Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Definition
Being 41 weeks 6 days pregnant now, it's fair to say that due dates are completely arbitrary. In my humble opinion, a new definition of full-term pregnancy should be promoted as a due 'month' versus a date. According to the books, full term pregnancy is 37 weeks to 42 weeks. Okay, I'm coming up on that week in one day and believe me... I'm feeling it.
What's interesting to me about this entire process is the mental challenge of pregnancy and imminent birth versus the physical one. As a runner, I felt the task I really had to prepare myself for was the physical endurance of labour. I'm confident that I have physically prepared myself for labour. And maybe, once I go through labour (it will happen, it will happen, it will happen) I'll feel that I've just amply prepared physically for it. But, the real battle of endurance for me is the mental battle of labour itself.
Let me explain further, I've had two full days of early labour. Meaning, contractions occuring five minutes apart for a full eight hours and then stopping outright. In between these eight hour shifts, was 32 hours of nada. So, I'm actually in a labour stage even though I'm not labouring. My brain hurts at trying to comprehend the mental stamina of this situation. This, I was not prepared for.
In addition to these quirky nuances of labour and an ongoing pregnancy, there is the mental battle of due date obsession - and not necessarily by me but everyone who knows it. Those that are expectant of this baby's arrival are evidently as concerned and obsessed about this situation as I am, making for some unecessary tension between me and them and each other. People fear for picking up the phone to say hello and I must admit, rightfully so. I'm sooooo bored of telling about my status. It's really all very boring in the scheme of the globe.
Then, there's the battle of letting nature do what it will (which apparently my body is doing, at a very slow pace, mind you) and what medical practitioners from all points of view believe should be happening. "Cut it out!", "Leave it in!", "Induce", "You're normal!", "Monitor every day at the hospital!". *Damn*
Having this mental mess to stir myself up in, *ohh, the drama*, I wonder if the real curse of labour placed upon Eve was the mental curse of labour and not the physical one we all believe the story to mean. Hopefully in short order, I'll eat my words and say that it's definitely the physical one and not the mental one.
What's interesting to me about this entire process is the mental challenge of pregnancy and imminent birth versus the physical one. As a runner, I felt the task I really had to prepare myself for was the physical endurance of labour. I'm confident that I have physically prepared myself for labour. And maybe, once I go through labour (it will happen, it will happen, it will happen) I'll feel that I've just amply prepared physically for it. But, the real battle of endurance for me is the mental battle of labour itself.
Let me explain further, I've had two full days of early labour. Meaning, contractions occuring five minutes apart for a full eight hours and then stopping outright. In between these eight hour shifts, was 32 hours of nada. So, I'm actually in a labour stage even though I'm not labouring. My brain hurts at trying to comprehend the mental stamina of this situation. This, I was not prepared for.
In addition to these quirky nuances of labour and an ongoing pregnancy, there is the mental battle of due date obsession - and not necessarily by me but everyone who knows it. Those that are expectant of this baby's arrival are evidently as concerned and obsessed about this situation as I am, making for some unecessary tension between me and them and each other. People fear for picking up the phone to say hello and I must admit, rightfully so. I'm sooooo bored of telling about my status. It's really all very boring in the scheme of the globe.
Then, there's the battle of letting nature do what it will (which apparently my body is doing, at a very slow pace, mind you) and what medical practitioners from all points of view believe should be happening. "Cut it out!", "Leave it in!", "Induce", "You're normal!", "Monitor every day at the hospital!". *Damn*
Having this mental mess to stir myself up in, *ohh, the drama*, I wonder if the real curse of labour placed upon Eve was the mental curse of labour and not the physical one we all believe the story to mean. Hopefully in short order, I'll eat my words and say that it's definitely the physical one and not the mental one.
# posted by tfoxfan @ 8:23 AM 
Comments:
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It will happen, it WILL happen.
I think for me the physical challenge of labour IS mental, if that makes sense. Kind of like the ironman, you can't finish if you don't have both. You end up having to choose how to deal with and respond to a crazy elemental physical situation. I am confident that you are as prepared as anyone facing it for the first time ever could be or has been.
Much love,
Tan
I think for me the physical challenge of labour IS mental, if that makes sense. Kind of like the ironman, you can't finish if you don't have both. You end up having to choose how to deal with and respond to a crazy elemental physical situation. I am confident that you are as prepared as anyone facing it for the first time ever could be or has been.
Much love,
Tan
Hey Esther....thanks for the update on your blog. As someone who never gave birth close to her 'due date'(whatever that is), I know what it feels like to have to answer the annoying questions. Your words made me smile and it brought back lots of memories of my own journey.
So we leave for Barcelona tomorrow and will spend a couple of days there and then we go cruising for a week around Italy, so I am guessing that I won't get to lay my eyes on your sweet treasure until we get home on the 18th. But know that I am completely rapped for both of you and know you will be amazing in the journey ahead. I can't wait to get the details, but in the meantime I will be praying for you.
Happy delivery beautiful Esther. I am beyond excited for you and Angelo and delighted to think of the untold wonders that await you upon the arrival of Princess Eides.
Heaps of love,
Auntie Helen xx
So we leave for Barcelona tomorrow and will spend a couple of days there and then we go cruising for a week around Italy, so I am guessing that I won't get to lay my eyes on your sweet treasure until we get home on the 18th. But know that I am completely rapped for both of you and know you will be amazing in the journey ahead. I can't wait to get the details, but in the meantime I will be praying for you.
Happy delivery beautiful Esther. I am beyond excited for you and Angelo and delighted to think of the untold wonders that await you upon the arrival of Princess Eides.
Heaps of love,
Auntie Helen xx
# posted by 
: 5:01 PM
: 5:01 PM
Oh E, I feel your pain (or I guess, lack there of?).
I eagerly await the news of your bundle of joy and am truly excited for you to begin your new journey. Time is a human created thing and baby will know when the time is right to arrive in our world. Hang in there babe - you seem more than ready for both the physical and mental challenge. Just think, in the end you will probably end up missing BEING pregnant! :)
Lots of love,
J
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I eagerly await the news of your bundle of joy and am truly excited for you to begin your new journey. Time is a human created thing and baby will know when the time is right to arrive in our world. Hang in there babe - you seem more than ready for both the physical and mental challenge. Just think, in the end you will probably end up missing BEING pregnant! :)
Lots of love,
J
# posted by : 8:23 AM
: 8:23 AM << Home
