10 Days.

Now, I realize that due dates are just approximations of when baby will arrive and I've completely accepted that. At the same time, since we don't know when he'll come, it's exciting to use my due date as a guess to how much time we may have left to meet him. And today I am 38 weeks, 4 days, so technically I only have 10 days to go! These past 9 months have seemed like an eternity (probably because of the sickness for the first 6 months), yet I still don't feel ready! I am (and we are) incredibly excited to meet him any time, though! We know that God will provide everything we need (physically, spiritually, & emotionally) regardless of how and when he arrives. Praise Him that I am feeling more and more excited and less and less nervous each day.

We went to St. Joe's Hospital (where we will give birth) Wed night to "Meet the Midwives" of our clinic. There are about 20 of them (4 different clinic locations) who deliver at St. Joes and Woodwinds Hospitals and since you get whoever happens to be on call for the delivery, we thought it would be nice to meet all of them beforehand. After the little meet and greet/ Q&A session we went on a second tour of the hospital. It's so different to see the rooms and maternity ward when you are 2 weeks from your due date vs. 11 weeks pregnant and on the verge of throwing up the whole tour. Both times I noticed how quiet and peaceful the maternity ward was. And they told us that the night we were there all but one of the rooms were full! Yikes. It was actually comforting to see a room again and picture us there in labor and with our new baby in our arms. We got even more excited after this helpful visualization. We love the hospital as well as the midwives we chose for our pregnancy (Healtheast midwives) and are so thankful for a place/medical staff who want to support us in natural childbirth. Here are some of the interesting (and amazing) statistics at St. Joe's:

C-Sections: 11% (the national average is around 32% or 1 in 3 births!)
Epidurals: 27% (the national average is between 75 and 90%)
Episiotomies: 2% (the national average is around 30%)
Waterbirths: 25%

Whatever kind of birth we end up having (we can make our plans, but the Lord determines what happens:) it is nice to know we will be surrounded by medical staff who will encourage us and support us and will use interventions when necessary and not simply routinely. If you haven't seen "The Business of Being Born" and are interested in the history of childbirth and how the U.S. differs from other countries in its child birthing, I highly recommend watching this (on youtube you have to watch it in about 10 parts, or you can get it at the library). It's an amazing documentary (though graphic, must warn you). Makes you in awe of how God created women to bear children...not sure how anyone could deny the existence of a God when you learn about pregnancy and childbirth!

Well, we covet your prayers in these last few days/weeks...can't wait to announce/introduce our little boy to you (currently the size of a watermelon!)!