On baby watch, past 40 weeks, missing mass a sin?

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mommamaree

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I am currently overdue, and have been having intermittent signs of labor. I have had precipitous labors in the past. Also, I have been getting close to passing out trying to stand or sit for long periods in Mass in recent weeks.
Am I sinning by staying home from Sunday Mass?

Also, I am in a state of high anxiety and am terrified of going into labor while alone, because I could possibly give birth before my husband could get to me or drive me to the birth center. I wanted so much to ask him to stay home and not leave me alone for Mass. I didn’t ask for fear I would be begging him to sin, so he went. But would he have been sinning by staying home with me?

Third, all of this seems ridiculous when compared with the fact that as of 6am tomorrow, I will be left alone all day with 3 kids because my husband has to work, and his work is 35 minutes from home, and he is unreachable by cell phone and sometimes even by office phone.

So, I have a moral dilemma that I have questions about, for two people, and taking into consideration past and future circumstances. Can anybody here help answer these questions? And will I need to confess for missing Mass myself today?
 
I think your reason for missing Mass is valid, and I would hope that many will pray for you about tomorrow.

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
 
You were perfectly right by not attending Mass in your condition! That is not a sin. You should, however, share your current anxiety with your husband. That is not only understandable, but could be an important clue to the status of your labor, and he deserves to know. He would not be sinning to stay home with you from work or Mass when you are this close to delivery and anxious. It is his sacred responsibility to protect both you and his baby and he can’t do this if he doesn’t know how you are doing right now when delivery is so close.

God bless and congratulations on your new little one!
 
I was hoping that you would have posted that you had delivered your precious baby by now.,

I agree, you didn’t sin by not going to Mass today. I’ll pray that you go into labor tonight.
 
Thank you all kindly for your advice, encouragement, and prayers. This is a very difficult time. My hope is that, whatever the way this baby is born, that the baby and I come through it okay. I am afraid of being alone when the delivery happens, but the midwives counseled me about how to deliver alone, just in case. I still feel full of fear, despair, and even anger at God for taking me through this trial after a year of extremely difficult trial. I don’t feel any sense of God caring about me right now. It has been a year full of terrifying near misses and almost might have beens, like God has been leading me right along the edge of a cliff demonstrating to me how He never lets me go, while allowing me to always full the full terror of being about to fall.
Sorry, that is not moral theology anymore. I am just really emotional and afraid and got way off topic.
 
You have a midwife, but do you also have a doctor? If so, I’d share your fear and anxiety with him. If you are at term already, he might want to induce birth rather than put you and your baby through the chemical bath that anxiety causes. I’m so sorry you are going through this. You are in a very vulnerable state right now. Please do share your fears and anxieties with your husband, your midwife and your doctor.
 
sojo said:
You have a midwife, but do you also have a doctor? If so, I’d share your fear and anxiety with him. If you are at term already, he might want to induce birth rather than put you and your baby through the chemical bath that anxiety causes. I’m so sorry you are going through this. You are in a very vulnerable state right now. Please do share your fears and anxieties with your husband, your midwife and your doctor.
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No, I do not have a doctor. I chose the midwifery model of care in order to avoid medical intervention. My first three babies were born without medical interventions. The doctor or midwife just monitored and caught the baby. I was allowed to do what I needed to do to be comfortable during labor and delivery. If I end up going past 42 weeks, I will have to go to the hospital anyway, and be induced and strapped down to a bed with IVs and monitors and forced to go through the medical model of care, no matter what. I am desperately hoping to avoid that.
My midwife and husband know my anxieties and they share them. Anyway, I shouldn’t further derail my own moral theology thread, here.
I do sincerely appreciate your kind response to me. I am just praying the Lord will give me peace in the waiting.
 
mommamaree said:
I am currently overdue, and have been having intermittent signs of labor. I have had precipitous labors in the past. Also, I have been getting close to passing out trying to stand or sit for long periods in Mass in recent weeks.
Am I sinning by staying home from Sunday Mass?

Also, I am in a state of high anxiety and am terrified of going into labor while alone, because I could possibly give birth before my husband could get to me or drive me to the birth center. I wanted so much to ask him to stay home and not leave me alone for Mass. I didn’t ask for fear I would be begging him to sin, so he went. But would he have been sinning by staying home with me?

Third, all of this seems ridiculous when compared with the fact that as of 6am tomorrow, I will be left alone all day with 3 kids because my husband has to work, and his work is 35 minutes from home, and he is unreachable by cell phone and sometimes even by office phone.

So, I have a moral dilemma that I have questions about, for two people, and taking into consideration past and future circumstances. Can anybody here help answer these questions? And will I need to confess for missing Mass myself today?
Click to expand...
You can ask a priest, but I think your situation counts as a valid reason, AND your husband staying home as well. Imagine if you had gone into labor while he was away… with three kids…

Jesus healed on the Sabbath… If you are in need or possible need of medical attention and a husband to drive you to the hospital, I highly doubt that counts as a sin. That’s just reality. As for him going to work, I certainly hope you have arrangements with a friend or family member to get to the hospital.

I will be praying that all goes well for you and your delivery.

God Bless!
 
I have been following you. No your reason for missing mass is valid. I also think that your husband would also have a valid reason. Have you thought of calling your pastor? He could grant both of you a dispensation.

My last baby over twenty years was also over due. I would start and then stop.

God Bless you and I hope your time is over soon. Praying for a safe and happy delivery for you.
 
adrift said:
I have been following you. No your reason for missing mass is valid. I also think that your husband would also have a valid reason. Have you thought of calling your pastor? He could grant both of you a dispensation.

My last baby over twenty years was also over due. I would start and then stop.

God Bless you and I hope your time is over soon. Praying for a safe and happy delivery for you.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I have received a dispensation before, and I know that it would be possible again now, but hopefully this will all be a moot point soon. Being so overdue now, we gotta get this baby out soon, and then if I need help, care of a newborn and a recovering wife is already a listed excuse for missing mass. I hate missing mass so much. I love the Mass, and always feel refreshed after. But someday, when my babies are grown and I am old and able to go to daily Mass, I am sure I will fondly recall those times where I was more confined. 🙂
 
I keep waiting for you to say you’ve had your baby.

I’m still praying!!!
 
Have you had your baby yet?

I’m still praying for you and your little one.
 
Follow your own conscience, not that of the people on here. If you feel that missing mass was necessary, it is your conscience that matters, not those of posters on an Internet forum. No one can tell you of you were right or wrong.
 
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