1. What are you having?
2. When are you due?
The answer to the first question is "I don't know. We want to be surprised?" and I explained my reasoning here. But the second question is a bit more tricky. Because, you see, I do have a date that, according to the date-wheel-thingy and my doctor, says when this baby is due. Also there are websites where you can enter the first day of your last cycle, and/or your conception date if you know that and it will spit out a due date. Oh! And even my midwife uses an app to predict my due date based on my cycle history, date of my last cycle, and date of conception. So there is a science behind all this. I can with reasonable assuredness answer that second question with, "Little is due February 3rd". But that due date is more of a suggestion.
This baby can come whenever it wants to come. Some babies come early, up to a few weeks early is considered full term and safe for delivery. Some babies come late, up to a few weeks late even. So with a few weeks before and a few weeks after, there is at least a 6 week window when this baby can come safely. I hesitate to hold fast to February 3rd because first time moms tend to go past their due date. Also, I don't want to get too set on February 3rd because I am afraid it might cause me anxiety if that day comes and goes and nothing has happened. And finally, this is a great exercise in learning to release that tiny planner in me that likes to control all things, and to surrender to nature, to my body, and to trust in the design built into my body more than in calculations and formulas.
I have heard that in times past, before these fancy due-date-wheely-things were created, women would answer the question like this: "The baby is due sometime in early spring/late fall/mid-summer/etc". This was as specific as they could get. There is something quaint and romantic about this. I envision women during the late 1800s, think Anne of Avonlea, in long dresses with lace, and their hair up in intricate buns that I can only dream of doing myself, well... like this
And as they gather for their tea to gossip, chit chat, and bond (as women have done since the beginning of time, I'm sure), the topic comes up, "So Susanne, I hear you have some news to share"
"Well, indeed I do! I am happy to tell you that come late winter Jonathan and I expect the arrival of a little one!"... yup, that just sounds so right to me. That is the way to do it, at least to an old soul like mine.
But, today, that answer just doesn't work for people. So when people ask me when the baby is due, on the outside I am saying "Early February" but on the inside I am saying "Late winter". :)
