Today is November 21st. November 21st is my due date.
I have to think of it like baking. Just because the recipe says 40 weeks does not mean it’s ready yet. Baking times and ovens vary and it can take up to 42 weeks (before the state of NJ will encourage things along). So now the waiting and wondering begins.
I’ve been told baby’s considered full term at 37 weeks. But somehow a due date just feels so firm in a world that goes by schedules and planned events. I’ve also been told that first time moms generally go 7-10 days late. So what was unknown before is still unknown and will only become known when little Howeberry decides to make his or her appearance.
Of course this does not mean that I wonder if baby is getting ready every time baby dances in my belly.
I’ve looked and felt like death for the last week. Despite me being very ill, baby has made progress in dropping. The Midwives said baby was looking good, agreed he/she had started moving down, and said baby’s heartbeat sounded great. So baby has been more or less unaffected by my nasty cold, and has hopefully developed resistance to whatever has filled my head with bottomless phlegm the last 8 days. If anything, I hope baby waits to make his/her way out until I am 100% healthy again and have the energy to labor, push and deliver.
For the sake of my parents’ travel plans, I hope baby is patient and waits until Wednesday the 24th to start making movements.
At 11 PM on November 21, looks like baby will be waiting for another day.
I’m taking bets. When do you think Howeberry will make his or her appearance?