Damsels expertise needed

**Mrs Woman** · 21-07-2009, 08:44pm

My poor SIL is now 9 days overdue and has been having contractions every 10 mins since 11.30pm Sunday night

. She went to hospital this morning to check out baby as she hadnt felt it move much since yesterday and all is fine.

They offered her an internal but she declined as she was so uncomfortable. The MW said she was probably still in early labour and that this could go on for days. SHe is absolutely shattered as she cant get much sleep and is desperate for things to get moving.

She is using her birthing ball and has started to use the TENS machine as contractions are getting more painful. She doesnt have a bath so cant try that to help things along.

Anymore pearls of wisdom from the experts would be greatly appreciated to get this baby out

Otherwise I think she may have to resort to going on a tractor ride with my DH

**Miffy** · 21-07-2009, 08:54pm

Oh no, the poor thing.

I think the tractor sounds like a great idea

I think I would be tempted to go in and get them to break her waters. However, I'm not an expert on long labours so I may be talking rubbish

She must be knackered.

**Islander** · 21-07-2009, 08:56pm

Reflexology might help. Got me going when I was a week overdue with dd2.

D x

**icclebunny** · 21-07-2009, 08:59pm

A well positioned shower jet on her back may help ease any discomfort, with backache.
They say sex is the only really half decent thing that works or nipple tweaking

**WoollyNewty** · 21-07-2009, 09:02pm

Some women do have very long latent labours which are exhausting but it tends to be that her body is doing what it needs to do and all of this is jiggling the baby about a bit and getting everything ready and trying to get the baby into the best position.

She must be exhausted. She really needs to rest, stay hydrated, try and eat to keep her energy going. Sometimes they will prescribe a mild sleeping pill in situations like this - I think she should ask if she can have this if she can't sleep. She can sleep with her TENS on if that helps.

I know it sounds impossible but i think she needs to try and forget about going into labour

. If she could get the sleeping tablets (or a glass of wine

) and really rest up, watch some old favourite DVDS or whatever, and then go to sleep (properly) that would help.

The only 'old wives tale' that might do it is sex but I very much doubt she's up for that....... It's a shame she hasn't got a bath.

Has she got someone she can have a good cry on? Sounds mad but if she's tired and feeling desperate she probably needs to 'get it all out', take some paracetomal and hunker down and rest and try and forget about it.

Really hope it all kicks off for her soon.

**Chickster** · 21-07-2009, 09:30pm

This was me when I went into labour with William. There wasn't anything anybody could do until I was in established labour and 12 hours after finally reaching 3cm and then being admitted into hospital I was offered an epidural and a synto drip to speed things up. William was born another 8 hours later.

Other than sitting on her birthing ball to try and get the baby's head deeper into her pelvis, and also trying to get some sleep (I so know how knackered she feels as I couldn't sleep - contractions every 10 minutes, even when they are mild, are bloody painful).

She really must eat though, even if she feels as though she's going to throw it all straight back up. I couldn't eat a thing for 4 days and by the time I reached the pushing stage I was too exhausted to do anything which resulted in a very nasty delivery.

Your SIL has my every sympathy. Please give her plenty of

from me for her.

**L66TTY** · 21-07-2009, 09:31pm

Clary Sage, Homeopathy, reflexology, accupuncture (this worked really fast for my friend) a good long walk preferably up a hill worked for me! Also letting it happen some encouragement like its going to happen soon sweetie we are going to meet your new baby should help!

**scatterbrain** · 21-07-2009, 09:32pm

Originally Posted by Miffy

I think the tractor sounds like a great idea

.

Parkejm tried that one(a tractor ride at the local play farm), but it didn't work for her.

I understand walking up & down the stairs is supposed to help.

I can't really offer much advice really as I had to go on a drip with both of mine to get the labout fully established.

Scatterbrain

**Mrs Woman** · 22-07-2009, 09:51am

Well, she took the TENS machine off at 11.30pm last night as it was annoying her and one hour later she was in hopsital with painful, stronger contractions. SHe was already 6cm!!!!

Molly Olivia was born at 6.08am this morning weighing 7lb 3oz - and all with just gas and air!!!! She is absolutely gorgoeous and I cant wait to go and meet her later.

THanks for all the advice girls.