What kind of support would you want when you have a baby? Your spouse, your in laws, your parents? The right answer of course is an endless number of maids and nannies, but if beggars could choose and blah blah…🙃
Any (realistic) combination will have its own pros and cons. So when it came about that my in laws will be here for the first 6-7 months of my postnatal journey, I could see the positives and negatives of that. Although as far as in-laws go, they are quite nice. It’s their first time outside the country and this visit is making two of their dreams come true. I am a little self conscious about family seeing me all huge so am really hoping the baby makes a landing before they do.
My gut instinct tells me the baby is going to be late so am working as long as possible. Some of my friends at work throw me a great baby shower, and I am blown away by how much effort they had put into it. After just a few months in Canada, I have actually managed to make more friends than I did in all those years in bangalore. I find it so easy to talk to people here even when they come from such varied backgrounds or maybe it’s because of it. People are genuinely nice and patient here and I find myself becoming a better person just being in such a place, trying to return the favor.
My colleagues at work have started asking me why am still working, so 3 days before my due date, I begin my maternity leave. It’s a pity because I had just got into the groove of things and after a year of maternity leave, who knows how it’s going to be. Still, Am carrying some work related documents home with me to just refresh my memory during the year long vacation (any moms reading the blog – please excuse me, I am a FTM ☺️). I am going to miss working with a few of my colleagues a lot, like my Japanese friend M who is my cubicle and subway-ride mate, and is a super nice and interesting person. She was actually born in a car on the way to the hospital, imagine that!!! That’s the stuff of my nightmares.
My in laws are arriving 5 days after my due date and A has planned for contingencies like if that coincides with my labor. Something tells me that the baby is not going to be here by then and am very disappointed by that.
My due date has come and gone and there’s no sign of the baby. I must have had 5 membrane sweeps by now, and they are NOT pleasant. All the ultrasounds show baby is healthy and super comfy. Throughout this pregnancy, I haven’t been very fanatical about baby movement counter, and the baby is not super athletic inside. Just a tiny roll here and there is all he offers us. So I guess it’s no wonder, he’s taking his sweet time in getting here.
Of course, by now I am quite OK about the idea of a baby (high time, right!) so am getting really frustrated that he’s in no hurry to meet his mom. And so my in laws are here, settled in and baby is still not here. On top of it, living in a tiny 1 bedroom flat with endless trips to the single bathroom that we share among 4 of us, is getting to me.
My midwife Natalie is supportive of waiting as long as I want, but does want me to get induced after 14 days of the due date. They have been so nice to me, even working late evenings to see me. I am quite overwhelmed by this point and in one appointment, just can’t hold back my tears…. Gawd, how embarrassing! Oh and I have long stopped responding to people’s messages asking if the baby’s here yet.
It’s 11 days past my due date; we have just finished dinner and I start feeling some mild contractions but of course, nowhere close to 5-1-1. The contractions continue through the night, they are painful but just not close enough. A is super helpful guiding me through them with the breathing techniques. Thank God, he paid attention in those prenatal classes! Then at 2:30 am, my waters break!!!! We are in business, people 😎
Baby Jira 