

Originally Posted by beansavi

If this is your first, just tell them everything is fine, and the babies come when they are ready, and the time is right.

I believe there is a spiritual element, too, to when delivery happens, so have faith in that and know that it is normal to feel like the baby will never want to come. But s/he will!

These last weeks are good preparation for the vibe we have to have as parents: patient, having faith in the ultimate wisdom of the universe, and a sense of humor when others annoy the crap out of us!

Thanks for the thoughts. It is my second child - the first was induced early at 34 weeks due to very severe preeclampsia. So I guess Mother Nature is ensuring that I am experiencing the full range of pregnancy possibilities. The sick thing is that I am not that big, and really not physically uncomfortable. I just want to meet the little guy! We've almost eaten through our stash of frozen foods for when baby comes and are starting to crack into our sweets stash...

[DreamsInDigital]

It's officially my due date in about 30 minutes and I want to just cry like a little girl when I think about the possibility of another 3 weeks gestating this darling little babe. I want him in my arms now!
I get a lot of "You look like you're going to pop!" to which I usually respond "Is that how it works? I thought babies came out the vagina." Totally deadpan. It's hilarious.

[flapjack]

Yes, the bitterness, twistedness and overwhelming desire to hit innocent yet impertinent strangers with weapons is a sign that baby will be out by Christmas. (only 34 days to go: and I defy ANYONE on this thread to go that late...)

[*Amy*]

Helen, you crack me up!! I'm so with all of you, and I'm not even overdue yet!!

[spiritmomma]

I keep telling everyone that as long as the baby comes by Christmas, everything will be okay. My DD was Saturday the 19th.

Does anyone else feel like not telling this story anymore:
No, I haven't had the baby yet...
I go back to the midwife on Monday...
Everything looks fine, I'm fine, baby's fine...
Yes, of course, you'll get a phone call...

I would love to record that on some sort of small device and play it for people who call. I know they are just trying to check in with me because they care, but it's so depressing to tell them, not yet...

[bec]

I'm not even 39 weeks, and I've got my mom panicking if I don't call her every day! And she's supposed to be here for the birth! I've been telling her, "No, mom, we'll call when something changes!" Other than that, I just kind of take it in stride. Both my kids were almost 10 1/2 pounds, so I do look huge. Nothing really for it. They weren't all that late either. Katie was 6 days, and Emily was 1.5 days late. I've got a bunch of Braxton Hicks lately, but I had 3 days of prelabor with Emily before things started up. I wasn't this impatient with the other two. Now, I just want this baby OUT!


Bec

[Belleweather]

I've been telling everyone that the baby's current plan is to stay in there until after the first of January to mess up DH's meticulous tax planning.

For some reason, no one can tell whether I'm serious or not -- not even me.

[flapjack]

That's inspired. Oh, if ONLY the UK tax year didn't start in April...