By Janelle Nash:
I’ll never forget when “the sentence” was handed down to me by my OB-GYN: ‘There’s no way you’ll go past 39 weeks.’ After a rough eight months of pregnancy filled with constant nausea, tiredness and general mental anguish, putting an end date to my “body jail” was the light at the end of the tunnel that I needed.
Body jail, a term shared by a friend, seems to fit perfectly. After an easy and happy first pregnancy, I was surprised to experience the darker side of expecting this time. Now all those people who complained through their pregnancies didn’t seem so crazy and miserable after all.
Now nearing 41 weeks, I’ve started to refer to my doctor as “The Warden.” The two extra weeks since my much anticipated new due date have been excruciating. Family in town too early? Check. Missing more work than necessary? Check. Trying to sleep with an overgrown watermelon duct-taped to my midsection? Check. Constant phone calls, emails and Facebook messages asking “where’s that baby”? Check.
To me, the basic components of body jail include:
– Lockup: Don’t want to leave the house because you look/feel like death warmed over.
– Food/drinks: Nothing tastes good when you eat it and/or when it comes back to visit you in the form of heartburn (or worse).
– Apparel: I think there was approximately one week when maternity clothes fit the right way.
– Weight: If you’re not constantly concerned with the amount of weight you’ve gained, the good news is that everyone around you make sure that you are aware of where you fall on the scale.
The good news is I should be released from body jail by the time you read this. I can’t wait to meet my new baby girl and introduce her to our family. Next up: breastfeeding parole…
8 comments
I know exactly what you mean!! My twin pregnancy was "body jail" for sure!!! Every second felt like hours and days felt like weeks!!
Hilarious! Why did your doctor let you go that far past your due date?
most OBs will let you go one week past your due date, after that then they will induce but unless there are problems most would prefer to wait for nature.
My doctor does not like to do inductions unless you have a certain amount of cervical dilation due to the increased risk of c-section. At 41 weeks, they'll induce you anyway unless you want to wait it out. If you've already had a c-section, or you have a medical reason to induce (large baby, pregnancy complications), doctors are more open to inducing earlier.
I just had to read this article first when I got my Smarty Pants newsletter today because this is exactly where I am! I am 40 weeks on Monday with my 5th baby, but all of my babies were early (and big) & my last one came at 37 weeks, so we have been ready for weeks! Everywhere I go, I'm greeted with, "I can't believe you're still here!!!" I feel like this baby girl is getting ready to fall out, but for some reason she's quite comfy inside! Hope that you are holding your sweet girl by now! I will be induced tomorrow if she doesn't come today. I'm trying to avoid being in the hospital for my little one's 2nd birthday on Monday! All the best to you!
Janelle, you are speakin' my language! I am 7 months along and have struggled with constant nausea, back pain, etc through this pregnancy and the last. I am so grateful for this miracle and the ability to be pregnant but I am looking forward to getting out of body jail!
Kudos to Melanie for being in body jail 5 times!!!!! That deserves some sort of award! I am in body jail for the 3rd time, and the pregnancy is easy, no sickness or other 'side effects' BUT I am so ready for this to be over. This is going to be my last child, and while I am soooo excited to have a third, I am equally excited to be the one in control of my body and get back to 'normal' whatever that may be after having 3 kiddos!
Best of luck to you pregnant ladies – it's so cliche, but it really is worth it once you have that sweet baby in your arms. I probably would have punched anyone who said that to me at the end of my pregnancy though. 🙂