Well my due date has come and gone and still no sign of any imminent baby action, not that I am surprised. As my mum keeps pointing out, I was three weeks late arriving in the world and have kept up the trend by being late for pretty much everything else, so it would be hypocritcal for me to be anything other than patient.
However, I realise now that patience is not my thing, and as soon as Jan 8 (due date) passed I started to get irritable. By the time Steve gets home from work I have usually fielded quite a few 'any twinges yet?' phone calls and text messages from friends and family and am just about ready to bite his head off when he asks how my day was. Not that I am complaining about people making friendly enquiries - if no-one was phoning I would be sulking that everyone had forgotten about me.
In a bid to make myself feel that I am taking active steps to encourage things along I am eating lots of fresh pineapple which apparently helps, drinking raspberry leaf tea and have visited an acupuncturist twice who, using needles in pressure points, is also doing her bit to help get this baby moving. I should point out (as my dad was worried about this) that the acupuncture does not involve putting needles anywhere in my stomach or near the baby - I am not trying to *** it and prod it into appearing. The acupuncturist was recommended to me by someone in my antenatal class who went overdue and I have been impressed with what I have experienced so far - it doesnt even hurt because the needles (which have been in my ear, feet, hands, back and legs) are so fine.
Everyone else in the ante natal class has now had their baby, and none of the birth stories have been too horrific, but maybe I am being spared the gory details until I have got my own labour over with.....
Well, my hospital bag is packed, the baby's bag is packed, and I have even packed a bag for Steve (sweets, crisps, Lucozade and a couple of magazines) he is threatening to bring his laptop in so he can get some work done in quieter moments - hmmmm i dont think so. I have cooked enough meals and soup to fill two freezers so that when I return home and dont have the time and energy to cook I have easy meal solutions. This is the most organised I have been about anything in my life and it is most out of character, it must be down to hormones.
It is hard to imagine what life at home with the baby will be like but I am trying to mentally prepare myself by reading parenting guides and taking in advice from other mums. Steve has already pointed out a watch that I could buy him for being a good dad (what a cheek!)- so he is obviously confident that he will rise to the challenge!
Now it is just a waiting game. I feel I am being most inconsiderate by not having produced a baby on schedule - Steve's friends are itching to wet the baby's head and until I come up with the goods, their excuse for a night of drinking is on ice.
Hopefully not long now, the thought of being induced doesn't fill me with glee so I am hoping the baby comes into the world of its own accord. I am trying to keep busy by meeting up with friends so that I dont have too much time to think of the pain that lies ahead. The longer I have to wait the more cocky I am becoming about the inevitable agony - bring it on, I want my baby!