Out for blood

Blood; something that seems to play a large part in pregnancy.

You're told to eat iron rich food because there's a need for more blood running through the system.

You're told it is not a good thing at the beginning of the pregnancy because it is often a sign that there's either been over-exertion, in the least or something not going so right and possibly a sign of a miscarriage.

Through pregnancy, the Ob-gyn will remind you, time and again, that if there's any type of bleeding, call the clinic immediately. Blood is not a good thing.

And then, at the end of the pregnancy, again, blood plays a big part. As long as it's not bright red (fresh) and hemorrhaging out of you, it's something you're supposed to be looking for. Especially if the baby you're carrying is full-term and due to see the world soon.

A friend once commiserated that going to the bath room during pregnancy (and there were many of those visits), was always slightly harrowing. She always half expected to find blood when she wiped or looked down.

True.

And when I did find traces of blood, my heart sank, I panicked and the clinic always got a phone call from me. Thankfully they were all just incidents of over-exertion. A common malady of those who have more than one kid.

30 odd weeks later and I'm singing a slightly different tune.

I am out looking for blood. Blood, the bloody show as it is grossly referred to, is one of those things that heralds impending labour and delivery. It signals that things are in place and there will be pain soon. And now that I'm 39 weeks and counting, it's not a bad thing to have. Especially with all the false starts I've had.

Well, for those who have been keeping track, there have been blood sightings but so far nothing else. Yes, labour and delivery is imminent. But anyone looking at me would know that. When? It's anyone's guess. We've stopped guessing because we've been wrong every single time.

Thank God we're not betting people.

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