Help! Not Going into Labor!!!

I am a midwife. A "due date" is an estimate only. It should be a "due month." She does not know the exact time the egg was fertilized. The baby knows when it is ready. There is no such thing as; "I never went into labor." How many women do see walking around that have been pregnant for years because they never went into labor? Also many times babies do not drop and the mom does not efface or dilate until labor. This is completely normal. Tell her to relax, be patient, trust her body and her baby and labor will begin when it is suppose to. Tell her not to schedule an induction. She has the right to say no. As long as she is healthy, she is fine. Labor will start.

Lisa

My baby dropped 8 weeks before my due date, everyone told me how there was no way I'd make it to my due date. And I ended up being enduced simply because i couldnt take it anymore. I dont there are any "tricks' that work, beccause I tried them all.

I tried ALL the old wives tales...the baby comes when the baby is ready.

Due dates are just guesses - so she MAY not be as 'overdue' as she thinks. I agree that babies come when they're ready.

But here are a few 'methods' that are SUPPOSED to help things along:
castor oil
sex
accupressure - there's a pressure point in the webbing between your thumb and first finger
pineapple - you have to eat LOTS
walk, walk, walk

Also, babies don't always 'drop' before labour; sometimes it occurs during labour, especially if it's not her first.

Have her plan a special weekend getaway with her hubby, a last hurrah before the baby arrives....I bet the baby will come then! HA!

Walking and Sex!

A relative of mine went on a 3 MILE WALK and kick started her overdue labor. Ironically enough, she had no pain, did not take an epidural, and had the baby with just 20 minutes of pushing. WALK WALK WALK

Yes sex is a good way to get her into labor:) Go for along walk and stay up and be active! that should get that baby moving!

My first two were each 2 weeks late. My doctor wanted to induce both times. I decided the the heartbeat was healthy and all was well to wait for mother nature who kicked in in her own sweet time. Mind you, they were huge babies, but they were fully baked which was all I cared about. :)

It was just on The Dr's, and they said to do accupuncture, massage, sex, nipple stimulation (be careful with this because it can bring labor on fast), walking, and rocking on a ball. She said that spicy foods and castor oil can cause you to go into false labor and not to do this. The Dr's reairs on 38 The Spot at 8pm CST, so she can watch this if she can.
Hope this helps.

sometimes a special adjustment by a chiropractor that's familiar with working with pregnant women helps. Her hips may need opening. I had that problem. She'd have to make sure they work with pregnant women on a regular basis. Although, my doctor did mine while in labor at the hospital and it did cause my water to break...entering the hospital deadline. I was fine though, giving birth 8hrs after it broke.

Physical activity...walking, golfing, and of course some intimacy!

Unfortunately, it may not happen anyway. We were definitely still having sex, but with both of my boys my water broke and I was induced because I would not go into labor (they had a risk window before infection was a bigger concern). One was on time and one was 3 weeks early. I understand people wanting to avoid induction, but other than the labor being painful a lot faster, I had no problems either time. I wimped out and got an epidural but only pushed each of them for 25 minutes. Waiting always stinks!

Unless medically necessary, your friend has the right to refuse induction. Maybe her OB will agree to her coming in for Non-Stress Tests a few times a week?
Remember that 40 weeks is the "average" amount of weeks to be pregnant ~ some pregnancies can go beyond that magic number....as much as no one wants to hear that ;) (and I was overdue for all of my boys, so I understand!)
Induction tends to be linked to higher rates of c-sections....so if I were her, I'd be doing everything I could to refuse medical intervention from the get-go. And I have had a c/s and 2 vaginal births ~ the vaginal births were a trillion times easier to recover from.
Tell her to trust her body, and that she can do this!

Have her try all the old wives tales... Intercourse, spicy food, red rasberry leaf tea, walking. I was 4 days late with my 1st baby and felt so huge and ready to deliver. So I drank a TON of red rasberry leaf tea and took a long walk - and I went into labor the next day. It could have been total coincidence but I figured it didn't hurt :) I've heard that intercourse is the best method (although I wasn't willing to try it - at least not at that point - it was the LAST thing I wanted to do at 41 weeks pregnant :) )

dont let the doctor induce labor, that can only complicate things. and make more money for the doctor, if the baby hasnt dropped yet and there is nothing wrong dont do it, how do you avoid the doctor doing it, dont go in to
see him until the baby has dropped and or your water breaks.
K. h.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I received many massages. The massage therapist told me that she couldn't massage a certain part of my feet as it would induce labor.

Clost to my due date, I had her massage my feet. My daughter was born on her due date, 5 1/4 hours of labor and it was WONDERFUL (no drugs).

Massages are great and a natural way to induce labor.

I have heard being on your feet as much as possibly and using sage is one that can make labor comming on. u want to mix with olive oil so your not irratating the area. she could try that but it sounds like its going to a medical induce ment