10/01/2026
Four years ago, around this time, I was 9 days past my due date with my third baby.
I remember feeling ready… exhausted… and emotional. That strange in-between space where you’re so done with being pregnant but still waiting. Every morning I’d wake up wondering if today would be the day, and every night I’d go to bed still pregnant. The mums on the school run all looked at me with lots of sympathy.
What helped me through those days wasn’t trying to push things along, it was having the right support and mindset. I accepted that this was right for me and my baby.
A few things that really helped:
• Reminding myself my baby wasn’t late
Due dates are estimates, not deadlines. My baby was coming in his own time, and remembering that helped me block out a lot of unnecessary pressure.
• Family support
Knowing my partner and family had my back made a huge difference. Practical help, reassurance, and feeling supported emotionally mattered more than any advice.
• Making gentle plans
I had plans and preferences, but I didn’t lock myself into one outcome. That flexibility helped me feel prepared without feeling stressed.
• Tuning into myself and my baby
Taking time to rest, breathe, and connect helped me trust what my body was doing instead of constantly questioning it (although I still did at times)!
• Staying off my phone
Less scrolling, fewer opinions, no comparing timelines. That helped keep my head in a good place.
• Choosing positive birth stories
I was really intentional about what I listened to and read. Hearing positive, real birth stories made a difference to how confident I felt.
And most importantly…
• Hypnobirthing gave me real tools. By then, there was pressure around inductions and caesareans. Hypnobirthing helped me stay calm, informed, and confident in my choices. It supported me to handle those conversations and go on to have a spontaneous birth I had planned.
Two days later, my baby arrived.
If you are overdue it is hard but I hope some of these might help you too. Xx
