WISTFUL WAITING
A few months ago, I described to a client how that period of time when you are ready to birth, but your baby isn’t quite ready as ‘Wistful Waiting’ or Wistfully Waiting. Since coming up with the term back in 2021, I’ve had a bit more time to think about it.
So What is ‘Wistful Waiting’? It's that time when you are really waiting for your baby to arrive and your baby is waiting for you. It's those last few weeks of pregnancy that seem to go on forever, when you are heavy, and fed up, everything is such an effort and you just want your baby to come!
Wistfully waiting is my way of saying, spend time with yourself and time with your baby. Build up your happiness hormones, feel as safe and as grounded as you can. Enjoy time laughing with your partner and family, before this new person comes earthside to join you. Before your world as it is now is rocked to its core, by round the clock needs, and recovery time.
Babies really do come when they are ready if you are patient. Some will come before 37 week, but statistically most will arrive after their guess date. Some are really comfy in there and will wait till well after we expect them to put in an appearance.
Babies are built for survival and they know when their best time is. So ‘Wistful Waiting’ is the time when your baby is making its final preparations for birth. Relaxation is the key thing to do here. Rest, Relaxation and most importantly giving it time.
Relaxation often happens best at home, where we feel safe. It is often the place where we spend a significant part of our labour. So its well worth thinking about your set up. How you can adapt your environment to benefit you in the last weeks of pregnancy and early labour. Having somewhere to sit and contemplate is good thing to have.
Its a time to feel all the feels, weepy? go for it. Feeling bloated? feel it. Think about it… Journal it. Sing about it. Shout about it… complain about it. Go cuddle your people. Just do what feels right ….
But most of all, its a time to experience, This waiting its an important part of helping labour to start when the time is right.
Gill
