Josa’s pregnancy diary - weeks 38-40

As I write, my belly presses against the edge of the desk, and I can feel slow movements pushing against it. I am not flexible in the middle, and I managed to back into a car while parking. As I pride myself on my parking, I felt rather ashamed when I registered an audible crunch.

I saw the doctor at the newly built Queen Charlotte’s hospital and discovered that the architect had skimped on the waiting area, which was pullulating with pregnant women and their families. There were not nearly enough chairs to go around and it was chaotic. It reminded me what a luxury it is to have my midwife, Risi, coming to my home. This week she told me that the baby is face upwards, which means his spine is against my spine. I hope he doesn’t get stuck like that. If you go into labour with the baby in this position, it’s called ‘backache’ labour, which is reputed to be exceptionally painful.

I find it extraordinary that there was no formal consultation with midwives before all that money was spent on a completely new building. The tell me that they have to walk miles to work every day, and end up exhausted. I feel nostalgia for the hushed peace of old Queen Charlotte’s.

The doctor asked if I would like to go into a comparative study of different means of induction. One is the prostin hormonal gel inserted near the cervix to soften it and bring on contractions, which has been used for years and which I had for Archie. The other is a similar drug taken by mouth. I was perfectly happy to do this, but my midwife was surprised it had been offered at all – she advised against it. She described me, for the first time, as ‘high risk’. Solely due to my age.