And so the fun begins at 37 weeks pregnant.
I’ve heard how annoying it can be to field calls from family and friends who are constantly asking the same questions, “Are you ok? Any signs of labor yet?”
When people complained about those questions previously, I remember thinking to myself, “At least people care enough about that person to ask and wonder”.
Why would someone complain about others caring about them, right?
Wrong!
Now that I’m on that side of the playing field and I got my first official question this morning, I’m not looking forward to it.
In fact, I just might not call or text anyone back if it gets too annoying. I do know and realize fully that it is only because people care about me, but honestly mom, do you not think that you would know when the time comes? (Yes, the specific text was from my mom earlier today.)
So when I’m on my computer, I’m usually signed into yahoo instant messenger. I’m not really a phone person (at all), so instant messenger or texting is right up my alley. When I had my PC I would stay signed into i.m. all of the time, even if my computer went on standby. With my Mac it is different. When my laptop is asleep it automatically signs me out of i.m.
No big deal, right?
Usually it’s not a big deal, but when I am 37 weeks pregnant, it’s a bigger deal than I would have guessed.
Tarzan and I were upstairs looking at something in the nursery and I left my phone downstairs. I heard it go off a few times, but again, I’m never one to run around with my phone in my hand constantly, so I figured I’d see who the text and call were from when I got around to it.
After we came back downstairs, I saw that not only had I missed a call from my mom, but I also missed a text from her. ”Ugh” is what initially ran through my mind. I already knew what the voicemail and the text were going to say even before I listened to/read the text.
You see, my mom is always signed into i.m. as well. Since she’s quite the talker, this method works out best for me. I can ask her questions without having to deal with the “how are you” and “what are you doing” BS that I hate so much on the phone.
Keep in mind that my mom clearly knows that my Mac signs me out of i.m. because I’ve told her a million times before. But I suppose when your daughter is 37 weeks pregnant, all previous knowledge goes right out the window. Lucky for said daughter. Not.
Of course I didn’t listen to her voicemail because I just don’t bother listening to them on most occasions. (Just to clarify, it’s not only my mom’s voicemails that I don’t listen to, it’s anyone’s.)
I did read her text, obviously though.
“Are you ok? I noticed you signed out of i.m.”
I responded with, “I’m fine. You know that my laptop signs me out.”
She said, “Just checking.”
C’mon mom, you know how my laptop works and you are well aware that it signs me out. You also know that someone will call you when it’s time.
Please, please, please do not call me asking me the same things over and over and this includes the “how are you feeling” question. I have hated hearing this question since the first trimester and now that I’m at the end of the third trimester, nothing has changed. I still hate it and it is still ever so annoying.
In fact, that particular question is probably more annoying than any of them. I am feeling the same way that I felt this past weekend when I saw you. There has been no change. Remember I have a human growing in my stomach. In July. In Houston. You think you are hot? Ha!
And about the labor calls – Not only will you be disappointed in the fact that there is no labor progress, but I will be highly irritated and possibly not call you when it’s time. (Only kidding on not calling.)
Now, if only I could tell my mom these things without her getting her feelings hurt.
You might also want to read:
- 37 weeks pregnant: Reminiscing about my pregnancy
- Signs of labor during pregnancy: Bowel movements, cramping, and spotting, oh my!
- 21 weeks pregnant: 11 things that people say to me that I’m sick of hearing already!
- 37 weeks pregnant: Full term OB pregnancy appointment
- 36 weeks pregnant: Checking things off of my “to get done before baby comes” list
= a post from Mommy Jane 
= a post from Daddy Tarzan
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my gosh, I hate talking on the phone, too!
At my first meeting w/ my midwife, she suggested telling people a due date that’s a week later than my actual due date so that I don’t get the “haven’t you had that baby yet” line of questioning any sooner than necessary. I’m certain that’s going to annoy me to the point of turning off my phone…
I can see how that would be annoying and I’m sure I’ll complain about it too. The good thing about cell phones is that they turn off, though
I totally understand! My MIL would continually ask if I was okay or if I had any “twinges”. *sigh*
I know that they are just excited – but it was really hard!
The good news is – it will be over soon. The bad news is – when’s it’s over you disappear and everybody just wants to see the baby!
By the way – how are you feeling? (just kidding!)
So are you going to keep blogging after the baby is born or is the blog going to be over? Congratulations – hope everything goes great in the next few weeks!
Around 35 weeks, my dear, sweet, wonderful mother started calling every. single. day. “So, how’re you feeling?” Every. SINGLE. DAY. And each time I told her I was just fine and that I would call her if anything happened. Which I did when my water broke unexpectedly with my breech baby at 37.5 weeks.
Go me.
Then she called every day for the first month (at least) asking how the baby was and how our day was, etc, etc. Just smile and roll with it.
When I do break the news to my family (at 5 months along) I will definitely tell them my due date is at least a week later than it is. We’d rather have the option of inviting family, who live nearby, to the hospital if we are comfortable with the idea at the time. Otherwise, the can wait until the baby comes home and we are prepared to have visitors there.
My mom is a talker too and doesn’t seem to see the problem with divulging personal medical information to just about anyone, e.g. casual acquaintances, co-workers, etc. The mere idea of these folks knowing the intimate details of my child birth experience makes me cringe. With this in mind, she has to be on a need to know basis–or everything has to be prefaced with a request to please keep this information to yourself. Ah, family.
Just to lend some perspective to you lucky ladies with the constantly questioning mother problem: my mom died 3 years ago shortly before I got married. She loved babies and longed for grandchildren (I am an only child so all hopes were on me!). I would give just about anything to have her calling me every single day just to ask if I was okay.
I know how you feel. My OB said with my last one I would probably go early so starting at around 30 weeks I got the same thing! Its really annoying but I just tried to take it all in stride as much as I could.
Oh, I so wish I would’ve told people a week later! I never thought of that, and now it’s too late. I haven’t yet gotten a ton of calls, but I know they’re coming. Next time…
I’m only 22 weeks, so I can’t relate to those calls. However, I gave my mom the green light to tell anyone else that I was pregnant at 11 weeks. All of the sudden I got calls from relatives I haven’t talked to in years. I’m surprised they even had my number. Let me tell you “How do you feel?” as you return from yet another visit to my office (the big white one with the porcelin statue in the middle) got really old, really fast.
The worst thing is I have a friend who is now 13weeks pregnant and what’s the first thing out of my mouth everytime I talk to her ……….
How are you feeling?
I”m going back through your archives to read, and this post made me laugh. I am feeling the EXACT same way (am currently 36.5), and it makes me NUTS! I am a text freak, plus i use twitter/myspace/facebook like crazy too. and EVERYONE knows this about me. My iPhone is probably one of my best friends lol So when someone, mainly family, calls just to “check up” on me..i’m like really?! If SOMETHING had changed, do you really think we wouldn’t call you?! C’mon now!!!
Silly wabbits!
Ha ha this post is too funny! I thought I would be the only person experiencing this. I am 3 days past due date. 10 minutes ago I got a call from my mother (AGAIN) asking me how I am feeling (uh…I just spoke to her less than 12 hours ago). I am so annoyed by people calling me and asking me how I am doing and if I had the baby yet? Do they think that I’ll not tell them if the baby came out?!?
I am 37 weeks pregnant and like getting calls asking me how I’m doing. I get annoyed at the family members that have never asked me how I am doing whatsoever…one of them being my mother-in-law.
Oh, I get the same thing from my mom and family but it does not bother me. Besides, I like when people I love, care about my pregnancy and the baby. The only thing that bothers me is when they try to challenge what I know about my own pregnancy, based on wives’tales or the own pregnancy experiences. I like to hear pregnancy and labor experiences but do not use that information to form false expectations.
I cannot stand the question “How are you feeling?” It seems to be the first question out of everyone’s mouth. I’m not a big fan of talking to people to begin with, and people I don’t even know stop me and ask questions. In addition, I am 37 weeks and I have a small belly. I’m really tired of hearing how small I am, and how large they or eveyone else was, and how lucky I am. Or how about that work people look at you in such a way, they will tell me when I’ve gotten bigger, how my stomach is changing and if they think I’ve dropped already.