Postdate Pregnancy: Passing Time when Your Baby is Overdue

Well, you've reached the 40-week mark and still no baby! Perhaps your baby is just taking a little extra time to bake, or maybe your due date was miscalculated. Who knows? If you are seeing a traditional provider such as an obstetrician, it is likely you will be induced especially as you hit week 42. You may also be interested in a more natural approach and prefer to wait it out. Whatever you have decided, here are some tips for passing the time while you wait so patiently for your baby to be born!

Take a look around. Do you have everything you need for your baby? By now you probably have a stroller or sling, crib or co-sleeper, and plenty of diapers and clothes. It may seem like there isn't much left to buy. Chances are, you've bought things your baby will use as a newborn. What about when he or she is older? If you've already got a full newborn wardrobe and diaper collection, start shopping for clothes and diapers for the 3-6 month and even 6-9 month periods. Some babies grow faster than others, so you may be needing these things sooner than you think!

What about the nursery? Is it finished? Is it arranged the way you want it? Take the time now to put the finishing touches on your nursery and finish getting your home ready for the new arrival. It is a good idea to set up diaper changing stations around the house, especially if you have a larger home. Distribute receiving blankets about, too. They come in quite handy in those first few weeks, as make-shift changing pads and for use cleaning spit up. Even if you've already gone through the nesting phase, if you look around closely, you may find even more things to clean and set up. Just focus on preparing for the baby!

If you're a first-time parent, you probably don't know much about caring for a baby. Maybe you could offer to baby-sit for someone. This will give you a chance to try out your hand at parenthood, somewhat. You should learn what to expect in those first few weeks and how to care for a newborn. Make friends with some new mothers. You can learn a lot from them, and their support will be invaluable!