Reflections on the final days of pregnancy

It’s high summer in London and we’re oscillating between intense heatwaves and torrential rain with gusting winds. Amidst the predictable unpredictability of this seasonal to-ing and fro-ing, two of the women I’m currently supporting are just days away from meeting their babies. It’s a tender place to be; not yet in labour, but quietly on the cusp, wondering when it will begin.

It’s the tentative stillness of this liminal space of waiting that has brought me here, writing about the quiet stretch of late pregnancy that is often overlooked, yet quietly profound.

These final days can feel like time has folded in on itself. You’re still pregnant, but something is changing. You may feel like nesting. Or withdrawing. Or like you’re on the verge of tears for no reason at all. Some moments feel long, others pass by in a daze. This space- still, open, full of feeling - is its own part of birth preparation.

It's not marked on the calendar, but it matters. Your antenatal appointments may be all done, your bag is packed, the baby clothes are washed. And yet, there is waiting. What’s happening now isn’t a pause but rather a shift. Your body is attuning. Your hormones are weaving together the beginnings of labour even if you don’t physically feel it. Emotionally, you may feel less outward-facing, more drawn in. This is instinct doing its job.

You might find yourself moving slower, craving softness, or needing more space than usual. You’re not ‘done’ or ‘impatient’. You are listening. Trust that. The uncertainty of these days holds wisdom, if we allow ourselves to notice it.

Being alongside women at this threshold reminds me how powerful it is. This waiting is not a gap to fill, but rather a bridge. A stretch of inner work that leads you to the edge of birth. It may be invisible, but it’s no less real.

So if you’re here, in this space between late pregnancy and birth, honour it. There is inner movement, even in what feels like stillness. You are not just waiting, you are preparing, and the time to meet your baby draws nearer with every breath.