Sunday 12 April 2009

Unknown territory

Having already had a baby, I might be forgiven for thinking that giving birth to and rearing a second child will be a lot easier, as I have done it all before. While elements of this may be true I have been told that with a new little individual comes a whole load of new and very different challenges. And I now see that the same can be said for different pregnancies too.

Betty was born just after 37 weeks. Therefore I naively assumed that new baby Button would follow suit and also come along at 37 weeks. Taking matters and nature into my own hands I have spent the last few months merrily and stupidly telling anyone who asks that we are expecting the baby to arrive around 1st April (at 37 weeks). This has meant that over the last couple weeks we have been inundated with texts and phone-calls wondering where our baby is and if we have accidentally omitted to tell people of the birth.

I am now 39 weeks pregnant and so have already entered unknown territory even before the baby has actually been born. I have never been this pregnant before. I never knew what it was like to go to bed each night feeling terrified, excited, anxious and on tenterhooks wondering if ‘tonight will be the night our lives will change forever’. I never had this time to start questioning whether or not I was actually ready for the imminent birth, or whether I would cope with another baby, or if the house could be tidied and cleaned a little more etc etc.

I did have a weeks’ reprieve from these thoughts however. About a week ago Betty caught Slapped Cheek from nursery and then brought it home and gave it to me. It has been a pretty torturous week of Betty being unwell and out of sorts, Tom being run ragged trying to meet important work deadlines whilst looking after us all, and me being bedridden and too ill to even remember about the whole pregnancy thing.

Betty and I are now feeling much better, which is a MASSIVE relief. I am not sure what the new baby would have made of entering such a dysfunctional and sickly household as it was last week, and I certainly don’t know how we would have coped with adequately welcoming a new baby into our lives.

So anyway, I am now once more having all the thoughts (tenfold) I had prior to the whole Slapped Cheek episode, and am wondering if tonight will be the night…

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oooh, how exciting! I hope it happens soon (and painlessly) for you...

Catherine said...

Poor you! I can remember the "it's never going to happen" feeling all too well. Hope it happens soon and is the most wonderful birth!

Metropolitan Mum said...

So we have been only three weeks apart?
I had little L last Tuesday at 42 weeks +1. I always assumed, too, that she would be an early bird, but noooo... Here is what I learned during the last, nerve wracking days: Don't pick up the phone, don't answer texts and emails. Leave a message on your answering machine to call people back once the baby has arrived.
Having a good cry at the husband's shoulder really does relieve tension.
A sweep (or three, as in my case) is much less invasive as I thought and actually triggers things.
Post term does not have to mean 'overcooked'. Some babies just take a little longer.

All the best of luck. Everything is going to be wonderful in the end!

A Modern Mother said...

Very exciting...

Only my second went full time, I know what you mean about unchartered territory...

BTW -- highlighting your blog on mummy bloggers this week.

Potty Mummy said...

Best of luck Elsie, will be thinking of you. And am sorry to hear about the Slapped Cheek; Boy 2 had it recently and really suffered, poor thing. Your newbie definitely showed common-sense by waiting until that was over!

Louise said...

So exciting...

Good luck!!! Thinking of you! Can't wait to read all about it and finding out what a great sister Betty is!

Anonymous said...

And now I'm reading this on April 14th wondering if there is a new arrival in the family. Good luck, feeling nervous (and excited) for you!

Sparx said...

Hi Elsie! Well you know we're all on tenterhooks for you. Good luck and I promise you, it will happen and it will happen soon! Crossing fingers for you x

sew hot said...

boy or girl? Let me know I'll send you something fun.

Pig in the Kitchen said...

ah, but LAST NIGHT, was the night!!! how are you doing??!!
Pigx