The Happiest Hobbits

God is in control. And what's good for baby is good for me. No labour pains, water breaking or anything. Yet.  I've just been induced . I expected an injection, because of what I remember from 9th grade biology. But I guess medical breakthroughs since the late 1990s have reduced the shots to a small wad of paper with a string attached. The nurse very matter-of-factly about stuffing it into my nether region. (Correction: the  nether region in the hopes that it sounds less personal and invasive somehow) I was torn between a grimace of discomfort, and giggling about feeling like a turkey - just in time for Thanksgiving too. But she was quick. And, for the umpteenth time, I thanked God for nurses!

"You have to be admitted today. First we'll keep you under observation,  then induce you in a day or two. One thing's for sure: you'll deliver before this week's over." I couldn't believe my ears yesterday. Nel and I were at the hospital for our routine prenatal checkup. Baby isn't due until 20th December, so the doctor wasn't making any sense. "I thought we were expecting a Christmas baby?" I blurted out. The doctor reminded me of the  preeclampsia that reared its ugly head in my last trimester. She explained that the condition has joined forces with IUGR , leaving our little one three weeks behind on average gestational growth. Now at 36 weeks in utero, it's safer to get the baby out. The longer she stays in my womb, we risk losing her. I glanced at my husband, wide-eyed. Then I realised: We don't even have a crib or car seat yet! We just had a baby shower with friends last Friday, and I meant to use the coming w...