WELL... I am 8 months along *today*

[Cataholic]

I can't remember the exact gestational period (shoot, you would think having delivered less than two years ago, I WOULD!), but, women carry for much closer to 10 months than they do 9...so, that might explain some numerical differences...40 weeks is not 9 months....

[Samantha Puppy]

Yes, when you say you're 8 months along, you actually mean you're IN your 8th month (and you don't deliver until, technically, you're at the end of your 9th). It doesn't mean you've COMPLETED 8 months, it just means you're in the midst of that month.

It gets all messed up because as far as doctors go and everything, they start counting the baby's gestational age at (and therefore, get the due date from) the first day of your last period... which is actually approximately 2 weeks BEFORE conception.

It's confusing, I know, but the easiest way to explain it is that when someone says they're 3 months along, it just means they're IN it. Not done it. Hope that helps.

[Lobodeb]

I agree with what everyone else said. You'll NEVER be 100% ready. It'll be hard at first. I won't lie to you. At first, I thought I'd made a mistake. He wouldn't eat, he wouldn't sleep, he wouldn't stop crying!!! I was dead tired, my body hurt from the c-section, it wasn't the same size it was before he came along, I've got skids on my stomach a mile long, my boobs hurt like the dickens, etc. Now, I can't imagine my life without him. He was worth every second and then some. It's a change for the better. My life feels like it has purpose now. He's growing and thriviving because of me! When he smiles at me, it's because he knows I love him.....ok, now I'm gonna start crying.

It's normal to be afraid. But like I said, every emotion you have now and after he's born is worth it. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving.

Ok, I'll stop now.