Monthly Archives: May 2011

Three things I’ve learnt from waiting

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I recently shared about playing the waiting game (for the arrival of baby Javier).

Since then, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learnt through the waiting experience. Here are 3 lessons:

1. The period of waiting is made more bearable, dare I say even enjoyable, by the presence of loved ones and friends. These are precious people who walk and wait alongside us, lift up our spirits, water our souls with faith-filled words, and remember our needs in prayer. And I thank God for each one of them! :)

2. Waiting is the anticipation of fulfillment of a need or desire. Sometimes that desire can grow so big that it stretches from one end of the horizon to the other, and cloud our ability to appreciate the sunset. Sometimes in focusing on a small detail, we may lose sight of the big picture.

3. There is beauty and purpose to be discovered in the wait. Sometimes things just don’t turn out the way we want them to, and we fail to see why. It’s like a child having his request for a candy bar rejected, or a person having to bear with unrequited love. (why why why!?)

It only requires a tweak of the mindset to see that perhaps, just perhaps, this is a moment for a character trait to be reshaped, a priority to be adjusted, a value to be learnt.

So these are my 3 takeaways from the past few weeks of waiting. No wait, I lied…there’s a 4th:

4. God has better plans and timing. Much better than what I can imagine for myself. If I would just trust in him, I will be able to see how much He has come through for me in just this pregnancy alone. And with this, I can rest assured that whatever the outcome may be, it is God’s best plan for me.

Now that’s probably my biggest lesson of all.

How to distract yourself while waiting for natural labour

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After some eight months, you’ve finally hit full term. You’ve just about had it with the extra 10kg of weight, constant need to pee, water retention, endless kegels, mid-of-night cravings, mood swings, Braxton Hicks, and…

Sometimes being pregnant can feel like you’re running a full marathon. Huff…puff…”When am I going to reach that finishing line?”

As I write, I’m painfully aware of the moment. I watched two mummies get admitted yesterday for labour, and I could only look on with envy.

I know it’s silly, but this kind of belly-heavy-emotions just can’t help it. Particularly if you stare at your swollen shape everyday…

So, I’ve been looking out for ways to distract myself while I wait. Here’s how I try to make my days go by quicker:

  • Spend quality time with your older kids, at the same time preparing them (or better still, involving them) for the arrival of the baby
  • Read motherhood forum pages / parenting websites and blogs which you’ve always been keen to dive into. If you’re a first time parent, this is a good time to store up practical information on stuff like breastfeeding, storing breast milk, caring for newborns, etc.
  • Schedule a meal / coffee with friends (or colleagues if you’re like me…already started maternity leave)

What are some ways you distract yourself in THE BIG WAIT? :)

Playing the waiting game - pregnancy week 38

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I officially hit week 38 today in my pregnancy journey. At the gynae’s today, I was told that my cervix was still closed and tight.

I felt quite depressed after that.

Then I heard that baby is now 3.1 kg. (Quite heavy.)

As my first delivery was a c-section (due to a failed induction), I have an impending deadline, i.e., natural labour has to begin by due date (2 weeks time). It doesn’t help that baby also has a cap to his weight (anything above 3.3 kg is too risky in my doc’s opinion). FYI, he was 2.85 kg last week.

[Let me backtrack a bit. I'm aiming for natural birth because if I ever want to conceive again, going through a second caesarean now would mean compulsory caesarean for the third child. Also because of a quicker recovery period by natural, increased mobility, etc, which will allow me to still be able to play with Vera, my 2y.o. toddler]

So now, it feels like I can’t wait any longer. “Baby, come out now! Pleaseeee?”

Times like these, it’s good to put things back into perspective.

My opinion of waiting: a period marked by restlessness and not being able to focus on anything else but the object of that waiting. “I WANT IT NOW!”

A better perspective of waiting: God’s timing is best, and sometimes it may not match with yours. And we have to trust that He’s in control and that He loves you.

Even though it seems like He’s late, He’s never late.

So I just have to keep waiting, and keep hoping.