38 weeks and counting.

Today I am 38 weeks pregnant. 37 weeks onwards is considered full term.

Last night I had my birth support meeting. This involved my beautiful birth support team gathering in my home to share food, give me loads of attention and chat about any feelings we were having around the event. We did discuss some of the logistics of home birthing such as putting the birth pool together (Dale's job) and a birth plan if we needed to be transferred to hospital. It was such a nourishing and peaceful evening. I think I dropped even more deeply into a calm and relaxed space. At the end of the night Dale and I lay down on the futon in the lounge together and Sally, our main midwife, placed her hands on us and did a beautiful affirmation. My favourite line is when she says "there is so much love for you out here little baby."

I went to bed completely blissed out and excited about our baby's arrival. Two hours later I awoke from a dream with mild period-like cramping running from my uterus down into my legs. This was a new sensation. In sleepy tones I said to Dale, "I'm having some period type pain right now, it woke me up." He stirred a little and then we both lay there a little more awake and alert wondering if this would be the night. Well the cramps passed and we went back to sleep. I woke this morning feeling nothing unusual but a little buzzed about the new tricks my baby and uterus were performing. Go little baby. You are amazing. Our bodies are amazing.

This morning I told Dale that I did not want to ever begrudge and whine about pregnancy and labor. I know I might get sookie at some point during the birth but right now I feel so honored and blessed to have this experience and no matter how challenging it is I promised him and our baby that I would always see this extraordinary experience as a profound blessing.

My midwife left us at 10pm last night and went on to deliver a little boy at 1am this morning. She had mentioned that she may have a baby arrive last night so when I woke to cramps I did mention to the little one that Sally might be busy and could we hold off another night? Thank you little one.

I am no pin-up gal for smooth and challenge-free pregnancy (you'll have to look to Angelina for that). I have had some impressive symptoms and have felt rotten from time to time. It has been wild and wonderful watching my body change. Some days I have felt fully surrendered to the process and other days I have felt sad and resistant. This little human has taught me so much already. I cannot wait for us meet each other's gaze.