It was about a month from my due date and my hubby and I head to the hospital for a check up and to meet our delivery doctor. Unfortunately, she got called into emergency surgery but we met another very nice doctor who talked to us about our wishes for labor (Switzerland is awesome in this regard. You can basically do whatever you want!), who to call when labor begins, where to go and on and on. My hubby pops in and out for a few work calls (typical) and returns to ask some pointed questions about when our little babe will arrive.
Husband: So, most first babies are born after their due date, right?
Doctor: Some are yes, but there is no way to know.
Husband: But if she went into labor right now you could stop it right?
Doctor: The baby is full term so we wouldn't stop labor at this point.
Husband: Well, first births typically take longer, right? So if I'm out of the country (within Europe) I'll have time to fly back and make the birth.
Doctor: First babies typically take longer but I delivered a first baby the other day and the woman was only in labor for 3 hours. There is just no way to know.
I could see the panic set in. This big belly of mine could potentially produce a baby any time now but my hubby still had a week long trip planned for work. Me giving birth alone in a country where we've lived for 8 weeks was just not an option. So, after much discussion, my husband called his mom and asked her to come stay and babysit me for 10 days so he could meet his work responsibilities and know that I would be taken care of. And let me tell you, this woman has taken care of me!
She arrived last Friday morning and immediately got to work in the house. She unpacked box after box after box until yesterday afternoon the boxes were no more. She spent last night hemming curtains that were unfinished and I awoke this morning to her loading the elevator with boxes that needed to go down to our storage room. She has cooked dinner every night and a dirty dish has not sat in the sink for longer than 2 minutes.
The help has been truly amazing. There was no way what my head wanted to get done and what my body could actually do was going to happen but now it's a possibility and for this I am truly, truly thankful. But more than that, I have really enjoyed her company. This is a woman who has lived a life much like mine is turning out to be. She gave up her career and left all of her friends so her husband could be successful then made the best life for herself and her family while doing so. It is a complicated journey that is judged by some. It can be filled with the deepest loneliness and the greatest fulfillment one can experience all at the same time. We began working at 9am yesterday and talked and talked and talked until suddenly we realized it was 3pm and we should eat some lunch! I have so much enjoyed hearing about her life and it gives me perspective on where my husband came from and maybe some insights into my own future.
Her visit has been a true blessing and I can actually take a deep breath and say "ok baby, you are allowed to born anytime after your dad gets home next Tuesday. We are ready for you."
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