Chapter one ~ The High Tea
It had been a long and
difficult pregnancy, although it did only seem like yesterday when I saw those
two lines staring at me, and rushing to my friends house to ask for advice in
the middle of the night.
I was certain that I
was going to ‘go’ early. At 37 weeks I waited and waited. I knew something was
going to happen. But barely a braxon hicks contraction. Nothing. I really
wanted to go early and have a special leap year baby born on the 29th
of February.
The three weeks before
my due date I spent viciously cleaning the house. I was restlessly nesting. But
nothing was happening. My due date came and went, and I was still pregnant. I
wasn’t looking forward to the birth, but I was so sick of being pregnant. I had
been sick for the whole thing. I didn’t see much magic in pregnancy. I wasn’t
excited or had any of these feelings that other people seemed to have for me.
Then it happened.
I was on the couch
doing my usual pregnant thing. Being lazy, checking Facebook, pinning things on
Pinterest. Something on facebook popped up about spare tickets to a High Tea
run by Light FM. I was hesitant at first, given that I was already 40 weeks
pregnant and more than likely it would be in a different area of Melbourne. But
then I asked if I could come along. Why not. It was aimed at mothers, and I was
about to become one. Instantly, Lucy, the presenter of their morning show
emailed me the details for the high tea the next morning. As I thought, it was
on the other side of Melbourne, but I didn’t care as I was going a little crazy
being at home all the time.
I was 40 weeks and 3
days when the High Tea was on. I walked in and felt a little awkward at first,
but then people started talking to me, and casually asking, “so when are you
due”, to which I would reply, “last Friday”. People gave me a look of, ‘are you
crazy’, but were generally very nice about it. Lucy so desperately wanted me to
go into labour there and then: it would make a great on-air story she said.
I had no feeling of
anything happening any time soon. Although, I was a first-timer, I didn’t know
what to expect. Was labour so spontaneous that it just comes on while you’re
casually eating cake?
The High Tea was
great. Sharon from the circle spoke about being isolated, as did GI Jane. I was
really glad they spoke about this because it was something I knew I may
struggle with, given that I live a fair distance from everybody these days. I
got a manicure, and ate these fantastic strawberries.
I didn’t want it to
end, because I really liked having people around to talk to. On my way out the
crew handed me a showbag and told me their tips to bring on labour: eat spicy
food and go for a brisk walk.
I was beginning to get
a little desperate. I was already past my due date and I hear it is horrible to
be induced. When I got home I began ferociously cleaning a bookcase. Then I
went on a fast walk to the mailbox. I almost died walking to the mailbox. It’s
outside a milkbar and I had totally lost my breath. I think I worried a few
teenagers sitting outside with their cool energy drinks. The problem is, I
didn’t look pregnant, I just looked fat. So it looked like a scene from The
Biggest Loser.
That evening my
husband Hendrik came home. We decided not to cook dinner, but to eat the spicy
chips that I got in the showbag. They were nice, but wow were they spicy. I
thought I may regret it later as I had suffered pretty bad heartburn the whole
pregnancy.
I watched some TV to
give the chips a chance to reach my stomach and then went to bed. I slept
really well, until about 1am…
That’s when ‘it’
started.
(stay tuned for chapter two)
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