Don’t get too excited about your “due date.”

As you know we have passed my due date. I don't know how many people have asked, “when is it coming?” or “not here yet?” Here are some things to remember about due dates. 

Only a small number of women — 5 percent — deliver on their given due date. Your due date is only an estimate. 

First time moms, if left alone to go into labor naturally tend to be pregnant for about 41 weeks and 1 day. Women who've had babies before tend to deliver around 40 weeks and 3 days. That's average. Some deliver earlier and some go a little longer and it's almost always completely normal. A little frustrating, maybe, but still normal.

Your due date is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period. This method assumes your cycle was like the normal 28 days. If your cycle was longer than 28 days, expect a later delivery. If your cycle was shorter than 28 days, expect an earlier delivery. And then they say that you can have the baby anytime +/- 40 weeks. This gives you an expected date to have the baby anytime between 37 and 42 weeks. That is a big gap! 

Most of the time when women go past their due date, nothing's wrong with them or their babies. They're just not done yet. Let it be. Your body knows what to do so much better than you give it credit for. Unless there's some indication that there's a problem, just chill. It's going to happen. No one has ever been pregnant forever.

Most importantly don’t stress about the due date and if the baby doesn’t come “on your time.” Your stress gets transferred to the baby. Enjoy some quiet and rest up before your newborn comes.

Due dates set the stage for the unpredictable nature of parenting. Labor is only the beginning. There are so many things you don't really have any control over. When those things come up, sometimes the best way of dealing with them is to just let it be. You don't always have to do anything when things aren't going exactly as expected. It's not going to be the cruise you planned on anyway. It's going to be a different trip altogether. Just sit back and wait for things to happen in their own good time. 

“It's not about the schedule. It's not about the destination. It's about the journey.”

Believe me, I know this is not easy to sit back and wait! If you know me I am not a very patient person.  But, the wait is worth it!