Delivery - Milwaukee,WI

Hi D.! I just wanted to reassure you that England is a very safe place to have a baby. What your daughter in law is experiencing is actually very common. Please, be reassured that she would not just be better off in the States.
Evening primrose oil is good for inducing labor and so is getting a pedicure.
Congrats on the arrival of your grandson!

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England isn't a third world country! LOL! I actually had my first over there and wasn't induced until I hit the 42 week appt. Yes, I was uncomfortable, but it's not unbearable. It happens. All the time.

Honestly (and I mean this in the nicest way), the best thing you can do is not ask "any news." I know as a Grandma, you're excited and it is more difficult being so far away, but constant questions, unsolicited advice and stuff like that will likely have a negative impact on her blood pressure. Call and chat, but don't tell her the baby should come out.

I loved the prenatal care I had over there. Very hands off, unless there was a problem. My 2 pregnancies were treated so differently and they both ended up with a healthy baby in the end.

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I would relax and realize she is better off having the baby in England.... since the US is so c-section and induction happy, most babies are forced out of the womb before they are ready! Doctors are scheduling c-sections and inductions at 37wks.... thats borderline premature and can and does cause major problems!

Yes, she is uncomfortable, but pregnancy was never meant to be a walk in the park. She's near her due date, she' big and probably hot and has to pee every 5 minutes and its hard toget up and down.... but she WILL BE FINE! It comes with the territory and if thats a reason to have a baby early then everyone would knock their kids out by 30wks so they didnt' get uncomfortable.

Relax, she is obviously in good hands over there with doctors who are in tune with their patients and not just interested in keeping them on a schedule that meets the doctors needs/wants. The baby will come when he is ready, and he is better off coming WHEN HE ISREADY and not when some doctor decides its time.

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I went and had accupressure and within 8 hrs, I was in labor! Make sure the person doing the accupressure knows the spots to induce labor. Works like a charm!

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i urge you to read this.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1047180/the_lie_...

the problem with inducing pregnancy, is that baby obviously is not ready to be born. the lungs should be developed completely before baby is born, or there is a great danger to the baby. obviously, it seems to have 'worked well' to induce labor and or take babies by c-sec early, but at the same time that these rates go up, SIDS rates go up. coincidence? maybe not.

just let your DIL, your son and her doctors decide what to do... she knows whats best for her body. if the doctors were concerned with her blood presure, they will take care of her. and of course shes uncomfortable :P shes almost ready to have a baby! it just plain IS uncomfortable.

just tell her to take it easy, rest, drink lots of water (dehydration is common in the end of pregnancy and it can cause blood pressure to rise) and breathe. she shouldnt be worried about cleaning or cooking or doing anything right now except taking care of her. she should take walks as she is able, and stretch gently. doing squats might be uncomfortable, but i think that it helps open up the pelvis. also, if shes expecting a vaginal delivery, she can and should use oil or vaseline or something to rub and stretch the opening to try and prevent or minimize any tearing she might experience.

good luck to her!

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I understand the discomfort of the last few weeks and the way it intensifies if you are overdue (I don't think mine actually got worse--it was just harder to take because I had expected to be delivered by then). I also have learned the general principle from years of parenting that my comfort and my child's best interests rarely coincide. It is best for all involved (except a dr. and hospital staff who may have personal plans) to wait until the baby says it is ready to come. As a collector of birth stories (I have 10 of my own and love to hear them from anyone who will tell them) I have never heard of a negative outcome from "waiting too long", but have heard of many, many problems brought on by trying to artificially start a labor. Maybe we should consider that in England they have more sense than the majority of our medical establishment. As long as the blood pressure is being monitored and the mom is not in danger, it is good to wait so that the baby won't be, either.

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I had my first baby in Yorkshire, as that is where I too come from and had my second baby over here. I have to say England is the better place to give birth. There are so many more natural options over there and they don't do c-section unless necessary. Tell her to have a hot curry from the local indian take-away and go for the longest walk she can.
In the end the baby will come when he is ready!!

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I agree with Michelle H on the things to help. They may not start labor, but they can help tone the vagina, perineum, and uterus. If she is really wanting to kick things up though, at the end of 38 she should be able to start blue cohosh, but be careful! She only needs to take the directed amount, which I think is 30-40 drops in a drink of water, 2-3 times a day. Most US docs and even midwifes have stopped suggesting it because of a few cases where the mother OD'd and lost the baby. If taken properly and conservitaly, she will be fine. Also at the end of 41, castor oil can also bring on labor, but I would only use that as a last ditch effort.

But in the end, God and baby know when it's time and it's a good lesson in patience.
Congratulations, Grandma!

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Yes, I have been in this circumstance myself. I can suggest two things that seem to work quite well....going for a walk once or twice each day (of course, with someone else along) and masturbation, which is not as difficult as having sex. Or the Father can simply stimulate the Mother sexually. It really does work - and is not unpleasant. Enjoy!!! And happy baby.

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I third the opinion that she wouldn't be better off in the States. A first time mom's pregnancy averages 41w 3d, which means that she is well within the range of "normal." She is not overdue until she passes 42 weeks, and if her blood pressure is up and back down, it's sounds like the normal end of pregnancy stuff one could expect. If it were up and staying up, then that would be a problem. Sounds to me like her caregivers are doing exactly what they should be...giving her options and letting her chose the what she feels is best for her body and her baby.

If she wants to get more comfortable, I always recommend chiropractic care to pregnant women. This helps her body be best aligned for birth, and helps baby to get into a good position. The PPs have already given the natural labor induction methods I would have, but you have to keep in mind that if her body/baby isn't ready they won't work.

I hope you DIL has a wonderful birth!

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While I was in the hospital after the midwife broke my water and nothing was happening, the labor nurse suggested I get in the shower and my husband touch me lovingly and fondle my breasts and basically love me up to get the hormone oxtytocin going - otherwise known as the "love hormone" as you may know. It worked! So, I highly recommend it. Good luck to your daughter-in-law!

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