Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

How do you deal with due date expectations?

21 replies

Namechangegardens · 04/09/2021 22:47

I'm due on Tuesday, first baby in the family and amongst my school friends so a topic of much excitement!

They all have this date set in their head and due to their own inexperience seem to think the baby is just guaranteed to drop out of me on Tuesday. The "not long now!!!!" Messages are piling in. My SIL even said "why are you getting a sweep on Monday, you're due on Tuesday anyway!"

I am really grateful that they're all excited but in my late pregnancy grumpiness am also finding it slightly irritating that they don't appreciate how vague the date is.

Anyone else or am I just a many cow?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

WoMandalorian · 04/09/2021 22:55

Tell them that only 4% of babies are born on their due date.
I'm currently 35 weeks with my 3rd. First was 8 days late and second was 12 days late. I'm guessing my third will also be fashionably late 😅
It is annoying though I agree. With my first it felt like everyone I knew was messaging every day asking how I was feeling 🙄
Good luck with your sweep though and congratulations! 💐

Poppyloppyloo · 04/09/2021 22:56

Mine were 14 days late and 13 days late, you might have this crap for a while!

Soupsseason · 04/09/2021 23:01

To late this time but if you have another don't tell them the date. Be vague End of Aug/ Beginning of September

loafcake · 04/09/2021 23:16

Eurgh I HATED this with my first. I was a week late and just thinking, yeah I'm aware baby isn't here yet...Very Aware.

This time around I've not told anyone but my mum and my partner, of course. Just vaguely March time.

Congratulations though! Hope the sweep goes well

peanutnest · 05/09/2021 03:13

Best of luck OP My mum went through this when she was pregnant with my sister and I. She said my nan would call her every morning asking "any signs yet?!" weeks ahead of time.

...the flip side is, my DS was born prematurely so I heard the opposite - "he can't be here already?! Isn't it early?"

So you can't win either way

I think people are just very excited for you and to know your baby is here and you're both safe and well.

Bennetgirl · 05/09/2021 07:39

I’m pg with no 4 and haven’t told anyone the date. It’s due early November but we’ve told everyone late November! Do that next time! I too learnt the hard way!

Just reply that you’ll let them know if anything happens and until then it’s just a waiting game. If they text again either ignore them or just ask them to stop asking as you’ve said you’ll let them know.

It really is the most annoying and upsetting thing. I hope it all happens soon x

HungryHippo11 · 05/09/2021 07:42

"Not long now" is still accurate. Baby is almost certain to be born within the next 2 weeks, which is "not long" by anyones reckoning.

Perhaps your sister was wondering why you would have a sweep before your due date as why would they try to include labour before your due date?

I expect you're probably uncomfortable and grumpy and reading more into this than there really is. Hope baby comes soon :)

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 05/09/2021 07:43

My DM, a mother of six AND DOCTOR who should have known better, worked herself into a state of wild excitement over DC1 being due on her birthday and messaged me every day for two weeks beforehand.

Ironically, after telling her "no, nothing happening OBVIOUSLY" on her birthday, I went into labour later that evening and had the baby the next day I worked out later that I was probably in very early labour when I spoke to her - I'd had a backache all day, but just put it down to walking too far...

ThisIsTrifficult · 05/09/2021 07:44

You could always reply with a link to the site
Haveyouhadthebabyyet and it directs straight to a page that says nope!

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 05/09/2021 07:48

I mostly ignored them, but DH did start replying sarcastically to his work colleagues that yeah I'd had the baby but he'd thought he'd just come to work anyway! He works with a lot of women who were over invested in when the baby would come!

The ones I did reply to I replied in a similar vein to DH t his work colleagues, but a more 'yeah we forgot to tell you' way!

Boombadoom · 05/09/2021 08:21

This is why I only gave the month, not the date!

kirstyr3892 · 05/09/2021 08:21

@Soupsseason

To late this time but if you have another don't tell them the date. Be vague End of Aug/ Beginning of September

I second this!

I'm due 30th October so telling everyone that I'm due right at the end of October - haven't mentioned that fact that I'm having an ELCS so I know exactly when baby's coming, which is a week before that'll throw a spanner in their works.

Garman · 05/09/2021 08:24

Yeah too late now but give a vague date or one 2 weeks out. I'm due end of October, so we've told everyone early November, but now it will be a csection in mid October so we won't be hassled at all.

Mumoblue · 05/09/2021 08:29

When it got close to my due date I started taking bets on what day he would actually turn up. I wrote them all down and had a bit of fun telling everyone who had bet on what day.

(Everyone was wrong anyway- he ended up being two weeks overdue and I had to be induced!)

Any time they bring it up just remind them that babies come when they come and ask them if they care to make a guess what day it will be.

purplesequins · 05/09/2021 08:31

I didn't tell family for that reason.
I only told them 'due early/mid/late month'
my family can get a bit obsessive...

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 05/09/2021 08:37

Then you get to your due date, and people start shying away from you if you meet in person like you are suddenly going to give birth in front of them despite not being g in labour...

(Saying that... I spent the morning of my DD out and about with my toddler. Reassuring everyone that no, I wasn't in labour... I gave birth later that afternoon at which point it switched to comments of How? I saw her at lunchtime!)

SillyBry · 05/09/2021 09:57

I’m also due on Tuesday and have had various messages saying “are you ok? I’ve not heard from you!” From friends, who I don’t text regularly! I mostly ignore them… don’t get stressed by them.
My first came on her due date, but who knows when this one will come!

Tee20x · 05/09/2021 10:29

Yep. Massively annoying. All the "any twinges" messages and panic that I'd gone into labour if I didn't respond within the millisecond.

DD was born at 42+2 as well so you can imagine how that went for me. In the end I just stopped responding and let anyone know that next time no one will hear a peep from me about due dates etc until baby arrives.

sarah13xx · 05/09/2021 10:30

I had my baby 3 weeks ago, it was a section but no one knew so kept messaging me like this 🤦🏼‍♀️ I found that even people I hadn’t heard from while being pregnant would pop up asking how I was feeling and stuff, I think it was just to see if I would reply or if I was in labour. Also used to annoy me that every person I met even out walking the dog would ask the due date, say not long now etc. Which sounds like a nice thing to say but I’d had the same conversation on repeat for weeks 🙈

BurningBenches · 05/09/2021 12:42

Everyone of mine was very overdue and/or induced. By DC4 and 5 I told everyone the induction date as I knew I had no hope of going spontaneously. Still they said oh they might surprise you.... nope sadly not.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 05/09/2021 12:44

I have told nobody my due date. Only me & DH know.

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread