Well-Cooked
Friday 
in mid-afternoon 
Mystie
I have now officially reached the point of pregnancy where, when one is out and about and people ask when you are due, they suddenly start eying you nervously as if you might give birth then and there.
When I was pregnant with Hans I remember distinctly the look on the grocery store clerk’s face when she asked when I was due and I responded, “Yesterday.”
Last night I was thus eyed, and I reassured the acquaintance that I have delivered after my due date 3 times and I don’t expect this time to be any different.
“Oh,” she replied, “Do you prefer going past your due date?”
Excuse me?
Her expression might have turned apprehensive when I told her how far along I was, but now mine turned incredulous.
I mean, is she asking if I go overdue by choice? Assuming I have a say in the matter? Because if I did, let me tell you, NO WAY would I choose to be pregnant longer than necessary!
Of course, my slow-moving brain-to-mouth connection didn’t let me sputter anything out before explained that she had a friend who always went past her due date and she said she liked it that way because then she was sure her babies were well-cooked.
Oh. Huh. Well, now there’s a good-natured attitude. Too bad it’s not mine, I guess. And that my attitude was not good-natured was confirmed when I (internally, again, because of the slow connection) reacted with the thought that this friend of hers would probably also be one of those creatures who claim they never feel better than when they’re pregnant.
Me? I’ll just go take a nap now, thank you very much. Wake me up in a week.
I LOVED it when my third child was a week overdue, just because of the effect on strangers when they asked when I was due. I thoroughly enjoyed the look on their faces when I answer, “Five days.”
Is this wicked? ;)
Anyhow, having had the spectrum of “normal” (i.e., no preemies here) I would say give me an overdue baby any day. Full term/overdue babies are, in my experience, SO MUCH EASIER in the first weeks than those who are early. Even my four-pound full term baby was easier than my six-pound 15-days-early baby, and he had a lot against him…
You’re insane. :)
My newborns have all been pretty easy right away; I always assumed it was mostly a weight thing, but maybe being “well-cooked” played a part. Humph. I still don’t like it. :P
Didn’t you have C-sections? The doctors let you go to full term still? This is the week I start looking sidelong at my friend due with her third a month after me who has to have a C-section (no VBACs allowed in our area hospitals) and whose doctor has planned it for 2 weeks before her due date and she’s got her baby’s birthday on her calendar. NOT KNOWING when it’s coming (even once regular contractions start, for me) is what drives me up a wall. :) But, it won’t be for another week and a half, I would put money on that, so I will just continue to hobble along in my makeshift, lumbering, brain-half-connected manner (and happily lose the money if it comes to that). :)
My mom doesn’t read the comments so I will insert for her: “It’s not even twins, stop bellyaching!” She delivered 8-pound-each twins, so she’s a tough act to follow. :)
I teach natural childbirth classes, I tell moms that baby will come when he’s ready and to let nature take its course unless something is wrong. They really start pressuring to induce in most hospitals at the 39-40 week appointments, which only adds to moms’ stress I think.
That being said, I went to 41-ish weeks with my 2nd and thought I was going to go insane because my first one was pretty much on time. Given the choice I feel better late than early, but man, you have my sympathies.
Yes, there’s certainly a difference between one’s philosophy — sure, in my head I can agree that “well-cooked” is preferable and that interventions should be avoided if possible — and being in the thick of it. I am always glad afterward for my home birth, but also each time have wondered in the thick of it why I couldn’t just be an epidural person. :)
This is why we don’t go into labor at 6 or 7 months along. I think 6 months would be a perfect length for pregnancy, but by 42 weeks, I would go through anything just to be done being pregnant!