The Wait to 42+5
When I first discovered I was pregnant, I knew this journey would stretch me in ways I could only imagine—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d be challenged to surrender control and embrace patience, especially as I waited for Baby T to arrive.
While most people think of pregnancy as nine months long, my body had other plans. I carried my baby until 42 weeks and 5 days, an experience that tested me but also prepared me for labor, birth, and motherhood in ways only God could orchestrate.
I’ve always referred to the “due date” as a guess date. Babies aren’t late; they come when they’re ready. Statistically, only about 4% of babies are born on their guess date, and for first-time moms, it’s not uncommon to go past 40 weeks.
At 39 weeks, I felt my baby drop—a moment of pure excitement and anticipation. My body was preparing, and I couldn’t help but think, This is it! A few nights later, I woke up out of a dead sleep to a sensation I’ll never forget.
As a first-time mom, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but in that moment, I knew exactly what my body was doing. I could feel my cervix beginning to dilate, a wild and beautiful sensation that left me in awe of how perfectly designed our bodies are.
I smiled to myself, thinking, my body is starting to open for this sweet baby to enter the world. Knowing I needed to conserve my energy, I went back to bed, thinking labor could be just around the corner. But that was it. Nothing more.
Shortly after, my midwife was leaving for a two-week trip. Casually, she said, “If you’re still pregnant when I get back…” I couldn’t help but laugh to myself, There’s no way I’ll still be pregnant in two weeks!
But sure enough, 40 weeks came and went.
During my 41st week, I woke up again in the middle of the night to another unmistakable sensation of dilation. My excitement surged once more—surely, this time, labor was imminent! Then Hurricane Helene arrived. When we lost power, I thought, Ooo, this could make for an exciting birth by candlelight!
Despite the storm, I had peace. I knew my doula had phone service, power, and gasoline in her car. We were prepared. If this baby decided to come now, we could totally do this.
And just like that, my midwife returned stateside, and there I was—still pregnant at 42 weeks.
Let me tell you, I had done all the things. I did everything I knew to support my body and baby throughout pregnancy—every method to relax, to open, to create a safe, inviting space for this baby to enter the world. But there were still the “holistic” interventions I hadn’t tried yet.
If you know me, you know I err on the side of conservancy when it comes to making health decisions. I operate by the “heck yes” rule—if it’s not a firm yes, it’s a no (or at least a not yet). That meant I wasn’t ready for the midwife’s brew with castor oil or black and blue cohosh. My gut told me my body would know when the time was right. Even holistic interventions felt like they’d be forcing my body into a state it wasn’t ready for.
My midwife and I had many conversations about the tiers of testing and interventions available. She was incredibly supportive, though I could sense it was unusual for her to see no definitive signs of labor approaching at 42 weeks and 2 days.
The only thing that was out of the ordinary, according to the “American way”, was the sheer number of weeks I was pregnant. But every other marker reassured us: my labs were excellent, my weight was right where it needed to be, my blood pressure was textbook, there was no protein or glucose in my urine, and my baby’s movements were normal and consistent.
I truly felt great. My body wasn’t sending up any red flags or even yellow flags for that matter.
I trusted that my baby and I were on the right path, even if it wasn’t the timeline I had imagined.
At 42 weeks, I decided it was time to create my own bubble. I had been receiving 7–14 texts and calls every day from well-meaning family and friends. What a gift to have so many people care for me and my baby—but the constant concern started to pull me out of my body. It became harder to stay grounded and listen to the cues my body was giving me amidst all the outside noise.
So, I made a decision: I would create a bubble around myself and my support team. I gave myself permission to step back from responding to messages until after the baby was born. If people really needed to check in, they could contact my husband.
This decision was so freeing. The moment I let go of the pressure to respond, I felt myself reconnect with the intuition God had given me and the peace He offers. I was reminded that my body knows exactly what it’s doing, and I could rest in Him during this waiting season.
Earlier in my pregnancy, I had started tracking my heart rate variability (HRV). I had come across research suggesting that an increase in HRV and a drop in resting heart rate during the third trimester often meant labor was about seven weeks away. I tracked these changes closely, but as the weeks passed and my sleep became more inconsistent, my numbers started to feel all over the place.
At 42 weeks, I looked back at my HRV data and noticed the curve had shifted around the 35–36 week mark. When I first saw that change at 35 and a half weeks, I thought, Surely, I don’t have seven more weeks—I could have this baby any day now! 😆 But if the research held true, it made perfect sense: I was right on track to go into labor late this week.
Trusting my body and the timing it was guiding me toward, I came to a decision. I told my midwife, I feel like I’m going to have this baby toward the end of the week, but if not, let’s discuss our options on Saturday. I am so grateful for my midwife, who supported me exactly as I needed. She didn’t hesitate to share her professional opinions when I asked but always empowered me to trust my body and make my own decisions.
While I carried our baby, my husband and I made decisions together. He trusted my instincts fully and reminded me of that trust whenever I needed to hear it most. I am so thankful for his unwavering encouragement and support throughout this journey.
On Wednesday night, we went for a walk at the park. As we walked, I noticed something had shifted. After stopping to use the restroom, I came back out and told my husband, Whoa—I’m not sure what just happened, but Baby T is definitely lower. On our final loop around the park, I felt an undeniable pressure on my pelvic floor, which only confirmed it. When we got home, I went to the restroom again, and SLAP—there it was. My mucus plug had made its exit.
Lessons from The Wait
As I reflect on the journey to 42 weeks and 5 days, I am struck by the valuable lessons God taught me through the wait.
1. Patience in a “Now” World
We live in a world that celebrates instant results and quick fixes, but God’s timing doesn’t follow our schedules. Waiting for Baby T reminded me that patience is an active process of trust. When the world shouted, Why isn’t the baby here yet?, I leaned into the truth that babies aren’t late—they arrive precisely when they’re meant to. Surrendering my timeline taught me to embrace the process and trust in God’s perfect design for my body and my baby.
2. Meditation on Scripture Grounds the Soul
During my third trimester, I turned to the Christian Hypnobirthing app, filling my heart and mind with scripture. Those verses became a lifeline, helping me stay grounded amidst the noise and uncertainty. Words like Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10) reminded me to anchor myself in His peace. Meditation on scripture quieted my mind, connected me to God’s promises, and prepared me mentally and spiritually for the journey ahead.
3. Healthy Boundaries Are Just That, Healthy
The decision to create a bubble of support wasn’t just necessary—it was life-giving. Saying “no” to constant texts and calls freed me to listen to my body and connect with my intuition. Healthy boundaries are not barriers; they are tools to protect your peace and energy. This boundary helped me rediscover the strength and wisdom God designed in me, allowing me to focus fully on the sacred process of bringing life into the world.
Each of these lessons became a foundation for the rest of my birth journey. They taught me to release control, trust in the Creator, and embrace the beauty of the wait.
Lux Chiropractic 