I'm on the Brink of Baby and I have to admit that the whole experience has been better than I thought it would be. I feel more myself than I thought I would, people are nicer to me than I could have expected, and it's been thrilling to experience baby growing inside me. I can't sugar coat month nine though. Month nine is a beast for several reasons, many of which, unfortunately involve the bathroom:

1. I have come to despise single- or *shudders* half-ply toilet paper. Whomever designed this did not do so with the pregnant bottom in mind. With the baby's head in the downwards position pressing heavily on the bladder, frequent trips are required. Like every 15 minutes. It is really unpleasant to use half-ply every 15 minutes.

2. Braxton Hicks contractions begin (if you haven't had them throughout the pregnancy as some women do).  They basically tease you into thinking you're in labour when you're not even close. This is hard when you're so excited to finally hold the little kicker who's been bruising you from the inside for nine months.

3. You become hyper-vigilant watching for signs you are going into labour. Ate a burrito that didn't agree?  Pressure from baby irritating your bowels? Unfortunately diarrhea is actually a symptom of early labour, but it is also a symptom of the former. Don't get excited by it.

4. Comments from strangers become more invasive. People I've never met come up to evaluate my appearance, tell me I've dropped or ask when baby is due. You develop a pat answer and smile to go with it, "Any day now… so ya." As for baby's name? You don't even know my name, so...

5. You're supposed to pay extra attention to your fluids and whatnot. Um, no.

6. It's impossible to sleep through the night. (See point 1.)

7. Getting out of a bathtub, car or deep couch is nearly impossible. One of the things I have enjoyed doing throughout the pregnancy to relax after work is have a nice warm bath, set up my laptop and catch up on my favourite show. In month nine, if I lie down for a good soak I can't get up, I'm splashing and floundering on my back like a seal until my husband comes to pull me out by the arms. I can't get out of the car without a shove from behind.

8. I just want to sleep.

9. Panic sets in about the readiness of the nursery, if all necessary items have been purchased, but more than anything, all of the horror stories from other parents about how we'll never sleep again. (See point 8.)

10. What kind of parents are we going to be? This concerns me the most by far. Prenatal classes focus almost exclusively on the labour and delivery, which I think is wrong since it will all be over in a matter of hours vs. the lifetime of responsibility we have just signed up for. Why doesn't anyone talk about that part? How about teaching us how to get a newborn to sleep for longer than two hours at a time, how to calm them down, or what symptoms to be concerned about and which not to worry about?

Moms who've crossed the finish line: How did you do it? Is it all going to be okay?