40 Weeks & Counting - Due Date

Today is my due date. So far... no baby. I have to admit, I'm having a hard time with this. The logical, sane, rational part of me knows that statistically, the majority of first-time babies are born "late," that the whole 40-weeks of pregnancy thing is based on an average (just as many are born at 38 as are born at 42 weeks), that babies have their own innate timeline for birth, etc. I know all this. But I didn't do a very good job of preparing myself, mentally, for the possibility of being overdue. I'm not sure why either - it isn't really like me to not be prepared for every single possible scenario under the sun. I think part of it is I just had this feeling I would go early. Obviously, this was just a feeling and not based on anything concrete. And obviously, I let this feeling get away from me and turn into fact. That's my own fault.

In any case, here I am... 40 weeks on the dot and very much still pregnant. I saw the OB for my weekly check-up on Friday and she informed me that there's been no change since the previous week. No additional progress in terms of dilation and/or effacement. This was a pretty difficult week for me as far as pain, pressure, and overall discomfort. I was doing fine with it all when I thought (or at least hoped) that meant things were progressing. But I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I cried a little when she said there had been no change (fortunately it was after she'd left the room and it was just Paul in there with me). I'm pretty sure it was just an emotional overload type of cry, with a little frustration mixed in... Nevertheless, still embarrassed.

We did talk about "the plan" from here on out. For now, there is no medical indication to induce me. And as much as I want this part to be over, I really am fine with that. I will go back for my weekly check-up this Thursday, at which time they will do another ultrasound (I had one on Friday as well) to check fluid levels, etc. If I still haven't delivered by next weekend, they will look at inducing me sometime the week of the 21st. I am still really hoping to avoid being induced, but I'm trying to be realistic about the possibility. If it happens, it happens. In the meantime, my OB said to do "lots of walking, jumping jacks, and sex" if I want to help get things moving. This is not news to me - I've heard and/or read these recommendations before and I honestly thought we were already following them. Nevertheless, we shall attempt to step up our game!

Yesterday, Mom, Paul, and I took the dogs hiking in the forest preserve near our house. It was a solid, hour-long, not-to-strenuous hike that actually felt great. After that, I spent a couple of hours cleaning and re-decorating all the empty shelves and tabletops that were looking rather sad and barren now that Christmas stuff has been put away. Last night, we went out for dinner to one of my favorite Tex-Mex places, where I ate an alarming amount of food:  chips and salsa with a side of bacon-pineapple guacamole, two cheese enchiladas, a beef taco, part of a chicken tamale with tomatillo sauce, some rice, and a rather large plate of sopapillas. I'm not entirely sure where or how I had room for all of that, but it was delicious!

My goal for the rest of this week is to stay busy. We obviously didn't make any sort of plans from here on out, but sitting around waiting for labor to start is not going to work for me. If anything, it will only make me feel more frustrated. So for today and tomorrow, I've come up with a list of things I can/should do to distract myself from not being in labor:

1. Go through the scary pile of miscellaneous paperwork that I stuffed away over the holidays but now need to address and/or file. Where does this kind of stuff come from, I wonder? Is it just me, or does it seem to multiply on its own?
2. Do a little more cleaning.  Might as well do it now while I still can, right?
3. Start getting stuff together for filing our 2012 taxes. There is a chance we may be able to claim medical expenses on our deductions this year (thanks to all the IVF stuff) so I need to have everything organized and ready to go for that.
4. Work on more freezer meals with Mom. This will involve not only assembling the meals, but also shopping for supplies and cleaning out the garage freezer to make more space.
5. Make salted caramels. I have a really good recipe for these and have been thinking about them ever since dinner last night when Mom got caramel sauce on her ice cream. 
6. Do some more actual work stuff. Yes, I'm still working and no, I'm not planning to start my leave until I actually deliver. As tempting as it sounds, it would not be the best idea for me to start leave now. Since I work on the campus where I'm planning to deliver, and home is about an hour's drive away, it just makes sense for me to be there during work hours in case I happen to go into labor. In addition, there won't be anyone covering a large portion of my job while I'm on leave, so I might as well keep working on stuff that will otherwise still be waiting for me when I return. And lastly, I will go stir crazy just being at home all week, especially once my list of home to-dos is finished.

I will take time to rest and relax as well. I know that is important too. But keeping somewhat busy in between will help the time go by. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be pleasantly surprised to find myself going into labor on my own at some point this week...