So When is the Big Day?

There are so few things in this world that cannot be planned and that we must just take in stride; labor is one. Even though curiosity and anxiety might be side effects of the unknown, it is also exciting to let nature take its course. So while I have no clue when this momentous day will come, everyone else seems to know.

Some swear that it will be on my due date, others look at me now and say "I predict that you will give birth any day now," while others are sure that I am no way ready yet. I get everything from "your stomach hasn't dropped enough" to "your face isn't puffy enough" to people putting their hands on my stomach and just 'feeling' that I am not quite ripe enough. Of course all of these comments are unsolicited, but cute nonetheless.

The most amusing difference of opinion is from my doctor and the Macabi kupot cholim (health center). Ever since my doctor told me that I was pregnant he informed me that my due date is September 19th, which I believe he arrived at using some kind of computer program. Macabi's computers seem to work a little differently as they have my due date 8 days earlier, on the 11th. Since Israel has socialized medicine I unfortunately have to go to both places and continue to hear these mixed messages. The other day when I was at Macabi and showed the nurse the document with the doctor's date on it, in true Israeli style she simply took a pen and wrote the "corrected" date, assured that her computer was right. I didn't have the will to argue as she told me to go to yet another branch of Macabi for further follow up since I am so far along in my pregnancy.

In truth it doesn't really matter what any computer says since labor does not work by anyone's clock (except maybe the baby's). So place your bets and give me your best guess. I have no idea and frankly I don't care to wager, but I am happy to hear all predictions.