I always wish to go the full 42 weeks of pregnancy.

I know this isn’t a statement often uttered by pregnant woman, especially when they enter the 3rd trimester of their pregnancy at the start of summer. But it has always been my hope during every pregnancy, and this one is no different. I am currently 35 weeks pregnant with a due date of August 10th, and I would love nothing more than to go all the way to August 24 before giving birth to this new baby.

I remember being pregnant with Drake; he was due on June 10th and I hoped he would stay put until June 24th, but he arrived on June 4th, 6 days earlier than expected. Juliet did the same, skirting her June 24th due date by arriving 6 days early as well, so I know the odds aren’t in my favor for going late, but I’m still hoping nevertheless.

My main motivation for wanting to go past my due date is simply that I enjoy being pregnant way more than I enjoy having a newborn. Even before I ever had a newborn, I reasoned that inside of me my baby would sleep when I did, but once outside of my body I could no longer control that. And for me sleep is a need that is stronger than hunger, thirst… almost anything. I want many things in life, but I need sleep like a lifeline to sanity and everything I had heard about newborns made me fear the sleepless nights even more. Drake’s birth only further confirmed almost every one of my fears of how tired and sleep deprived a human being can feel at the brink of wanting to lose their minds.

ADVERTISEMENT

On top of that wth this being my last pregnancy (most likely), it’s very bittersweet to realize that I will never get to experience all these things, good and bad, ever again. Each week that passes takes me one step closer to the end of a chapter, an end to pregnancy test, gender guesses, ultrasounds, baby flutters that grow into strong kicks and jabs. Also every week I hold baby inside me is one more week I can devote to Drake and Juliet being my only two babies. For Juliet especially I realize that for every day I stay pregnant I give her one more extra day to be the baby, something I had also wished for Drake when I was pregnant with her.

I am blessed in many ways when it comes to pregnancy in that mine are mostly easy. Like every pregnant woman I experience discomfort (hello pelvic pressure), aches (charley horses in the middle of the night, yay), bathroom breaks every 10 minutes, and now as I go through my first summer pregnancy, I understand why pregnancy and hot days don’t mix well. But overall I know my complaints are on the much easier end of the scale compared to most. Pregnancy for the most part is low key and easy for me, even as I try to balance life with two other little ones to care for. I love watching my belly expand as it grows a new little person; I love the little pokes and jabs and full on body rolls as baby grows stronger; I even love the questions and comments from strangers who stop me to inquire about the little one I’m housing.

And so as we head down these last few weeks, I won’t lie and say I haven’t promised this baby a mountain of presents in the future if they stay put a little longer and give me these last extra moments. I want to savor in my body being capable of housing and growing this precious life one last time. I want to savor my last moments with my two current little ones — my big boy about to head to kindergarten with his mastery of art and his love of animals and my current baby, my little sweet girl who is nothing but snuggles and sunshine day in and day out. As the weeks tick down every extra day becomes a victory as we slowly move toward an unknown date and time. It’ll come sooner than later and everything will change, but it will become the new normal as it did with Drake and Juliet. But until that inevitable comes, I’ll be hoping every day for just one extra day, one extra moment, one extra second to treasure my pregnant body and my 2 current little ones.