So the final weeks of pregnancy are dragging along, or perhaps your due date has come and gone, and your baby has yet to make his or her grand entrance into the world. It may seem like a cruel twist of fate after you’ve been counting down the days to meet your little one, but going past your due date is extremely common and likely only the first of countless times you will be left waiting for your offspring to catch up with your schedule.
Likely your care provider will monitor you and baby to ensure all is well, and if you haven’t already discussed their protocols about going past your due date, now is a great time to ask all your questions and know your options. Many providers have a specific time frame beyond which they will schedule an induction, although it is possible they could be flexible if you strongly prefer to wait for labour to begin on its own. If you wish you knew more about what it means to go past your due date and the options you have, stop reading THIS article and geek out with me over at Evidence Based Birth. However, if you have all the info you want, and you have already tried all the natural induction methods known to the internet (I know you know how to use google!), here is a list of time passers to cycle through. Enjoy!
1) Stay Nourished and Well Hydrated
Maybe this is a no-brainer, but it is all too easy in the rush and bustle and fatigue of 40+ weeks of pregnancy to skip a meal or veg out for hours without having anything to drink. At some point, you really will go into labour, and you want your body as ready as possible to work effectively.
While we’re talking about vegging out (and later in this list, when I send you to youtube/Netflix), keep your posture in mind okay? The heaviest part of your baby are its head and spine, and gravity will always be pulling those parts downward relative to how you sit/stand/lie down. Ideally, your baby’s head will already be down in your pelvis and facing toward your back, with his/her spine against the front of your belly. I’m a bit of an alignment nerd as well as a birth nerd, so if I’m your doula, you can know I’ll be giving you pointers about posture to help your baby’s position. Short version: laying on your side or sitting up and leaning forward are both much better options than reclining on your back, even if you are propped up on pillows to avoid the concerns about circulation that come with lying flat on your back late in pregnancy.
2) Get Some Fresh Air
This may be easier said than done, but it will freshen up your perspective and give you a break from watching the clock. If your care provider hasn’t limited your activity, getting outdoors is well worth the effort of getting your shoes on, and if you live near a park or other green space, connecting with nature will put you in a great frame of mind.
If the great outdoors is not an option, you can still reap relaxation benefits by simply taking some deep cleansing breaths and letting out any stress or frustration that has been building through the day. Being present as you wait for labour is great practice for staying in the moment when labour comes, and that can make all the difference in your birth experience.
3) Write a Letter
You are in the last hours and days of this amazing process before you meet your baby – why not write them a pre-birthday letter to share your feelings as you wait? It’s a great opportunity to look back on the memories of your pregnancy, and to capture this experience that will be over so soon.
Having written a letter to your baby, why stop there? Take time to share your heart with your partner, parents, or other loved ones and thank them for what they mean to you and your growing family.
4) Bake Something
Some women bake their baby a birthday cake in early labour to help distract them and pass the time until contractions require their full attention. Waiting for labour to begin is also a wonderful time to prepare good meals you can freeze and enjoy during your early postpartum days. Healthy muffins or cookies could provide nourishing snacks, and cooking a double batch of any meal is only a bit more work than preparing one serving. My favourite granola recipe is easy to personalize according to your taste, but even the basic version is delicious! Also, this list of muffin tin recipes (NOT limited to muffins at ALL) should keep even the most ambitious post-dates chef busy for a few days.
5) Have a Dance Party
This woman is not very close to her due date, and if you haven’t been dancing through your pregnancy, now is not the time to start with any crazy business, BUT turning up some high-energy tunes you love and swinging your hips will limber you up for labour and get endorphins flowing through your bloodstream (which keeps your baby happy, too!). If you have other little ones, get them in on the action, or if you’re feeling sociable, invite a friend over to join you! Just like this woman – know your limits and don’t push them! And definitely take a rest if you start to feel dizzy or unwell.
6) Plan for Outings with Baby
Don’t feel that you have to book anything! But know your options – you may or may not be up for many outings in the first few weeks post partum, but doing some research beforehand will make it that much easier to actually go to an early years center or mommy-and-baby class when you’re ready! Depending on your personality, you may need several activities to choose from, or you may draft up a schedule of two or three activities over the course of a week or month. Keep in mind that the first few months after birth may unfold differently than you imagined – your energy levels might be lower, your baby’s needs might be higher, or you may go stir-crazy alone at home with a newborn. Either way, researching activities and community groups in your area now will NOT be time wasted, even if you don’t end up doing half the things you look into.
In Ontario, Early Years Centres are free to attend and offer a variety of activities and a great opportunity to socialize! Your local library and community centre likely also have programs for new babies and older children if you already have kids to keep busy.
7) Laugh at Something
I don’t know if the movie Bridesmaids will ever get old for me.
If that’s not your style, but you have some other entertainment go-to – indulge! Uninterrupted screen time might be on its way out of your life, and even though newborns mostly just eat and poop and sleep, taking care of them can be pretty all-consuming. It’s a trade-off that’s totally worth it, but you’ll soon prefer a solid nap to a 2 1/2 hour movie. Just change positions a couple times through the movie (flip from one side to the other) and cycle back to a different item from the list when your movie/show is over.
Keep your chin up, mama! I promise you won’t be pregnant forever.
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