The Waiting Game: 40 Weeks of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is commonly described as a 9-month journey, but the reality is that full-term pregnancies can last anywhere from 38 to 42 weeks, which means it’s more like 9.5 to 10.5 months. So today, here I am, at 40 weeks and 4 days pregnant, beyond the “standard” 9 months and finding myself deep in the waiting game trying all the ‘old wives tales’ remedies to get things moving. Like many pregnant ladies at this stage, I’m eagerly anticipating meeting our little man—sooner rather than later, I hope.

The final stretch has brought with it a whirlwind of emotions (excitement, nervousness, impatience) - but also wonder and humility. The time and place is not my choice, and baby will decide when he’s ready to come out. The trouble navigating the confusing balance between trusting that the baby will come when he’s ready and being aware of the medical timeline—knowing that if I don’t go into labor spontaneously, I may need to be induced in my 41st week. I find myself thinking about my body and baby constantly, trying to strike that perfect harmony between surrendering to nature and hoping for some intervention from the universe to kick things into gear.

The Fascination with Eastern Practices

At this stage, where the majority of my progress scans and blood tests have shown that baby is healthy and growing as expected, I’ve found it fascinating how many of the suggestions for encouraging labor stem from Eastern medicine. While Western medical practices focus more on monitoring progress and medical interventions if necessary, many of the methods aimed at stimulating labor naturally come from traditions that have been passed down for centuries—if not millennia.

I’ve tried everything from activating pressure points to herbal teas, essential oils, and yoga to help my body shift into labor mode. Earlier today, I had a 90-minute acupuncture session, where no fewer than 20 needles were inserted into my arms and legs—some even connected to electronic nodes to stimulate my body’s chi (energy) flow and release blockages. All in the hopes of encouraging spontaneous labor before next Monday.

I’ll admit, I’m not typically someone who leans heavily into homeopathic treatments, but I’m also not skeptical of ancient wisdom that’s been studied, refined, and passed down over generations. Acupuncture, for example, has roots in traditional Chinese medicine that go back over 2,000 years. And while it may not be something I regularly turn to in other aspects of my life, the idea of using these methods to help align my body with this natural process feels right, especially in such a novel moment, as bringing this little human into the world.

Trusting the Process

As I approach this potentially final week of pregnancy, what’s clear to me is the importance of surrendering to the unknown and going with the flow. There’s only so much control I have over when and how labor will start. The waiting feels endless at times (I literally joke that it feels as if I have been pregnant for 2 years), and the anticipation of meeting our baby boy is overwhelming at times. But I’m also learning that this phase—these final days and weeks of pregnancy—is as much a part of the journey as the birth itself.

Patience has become my mantra, though it’s often easier said than done. I’m learning to trust that my body knows what to do, even when it feels like it’s taking its time. In some ways, it feels like I’m in a liminal space—a place between the life I’ve known and the one that’s about to begin, between the woman I’ve been and the mom I’m about to become.

(A Gentle) Hope for Spontaneous Labor

As the 40th week passes, I’m still holding onto hope for spontaneous labor. While induction is on the cards if needed, I’m holding space for the possibility that my body will go into labor naturally in the coming days. This waiting period has become an opportunity to reflect, to embrace the unknown, and to honour the incredible changes happening within and around me.

In the meantime, I’ll keep walking, stretching, meditating, and drinking that bitter herbal tea. Whether labor begins naturally or with a nudge from more direct medical intervention, I’m ready to meet our little man.