TEN WAYS TO PASS TIME DURING THE LABOR WAIT

At this point in pregnancy your due date is either days away or has come and gone and you're... well... still pregnant. You've done Google searches on "natural induction methods," "when will my baby be born", and many others trying to figure out just when labor will finally start. You remember that there is no crystal ball that will give you this information, so you are back to playing the waiting game.

This game is hard. You may be a weeping ball of emotions -  just READY to get this show on the road. But, the only thing to really do is be still and wait. Time passes slowly when we are forced to wait - especially in this day and age of instant gratification (hello skyrocketing induction rates). For this reason, I've come up with a list of Ten Ways to Pass the Time During the Labor Wait.

1. Prepare Freezer Meals
If you haven't already prepped some meals for the postpartum period, now is a great time to get a few done. You don't have to make a huge crazy day out of it - you can double your recipes a few nights in a row and freeze the extra dish. Or, attend a freezer meal workshop. Those are all the rage right now where I live and they make several in one night. 

2. Watch Breastfeeding: The Ultimate MRE
This awesome breastfeeding class is available in the Birth Boot Camp store and is the best way to prepare yourself with the knowledge necessary to ensure a great start to your breastfeeding journey. The class is approximately 3.5 hours in length and would be a great way to spend an afternoon. If you're a Birth Boot Camp student, it comes WITH your birth classes!

3. Go on a Date Night
Your world is about to change in a big way - and that includes the amount of time you get to spend connecting with your partner. Use this time to focus on each other. And like I said, you've already Googled natural induction methods - so a date night might lead to... that one induction method everyone's been telling you about.

Photo Courtesy In Bloom Photography This is my belly cast. I saved it and had my birth team autograph it as a keepsake.

4. Make a Belly Cast
Your belly is pretty close to the biggest it's ever going to get - and it's BEAUTIFUL! It holds your entire world right now. And one day very soon, that world will be in your arms. It's so much fun to lay your newborn next to their belly cast and think about the fact that they once LIVED in there. You don't have to spend a fortune either - Hobby Lobby has the supplies super cheap!

Supporting Arms 2015 Birth Boot Camp Retreat Instructor Courtney Alva from Katy, TX

5. Get a Henna Tattoo
Henna is gaining popularity among pregnant moms! It is beautiful, temporary artwork that can be done anywhere on your body, but is especially amazing on a pregnant belly. What a fun way to celebrate the little growing in there! Invite your birth circle over for a get together to celebrate this baby's impending arrival. 

6. Take Naps
Naps. Lots and lots of naps. This is probably my favorite tip and the most important thing you can do at the tail end of pregnancy. Not only are they great time suckers, but making sure you stay rested is crucial in these last days. You don't want to be exhausted when labor starts. Napping can help ensure that you are fully charged for the big event.

Dear Baby, Please come out!

7. Write a Letter to Your Baby
You can choose to pick the time that they'll open it - when they graduate from high school, when they get married, on the day they meet their first born. Pregnancy is a time when our souls are often consumed with so much love and joy that keeping it bottled up can bring a parent to tears. Share that love with your child.

Dr. Kristen in Burleson, TX adjusting an expecting mom.

8. Get a Chiropractic Adjustment
I'm a big believer in the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy. Not only can it help with common back pain associated with pregnancy, but it can also help ensure that baby is able to get into the correct position for birth. Did you know that chiropractic care is associated with quicker labors?

All Country Bumpkin Birth Services DOULA clients receive a FREE prenatal massage!

9. Pamper Yourself
Your feet are probably a bit swollen and achy. Schedule a pedicure and let someone massage your precious mama feet. Then, go get a prenatal massage to help soothe away the discomfort that comes with late pregnancy. Your body has served you well! It deserves to be spoiled!

This time is fleeting - enjoy it!

10. Savor the Belly
I know, I know. You're tired of the belly. You've been tired of the belly for many days, if not weeks. While you aren't going to miss the belly being cumbersome and making your back ache, you are going to miss being able to keep the baby all to yourself in such a unique way. You won't miss the breathlessness from having a baby in your ribs, but you will miss the amazing kicks and rolls that you've been experiencing during this sacred time. Try to capture some movements on video. Pull out your Birth Boot Camp field manual and look at the Belly Mapping information. Talk to the little being within you. Savor that belly and connect with your baby while he's still on the inside.

What did you do to maintain your sanity during the last weeks of pregnancy? Leave it in the comments!