In episode 29 of Oh Mama, we’ve officially made it past the 40 weeks pregnant mark! We’re here - actually, we’re four days over, and that’s what I want to talk about in today’s episode.

See, there’s a lot that comes both mentally and physically with hitting the official "40 week" mark. There’s big mindset shifts, there can be a lot of pressure from hospitals to try and “speed things up” and you can be starting to feel a little impatient as you wait for your little one to arrive.

And if you’re feeling any of that - you are totally not alone. I feel like the last few days have been a whirlwind of ups and downs, trying to ‘surrender’ and let go of expectations while also being wildly aware of every labour symptom that I feel might be the start of something. It’s a ride, let me tell you. So I want to share my experience honestly so that if you’re going through it, or getting close to your estimated due date, you hopefully feel a little less alone.

Okay mama, here’s all the things we’re talking about:

• 40 weeks pregnant update
• Why your due date is actually just an estimation
• Mindset around hitting your "due date"
• How to feel less stressed about going into labor
• The importance of being informed around labour and birth
• Why evidence based research is CRITICAL through pregnancy and birth (including resources that have helped me)
• My experience at my 40 week antenatal appointment
• Pressure I felt around induction and how I navigated that as a first time mum
• Natural methods to try and start labour
• Things you can try to dilate naturally
• What you can do to naturally induce spontaneous labor

OH MAMA MANTRA: My baby is on their way to me in perfect timing

Connect on TikTok: @thisistayrae

Connect on Instagram: @thisistayrae

Follow the podcast on IG: @ohmamapod

Wanna be fancy and email? You got it: heyohmama@gmail.com. Love you!

*Please note: this podcast is not medical advice. Instead, think of it as having a pregnancy chats with your BFF, where we keep things wildly honest, and we share what we're really thinking and experiencing as we grow a tiny human. If an episode is helpful, amazing, but it's in no way here to tell you what to do or how to be/feel/act/think. Your experience is unique and perfect to you. No comparison necessary here, but we hope hearing the experiences we share makes you feel a little less alone in the moments when you might wonder if it's only you that's going through it. I promise you mama, it isn't. You're not alone, and we're in this together - one big mama squad.

It’s episode 28 and can you believe I’m still pregnant? Wowee people. I didn’t know if we’d get another episode together before baby arrived, but we’ve done it! Officially 39 weeks pregnant (and four days!) and baby girl seems very cozy and content in there for now!

It’s been a beautiful, slow week, where I’ve just been enjoying the lead up to birth - ticking off a last few things like postpartum meal prep and collecting colostrum in the lead up to birth. That, and trying to get in as much rest as possible before labour kicks off - cause ya girl is TIRED. I know every day could be “the day” so we’re just enjoying it all as it comes and trusting that baby will make her way when she’s ready.

Okay mama, here’s all the things we’re talking about:

• 39 weeks pregnant update
• Feeling tired in the third trimester
• Has my baby dropped?
• Colostrum harvesting and when to do it
• Why I’m collecting colostrum
• What’s helped me with colostrum collection
• Hand expressing colostrum vs using a pump or haaka
• Learning as we go and relying on support from others
• Why community is so important as a new mum

OH MAMA MANTRA: As a mum, I am doing my best, and my best is good enough.

Connect on TikTok: @thisistayrae

Connect on Instagram: @thisistayrae

Follow the podcast on IG: @ohmamapod

Wanna be fancy and email? You got it: heyohmama@gmail.com. Love you!

*Please note: this podcast is not medical advice. Instead, think of it as having a pregnancy chats with your BFF, where we keep things wildly honest, and we share what we're really thinking and experiencing as we grow a tiny human. If an episode is helpful, amazing, but it's in no way here to tell you what to do or how to be/feel/act/think. Your experience is unique and perfect to you. No comparison necessary here, but we hope hearing the experiences we share makes you feel a little less alone in the moments when you might wonder if it's only you that's going through it. I promise you mama, it isn't. You're not alone, and we're in this together - one big mama squad.

Okay, so episode 27 has to be my favourite episode of Oh Mama to-date. Seriously, the emotional outpour was unexpected this week people, but it happened and honestly I’m so glad I was recording when it did. I guess the old pregnancy hormones are hitting hard this week!

We’re getting all kinds of deep together as we discuss how I’m feeling a mere couple of weeks (or days, who knows!) away from becoming a mother, and the emotions, excitement and overall identity shift that comes with that.

Okay mama, here’s all the things we’re talking about:

• Update at 38 weeks pregnant
• How I’m preparing my postpartum meal prep
• Birth and labour affirmations I’m using daily to help keep a positive mindset
• How I’m feeling as I get ready to meet our daughter for the first time
• Why I know I need to rest and look after myself as much as possible before baby comes
• Using a TENS machine for the first time and why I wanted it for labour
• What my Mother’s Blessing Ceremony was like
• Why you might want to do a Blessingway instead of a baby shower
• Am I feeling Braxton Hicks at night or is it nothing?
• Things I didn’t know about pregnancy, like birthing the placenta!
• Waiting for contractions and why everything seems like the start of labour
• When I went on maternity leave and how it’s going so far
• Things I’m doing in the last few weeks before baby arrives
• Oxytocin release and things to help go into spontaneous labour

OH MAMA MANTRA: I can do anything for one minute

Connect on TikTok: @thisistayrae

Connect on Instagram: @thisistayrae & @ohmamapod

Wanna be fancy and email? You got it: heyohmama@gmail.com. Love you!

*Please note: this podcast is not medical advice. Instead, think of it as having a pregnancy chats with your BFF, where we keep things wildly honest, and we share what we're really thinking and experiencing as we grow a tiny human. If an episode is helpful, amazing, but it's in no way here to tell you what to do or how to be/feel/act/think. Your experience is unique and perfect to you. No comparison necessary here, but we hope hearing the experiences we share makes you feel a little less alone in the moments when you might wonder if it's only you that's going through it. I promise you mama, it isn't. You're not alone, and we're in this together - one big mama squad.