Week 39: The one with all the progress (and also no progress at all)

By Published On: February 9th, 2016

Thirty-nine weeks. No progress. My doctor’s appointments are weekly now, and […]

FullSizeRenderThirty-nine weeks. No progress. My doctor’s appointments are weekly now, and last week confirmed that there’s been no progress made towards this baby’s exit. I can’t say I’m surprised.  

People keep asking if I’m still working. The answer is yes. Because if I wasn’t, what would I be doing? Sitting around at home, waiting to go into labor? I feel like the old adage “a watched pot never boils” applies to this situation. I’m not just going to sit around and wait for my uterus to boil. Although, there is something about that disturbing metaphor that I like.

I washed an entire load of newborn clothes—a mixture of boy and girl items, so we’re prepared either way. I even folded them and stacked them neatly underneath the changing table that my husband dutifully moved out of our 4-year-old’s room (where it was being used to house books and an assortment of toy cars and trucks) and into the room the baby will be using. I put together the Rock n’ Play sleeper. The swing arrived (although, at the time of this writing, it is not yet assembled; you can only expect so much from us). 

I found a brand-new box of nursing pads. I meant to look to see if I have any Lansinoh cream. (I tend to hoard things, so before I buy more, I figure I should see if I have any leftover from last time.) But I haven’t done that quite yet. Oh, and I bought a pack of the mega-maxi pads that no one tells you you’ll need (so here I am telling you, if you’re a first-timer, that you’re going to need a pack (or several) of the mega-maxi pads. You’re also going to need a solid stash of granny panties to wear with them; seriously, the bigger the better. You’re welcome in advance for this advice.  

I’m going to go ahead and say that we’re pretty much as prepared as we’re going to get.

Note that the seat is pushed back as far as it will go. Good thing I have long legs!

Note that the seat is pushed back as far as it will go. Good thing I have long legs!

We have a tradition of giving each of the existing kids a little present from the new baby when it arrives. We bring the presents to the hospital with us and when the existing kids come to meet the baby for the first time, they get a present. We tell the existing kids that it’s a present from the new baby with the hope that it will make them like the new baby.  So far it has worked out pretty well. I already managed to not only buy but also wrap each of the three little gifts that Baby No. 4 will be giving to its sisters and brother.  Some days I am just blown away by my own preparedness.  

I haven’t yet packed a bag to take to the hospital, but I’ve made a mental list of things that I am prepared to throw in when the time comes. And I’ve also made a mental note of the location of all these items, so when I forget to actually pack them, I can accurately instruct my husband or mother or whoever to their location so they can bring the missing items to me.

And all there is left to do now, I suppose, is wait for my uterus to boil, which it’s not going to do voluntarily, so I’ll see you back here next week for a Week 40 update …