At thirty-six weeks pregnant, Aria officially reached the point where Dr. Chen said Emma could come "any day now."
"She's full-term next week at thirty-seven weeks," Dr. Chen explained during the appointment, measuring Aria's belly with a tape measure. "But babies born at thirty-five weeks do very well with minimal intervention. So if labor starts naturally, we won't stop it."
The words both relieved and terrified Aria. Relief because it meant Emma was developed enough, healthy enough, and ready enough. Terror because it meant labor could start at literally any moment, and Aria still didn't feel remotely prepared despite having a perfectly organized nursery and a hospital bag that had been packed for three weeks.
"How will I know when it's real labor versus Braxton Hicks?" Aria asked, v
