What’s happening inside
Your uterus is pressing down pretty significantly against your bladder now, which is why you’ve been visiting the toilet more often than usual, which can be rather frustrating at night.
Maternal Changes
During these last few weeks, you may be hit with the urge to get everything ship-shape and in perfect order for the new arrival, from packing the baby’s room to organizing your storeroom to restocking your kitchen! This ‘nesting instinct’ usually signals that D-day is pretty near, and may be a response to the increased adrenaline in your system. Conversely, you may not feel any such burst of energy at all, and instead be perfectly content to slump on the couch in front of the telly the whole day…
A Matter of Fact
You’re almost full-term so its best not to be caught unprepared when labour begins. Try to have your hospital bags packed by the end of the week, so that you can quickly whisk it out the door when you need to go to the hospital!
Tips for daddy
Labour durations vary from person to person, but are generally longer than a few hours for first-time mothers. If you’re planning to stick it out with your wife in the labour ward during that time, do prepare some materials to keep you both occupied. You might want to bring along a magazine, your i-Pad or a good book.
A quote for mummy-to-be
Women do not have to sacrifice personhood if they are mothers. They do not have to sacrifice motherhood in order to be persons. Liberation was meant to expand women’s opportunities, not to limit them. The self-esteem that has been found in new pursuits can also be found in mothering.
– Elaine Heffner
