So here it is 5 days past my "due date" and I've come to some great realizations.

First of all I've decided that due dates are silly and really shouldn't exist.  How can anyone truly expect to predict when a baby will be born down to a specific date.  We tell a mom a "date" and suddenly in her mind (and everyone else's for that matter) it is the magic date.  By that date the baby will for sure have arrived, right?  Wrong.  Let's come back to the real world where normal is actually defined as anywhere from 38-42 weeks.  That's right, I said 42.  This means the baby isn't "late" until after 42 weeks.  In fact, I've heard that 60% of first time moms go 10 days past their due date.  This means 41.5 weeks is more "normal" than 40.  Try telling this to a mom who has her heart set on 40 weeks.  We have so ingrained it in people to go by the "due date" that many moms end up frustrated, discouraged and in a big rush to get that baby out as soon as 40 weeks hits.  I know because I have been there. 

I started the countdown at 37 weeks.  I have had a great pregnancy but let's face it, by the end carrying around 30 extra pounds is not exactly comfortable or convenient.  I hit the 37 week point and went, ok it is technically considered safe to come out now.  Let's do this.  Everyday I started thinking maybe today will be the day.  By the time my "due date" came I had already been counting down for 3 weeks.  By 40 weeks and 1 day I woke up feeling miserable.  I couldn't believe my due date had come and gone and Jeremiah was still happy living on the inside.  Didn't he know how great it was going to be to come out.  Lots of hugs and kisses awaiting him, more room to stretch, and a great nursery.  Apparently he had other plans.  He still wanted to hang out a bit on the inside.  I wanted to stay in bed and pull the covers over my head. 

Well, thank God I have an amazing husband who didn't let me stay in bed and mope.  My husband sweetly suggested we go out and pick up some food and head to the park for a date.  This sounded like a great idea and off we went.  We got lunch at Westside drive in, went to Municipal park and played board games, went to the Rose Garden and took some pictures, went to Fanci Freeze for dessert, and went to the hospital to visit a friend who had delivered her baby on my due date.  (And her due date was after mine which goes to show due dates mean nothing.)  It was a terrific day and just what I needed to lift my spirits and get some fresh perspective. 

I realized that babies come when they want and just like many things in life we just have to learn to be patient.  My baby is not coming "late" but right on time.  I find it interesting how many people want to help you be impatient by asking the "why are you still pregnant" and "when are you going to be induced" types of questions.  I could also list at least 10 sure fire ways to induce labor that have been suggested by well meaning friends and colleagues.  (Ok, so maybe we tried a couple of them.)  The thing is, the baby should be able to come when he is ready not when I am.  Rushing things can ultimately be dangerous for the baby and what is a few more days in the grand scheme of things.  I am really surprised at the number of doctors that induce labor at 40 weeks for convenience sake.  I understand medically necessary procedures, but putting mom and baby at risk of complications and C-section because of impatience doesn't make sense to me.  You are telling me that after 40 weeks you really can't wait one or two more weeks.  (I did have a day or two that i thought I couldn't take one more second, but I was wrong.  I got through it and am doing just fine.)  Anytime we take matters into our own hands, or the doctors hands, we are risking complications.  Babies come out when they do for a reason.  We may never know what the reason is, but I'm willing to wait trusting that God knows better than I do.  

I propose we start having "due periods" rather than "due dates."  Let's tell moms you are due somewhere in this 4 week range (38-42).  If 42 weeks is normal let's not get moms all worked up at 40 weeks and 1 day.  My husband suggested we just use a "late date" of 42 weeks and 1 day.  Tell them if the baby hasn't come out by the "late date" THEN we will start looking into what is going on.  Until then considered everything normal.  Either way, my new conclusion is that "due date" is a dirty word and should be done away with.