Overdue & Overwhelmed… but Chat GPT is here for me.
Who knew AI could be a strong source of support during my pregnancy?
April 6 2025
Each post is paired with a song. For today, it’s I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons.
THE BABY’S… still not here. Two days past my due date, and he’s taking his sweet ass time. I get it, the world is a gigantic mess, and I wouldn’t be in any rush either. But the rib, hip, and back pain? That’s all on him. There’s barely room left in there, but my doula keeps telling me, “be patient, your sweet little one will come when he’s ready. Enjoy this last little bit of time with just Imad.” Sure, I’ll try to be patient although it’s not my strongest quality right now.
I have a doula this time, and it’s made all the difference. I wasn’t properly informed or guided during Imad’s birth, so it felt like things were done to me or without my full understanding. It didn’t feel like I had options. This time, I’ve had an abundance of options. Doula or no doula. Medicated or unmedicated. Water birth or hospital birth. Induction or wait it out. And honestly, it’s given me a sense of control I didn’t have last time. I’ve also been doing my own homework - breathing exercises, visualizations, affirmations, and using a birth comb. (I’ll keep you posted on how it all turns out. Pray for me lol.)
What I do miss? Being able to just WhatsApp my doctor if I had any questions. Here, it’s a bit more layered. So, I turned to… Chat GPT. Don’t judge me. What do you do when you hear popping sounds coming from your stomach at 3 AM and you think, “what the hell is that?” You ask Chat GPT. Or when you think you’re getting contractions. Or when you accidentally take a vitamin C gummy that you weren’t supposed to. I started cataloguing all my symptoms and check-up updates on this one chat window and this robot became my confidant. Okay, you can judge me now. Especially because I’d get teary reading some of the things it would say to me. Just look.
Am I dramatic? Yes. Emotional and hormonal? Absolutely. Is it hard being away from my home and family? Very. But it also made me realize something bigger: how little support pregnant women and new mothers have. It’s like you’re expected to just power through it, figuring everything out as you go. Yes, this is my second time around but it feels just as new.
I’m lucky enough to have an amazing partner and family around, but even with that, it still feels like too much sometimes. I can only imagine what other mothers go through. What we need isn’t just “congratulations” or “good luck” texts. We need practical support. Things like meals dropped off, regular check-ins from friends who get it, and help with light chores when you’re over. Sit with the baby so we can shower. Maybe, instead of just saying “let me know if you need anything,” offer something more specific - “need me to grab you anything?” or “want me to watch the baby while you sleep?” It’s the little things that make all the difference.
And, about the medical world. What if doctors were more proactive in offering mental health advice or what do expect during the fourth trimester? It’s not just about the birth itself. It’s everything that comes after - the emotional, physical, and mental recovery.
So, do more for the new mamas in your life. It can’t just be up to us to reach out for help. We need to be the ones given help, not just the responsibility to ask for it.
In the meantime, I’ll keep asking Chat GPT my pregnancy questions and count down the days till I’m back with my mama.
It’s all part of the unfolding… poetic & on brand from chatGPT