19 Weeks Pregnant is My Halfway Point

Usually, the mid-point for pregnancy is 20 weeks (which is what I am now), but mine is 18-19 weeks pregnant. Why?

I seem to have kiddos who are ready by 37-38 weeks. Not one of my kiddos came as ‘scheduled’!

Kiddo #1: Due June 19th, Arrived June 10th

My oldest decided he didn’t like that the doctor told me that I wouldn’t go into labor for another two weeks just two days prior to his birth. Labor started off slowly at home, but after 14 hours of laboring and an hour of pushing, it was decided that he was sunny side up and stuck. He arrived via an emergency c-section with a goose egg on his head from where he was stuck (my poor baby!). It was a good thing he came when he did because the doctor was estimating that he was going to be around 9 lbs at 40 weeks and wanted to induce me (turns out he was a little over 7 lbs nearly two weeks early). Wasn’t necessary!

Kiddo #2: Due January 10th, Arrived December 19th

My second baby, a little girl, decided to play by her own rules right from the beginning. I was scheduled to have a c-section on January 6th, but she had other plans. I had other plans, too. I had one more week left of school before I went on maternity leave, but early, like 2am early, on a Sunday, labor began. I treated it as Braxton Hicks and let it go for about 7 hours before I called the doctor.

It was funny because there was a movie on called Nine Months with Robin Williams who played a nutty baby doctor who yells at one point ” It’s a full moon! Everyone is having babies!”. Was that a sign??

I labored at home until about 9 am when I decided to call the doctor. He was actually on a vacation (not expecting anyone to deliver then!) so I had a different doctor who delivered my baby girl around noon-1 pm via c-section. Again, two weeks early, over 7lbs.

Kiddo #3: Due April 6th, Arrived March 16th

This kid threw us for quite a loop. I had asked the doctor if I had any chance of having him early since my first two were early, but he said no since the other two weren’t considered early.

Yeah, okay.

I went into labor with him in early March when I was only 35 weeks. At first, the doctor didn’t believe me after seeing nothing on the monitor after a few hours (doesn’t it figure? I had very strong contractions at home and then once at the hospital, nada), but then the contractions kicked up again, stronger and consistent. I was given a shot to stop the contractions and an ultrasound to check on fluid levels. Labor stopped, and the baby was content with that.

Almost two weeks later I was back. Same deal. That day, we had gone to a St. Patrick’s Day festival to see my husband’s aunt and uncle play some Irish tunes. We were walking around and having a good time, but around lunch time I just started to feel off. Once we got the kids home and to a nap, I tried to rest, but I felt like I was having contractions. Knowing what happened last time, I just paced around the house in between contractions for a few hours before calling the doctor.

Again, once in the hospital around 7 pm, they tried to stop contractions, twice. I was just a few hours away from being 37 weeks, and they didn’t want to take any chances if the baby came too soon. Neither shot worked. An hour before St. Patrick’s Day, my baby boy was born via c-section, healthy and once again over 7 lbs.

Why Do Babies Decide to Come Early?

So why do my babies decide to come early? Not one of my kiddos wanted to be in there any longer, despite the doctor trying to keep them in. Of course, it’s advised to attempt to deliver closer to 40 weeks, which is why he tried to stop labor with my third, but sometimes, babies just want out.

There are many reasons why babies are born early, including:

• preterm rupture of membranes
• pre-eclampsia
• inflammation
• growth restriction
• other illnesses
• extreme stress
• gestational diabetes
• and more

I had none of those things. Not one, at least to my knowledge. The only thing I could go with is growth restriction, because maybe my insides can only handle a 7lb baby before he or she is kicked out.

Or perhaps my kiddos are just done forming sooner than other babies ( I believe Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory would say my body has evolved…lol). Maybe God just has other plans when I have plans of my own.

Who knows??

Kiddo #4: Due January 9th, Will Arrive ??

Make your bets now, folks. Let me put out some stats:

• I’ll be 37 weeks on my daughter’s birthday
• I was due at the same time as my daughter, who came December 19th
• All of my kiddos were healthy when delivered. Not one needed oxygen or extra help.
• Full moons were within a week or less of the babies’ arrival. Full moon in December this year is December 25th (hey, it happens!)

Since I’m the mom (hi!), I’m going to guesstimate. My guess is before Christmas. 

Leave a Comment! 

When do you think Baby #4 will arrive? Has this happened to you with your pregnancies? Was there a reason?