Wow! I can’t believe there are more than 60 comments on the “guess that birthdate” post!! What fun! But, for the record, anyone who guessed later than February 7 (when I’ll be a week overdue) or any hour that involves an overnight labour, you’re getting a lump of coal instead of a book if you win the contest!!
I had an appointment with the midwife last week that sent me home driving with my legs crossed, convinced that the baby was about to come shooting out at a stop light if I was not careful. I’ve since settled back down into a holding pattern of waiting (there are, after all, still many days until my due date) but it was exciting to be talking about BIRTH instead of just pregnancy.
They’re keeping a close eye on the size of the baby, and I’ll likely have another ultrasound this week to see just how big this big baby will be. (Hmmm, sounds JUST like Simon. Again!) Apparently the midwives have special protocols with the hospital when a baby gets to be this size. I’m trying not to think about it.
And, while it’s still three weeks to my official due date, the midwife suggested several natural induction techniques (clinically unproven, she stressed) that I might want to consider, so on the weekend I picked myself up some evening primrose oil and some red raspberry leaf tea. I took a couple of the EPO capsules last night (one orally and the other one – well, not orally) and there’s still no baby this morning. So much for instant gratification!
Another thing that got me all excited about an early debut for this little guy was that although my last day of work would have been this coming Thursday, they suggested that I might consider being done a little earlier than that. So tomorrow is my last official day of work until 2009. Can I get a hallellujah for one-year maternity leave? So many reasons to love my country’s social net. (And yes, I know it’s not perfect and not everybody benefits, but it benefits me and at 100 months pregnant you go ahead and TRY to tell me that it’s NOT all about me at this point.)
So we spent the weekend doing little things like assembling the cradle (I love our wooden cradle!) and cleaning the car seat and installing it in the van. We drove out to the Montfort so Beloved would know where it is, which seems rather prudent, and debated the most efficient way to get there from Barrhaven. (There isn’t one.)
I’m ready! Well, I’m readier, and that’s a start. And I’ve decided when I’m going to have this baby. Simon was due on January 22 and born on February 1. This baby is due on February 1, so I figure there is a lovely symmetry in him arriving on January 22, right? At say, 2 pm, after a five hour labour. Yep, that’s my story and I’m sticking with it. Are you listening, baby boy??
A full year maternity leave?
Now you’re just showing off.
Grumble.
Seriously, congratulations. Meanwhile, down here, I’ll keep trying to convince everyone I know that it doesn’t have to be this way.
My son was due Feb. 4 but I was convinced he was gonna come Feb. 2 because I love groundhog day. No dice… He came Feb. 7.
When I read American blogs I seriously have no idea how they do it with such short mat leave… While Canada has many flaws, its mat leave is wonderful!
Yay, happy last few days of work!!!! One-year mat leave ROCKS!
I really will miss you. You’ll have to stay on your computer all day so we can keep up the witty email riposte. I mean it!
As a Canadian living in the US with a now almost 10 month old I am seriously jealous that I didn’t get the year mat leave … I got 4 1/2 months and that amount is rare!
Good luck with the final few weeks!
While I don’t behoove those who get 1 year of topped up leave, and we are far luckier than our southern neighbours, just wanted to point out that not all moms and dads get their salaries topped off. This was a reproductive ender for us as I am/was the main bread winner and we simply couldn’t afford to live on $18,000 per year ( which is what EI pays).
But I am grateful for what we have, and Dani I’m happy that you can benefit from this. I also see that there has been social progress in Canada – my first child was 3 mos mat leave, the 2nd was 6 mos, and the 3rd was 1 year. Maybe I should have kept going!
Counting down the days for you (and I’m hoping for Feb 6th).
Counting the days here too Dani – I’m holding out for January 30 at 2:10 pm. See what you can do about ‘kay?
Yay Canada!!!
That was MY guess! Jan 22 at… well, 2:05pm, but still! I’d be so psyched if TPTBNL came on that day and time!
C’mon baby…. 8 days!
Oh how funny, Rebecca, I didn’t even go back and look! Okay, if I win and it’s 2 pm instead of 2:05, I’ll still let you have the book!!
Eight days? When you put it like that – eek!!! 😉
An early baby! Who’s so lucky? Probably some who also gets a year of maternity leave too. Bah.
Best induction technique? Find someone (thru personal recs) who does prenatal massage and knows labor-inducing accupressure. Best case you go into labor 12-24 hrs later. Worst case you have a wonderful massage. 🙂
If only you lived in NYMetro I’d send you to my person…but then you’d have to pass on the 1 yr leave!
Ya know, there’s an all-natural induction technique that Beloved can help you with….*nudge, nudge, wink, wink*
Yay! I’m into humorous books, so’s ya know, since I SO know I’m winning this book now. 😉
I’m gonna echo Alison on that natural induction method… it works and it’s FUN too!
Any other tips on how to bring on labour? I’m soooo late… go for an u/s in two days and then will be talking about induction since I’m so late. (Which I don’t mind, since I was induced with my first and it was a dream labour) Anyway… I’m tired of being pregnant! What can I do?
is it appropriate for me to envy your leave? ‘cuz i do.
January 22 sounds good to me; that’s my birthday!
Back in the day, we got 15 weeks maternity leave. Just don’t be saying that us old women libbers did nothing for your generation. Love the fact that you can bond with the baby and spend more time with Tristan and Simon.
You’ll have TPTBNL within 24 hours of receiving that gift for him from us all that I have to put in the mail. Now let’s see…should I send it regular post…or express?
Holy CRAP, Dani, you’re almost there!!
Here’s to maternity leave and babies in the near future!
Good luck on the birthin’ and Happy maternity leave.
I drank GALLONS of that red raspberry leaf tea when I was pregnant with Pie. I don’t know if it did any good but it certainly made me feel better, just to be doing something.
Good luck! Look after yourself, and enjoy the time “off”!
Cheers,
Ian.
Just so you know – I only guessed an AM time on the 28th because someone had already picked a PM time. I’m not sadistic!
The Little Guy was due on November 23 and arrived on November 3rd. Yours could come earlier than expected…!
A year! A YEAR!!!! Holy guacamole, I’m sooooo jealous.
The woman whose mat leave I’m covering just returned yesterday. 6 weeks mat leave….and she had a C-section.
My country’s health and welfare policies really suck.
It’s getting so close! And a year off sounds divine to me! Jealous, jealous, jealous.
The only guess I’m gonna make is that he will be born in time for you to catch the new season of Survivor, start to finish.