What to do if you are "overdue"

What To Do If You’re “Overdue”? - Tips for Ten Month Mamas
-by Leilah McCracken and Gloria Lemay

• AVOID SUGAR - This cannot be overstressed- sudden drastic peaks in maternal blood sugar can harm a baby. Drink no fruit juice either, and avoid the simple sugars found in refined foods, like white flour products.
• Eat lots of high quality protein foods, and keep your blood iron levels high.
• Eat lots of dark leafy greens for the nutrients, and to fight constipation.
• No drugs! (Including alcohol and "natural herbals" that are smoked.)
• Remember to exercise- swimming is best. Exercise has been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes by HALF.
• If you can't sleep, use that time to write, draw, paint, look at the night sky, pray - connect with your creative and spiritual side.
• Remember that the fruit that is taken before it is ripe is hard, bitter, and not able to bear seeds well that will propagate new life. Adding chemicals to ripen fruit leads to an inferior product as well. And when fruit is chemically treated to appear ripe, it tends to rot from the inside (right at the pit) outwards. This bizarre process is like how the effect of induction agents eat right through the posterior fornix of the cervix, causing back wall ruptures of the uterus.
• Trust in your body, trust in your birth. Nature is brilliant; human minds are flawed.
• Avoid people who give you fear "vibes"- even your mother.
• Set your answering machine so your phone only rings once, and give updates in your message, if you like. DON'T PICK UP THE PHONE if you're feeling weak and sad inside- an invitation to callous people to start to hassle you!
• Connect with other ten month mamas- we are few and far between with the current induction epidemic, but we do exist- and can offer great support to each other.
• Rest if you want, walk if you want, eat if you want- do what feels right (as long as that doesn't involve chocolate bars).
• Have lots of orgasms. They are relaxing, and wonderful for preparing your body for birth.
• Some women like to drink red raspberry leaf tea, or “Birthing Tea” – a blend of Red Raspberry Leaf, Basil, Lavender and Nutmeg.
• For most women, long pregnancies are safer and healthier than labor inductions- which carry far greater risks in and of themselves. If confronted by hostile people, tell them that labor inductions are dangerous, unproven, and put you and your baby at risk of a hazardous cascade of interventions- possibly leading to c-section. Also tell them that your baby is smart enough to pick her own birthday.
• Remember that your body was smart enough to conceive, and then grow a child beautifully; it is also smart enough to know when it is the right time to give birth.