Baby Mama Drama

At 40 weeks, 5 days pregnant, I'm beginning to think that waiting for baby boy is harder than it will be to give birth to him. On the way home from my sonogram and non-stress test today, I caught myself singing "come on baby, make it hurt so good."

Don't get me wrong. I'm willing to give baby boy all the time he needs to be ready. However, his timing is completely blowing my support system to smithereens.

I've been so proud of my post-partum plan, especially the part where my moms are supposed to be here for two weeks to support me in the newborn phase. They arrived a week ago and will most likely have to leave this Saturday. The second shift of family flies in on Thursday and leaves Sunday. And if baby boy isn't born by this Saturday, he'll be too young for him and me to fly with M on a business trip to Kansas City where more family are standing by to take care of us.

For the first time the entire pregnancy, I cried in my midwife's office today. She said something nice about being patient and how her son was born 9 days past her due date. The tears welled up in my eyes. Baby boy is completely healthy with plenty of room left to swim, but my emotions have hit a wall. Call it the mental transition stage of waiting for my baby.

"Go, relax," my midwife said. "Enjoy these last few days of being pregnant. Spend girl time with your mom. In fact, go to Reynolds Tavern in Annapolis and maybe even have a mimosa—it's just a little champagne."

So, I waddled back to the waiting room, rounded up the moms, and informed them we were going out for lunch.

My half-way eaten lunch at Reynolds Tavern

After tea, finger sandwiches, mini quiches, and scones, we meandered through shops and spent some time lounging in the sun by the Chesapeake Bay. It was the perfect break from the waiting-for-baby drama I've cooked up in my head.

I suppose this is a good parenting primer. No matter how much I plan and control, I have no guarantee that my son will conform to my schedule or expectations. M told me last night that he knows we'll manage together even if no one is here by time baby boy is born. He said it so sweet that I kinda believe him.