Reasons Why I Am Lucky To Be Full Term
As uncomfortable and large as I am right now, I am so lucky to be full term.
I’m actually even grateful for my current state of enormity and girth. Wow, I can’t believe I wrote that! That sounds so odd coming out of my head, but I’ve had a lot of time to think about it lately. And there are a lot of reasons to be so joyous and excited about it (besides the obvious excitement that comes with having a baby).
Some moms don’t get the opportunity to go full term.
It may not seem so lucky at the time but moms are lucky to be full term when they are pregnant.ome moms don’t get the opportunity to go full term.
Some moms don’t get the opportunity to carry a child for the full nine months. As the mother of a premature baby born at 33 weeks, I had a few moms mention that I was actually lucky to not have to deal with the hugeness that comes with carrying full term.
But the alternative is having an infant with potentially significant medical issues and spending weeks or even months in the NICU. Or even worse. The safest option for the baby is always the best one. From experience I can tell you that it sucks to be discharged from the hospital without your baby.
We are very lucky that our sweet little preemie was born so healthy and has no obvious residual effects from being born early. Not every mom is so lucky.
I get to have the whole experience of a full term pregnancy.
As I just mentioned, our daughter was born early (due to a spontaneous placental abruption at 33 weeks). After she was born I remember feeling like I wasn’t ready to not be pregnant anymore. I felt like i had somehow “missed out” on the full pregnancy experience. I thought other moms were so lucky to be full term and I still wanted to be pregnant.
Because of my past experience, I have been relishing In these last few weeks of my full term pregnancy. I am enjoying both the good and uncomfortable parts because this experience is so temporary.
Some women don’t get the opportunity to have children.
There was a time almost a decade ago when my husband and I discussed the possibility of not wanting to have children. We were much younger and our interests included our social life, travel, and pretty much anything that didn’t have to do with caring for anyone but ourselves.
I am lucky to be full term.
Fast forward many years and our priorities have completely changed. When we decided to start trying to have children we are very lucky that we were able to.
I know parents who wanted to have their own children but couldn’t, and it was devastating for them. I also know several women who have had to go through in vitro fertilization, which is not only extraordinarily expensive but requires months of doctors appointments, medications, and often repeated disappointments. Sadly, even after all that it doesn’t always work.
There is something really fun about being super pregnant.
Don’t get me wrong. I miss my wine. But I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I love it when people ask me questions about being pregnant. It is fun for me to talk about. The more I talk about the joys of pregnancy the more I realize how I am so lucky to be full term right now.
Even strangers stop me on the street to ask questions and the questions never get old. I happily tell people how far along I am, that I am having a boy, that it is my second child, and I couldn’t be more excited!
It’s better than being in the first trimester again.
I felt horrible during the first trimester. I was nauseous and felt hung over for at least two months. Work was difficult, especially since I as working and training as an emergency room nurse. Worst of all, it was early in the pregnancy so I couldn’t tell anyone that I was pregnant. I’m sure my co-workers thought it was weird that I was constantly snaking on a saltine.
At least when you are double your size with a huge baby bump people automatically know that you are most likely pretty uncomfortable. I often had people offer up their chairs so I could sit or ask if they could help me with anything. While it was usually unnecessary, their gestures are very kind and appreciated.
Being full term (and huge) is something I can bond with other moms about.
At nine months pregnant, it’s difficult to explain how enormous one feels to someone who has not experienced it. But other moms who have been in the same situation totally get it. Especially my need to continue nesting even 3 days before I have this baby!
I have even made friends with people whom I I’ve worked with for several years but never had a conversation with. It gives me an automatic connection with a lot of other women who I never may have spoken with.
Full-term babies have less complications and are generally healthier at birth.
This one is that obvious best reason that I am so lucky to have a full term pregnancy. I can feel our son moving around so much. It’s mostly because he is so big, and that makes me feel relieved since our daughter was born at 4 lbs. 3 oz. I am really excited to have a baby who will be at least in the 7 pound range. He will be born at the right time with the least amount of potential complications due to the fact that I am full term.
I have 3 more days until our son is here!
I am so excited to count all his fingers and toes and cuddle him silly. However, having a newborn in the house is going to be an adjustment and I know I won’t be getting any sleep for a while. So for the next three days I am going to just enjoy every minute of my full term largeness. This will be the only time in my life where I can be proud to be almost 30 pounds heavier and not feel guilty about it.
I am so lucky to be full term!
Sarah, Mother Nurse Love
