Comment from Vanderbilt Wife
Time: October 17, 2008, 9:58 am

We’ve been trying a different method every day of trying to force Baby out!! Including option B…and it didn’t work. Last night DH gave Baby a pep talk and told her she could come out in her own time, as long as it was in the next 48 hours.

Comment from Jenelle Howe
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:18 am

mommy said she ran up a hill, it didnt work though! That was all she could remember! Sorry!

Comment from Mom
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:20 am

Oh, how awesome it is to find myself on the blog again. Yes, I thought I went into labor over eating the pizza, but you were well on your way to see the big world. After the 16 hours of intense labor (you know the kind where you don’t care who sees you naked — even the President of the United States would be okay), you made your big debut at 7:12 p.m. It was the most incredible moment of my life. You already had an audience waiting in the lobby of approximately 30 people, just waiting to get a glimpse of you. The nurses let my hold you in my arms and proudly let everyone get a good look. I’ve never heard so much ooh-ing and ahh-ing. Face it girl, you’ve still got them ooh-ing and ahh-ing. Love you, Mommie

Comment from anna
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:32 am

My sweet Christian – non alcohol drinking – women’s home group leading – prayer warrior – mom always told of how my dad played his guitar as I was being born. She made the entire event sound like camp fire heaven… THEN about a year ago she told me that someone told her to drink a beer to help her relax from all of the stress her body was going through. Sure enough, I was born a few hours later. I highly DO NOT recommend this! She risked me being GHETTOFIED for the rest of my life. Luckily I turned out OK, but I don’t think this is a risk any woman should take with a precious baby.

Comment from anna
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:33 am

Did I mention that mom refused the epidural, because she didn’t want the meds to have a negative effect on her baby. Too Funny!!!

Comment from Shara
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:37 am

I’ve never tried the castor oil thing, but I know two women who have and went into labor 12 hours later.

If not that, then maybe she could go for a very brisk walk.

Comment from Anna
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:38 am

Lol
Anna I love your story but my mom always said when she was pregnant with all four of us she would always try and get her blood pumping really hard by playing a competative video game or soemthing that would get her excited and she said that worked with two of the four kids so who knows.

Comment from Brittany
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:44 am

I tried EVERYTHING!!! Nothing worked. Even when they hooked me up to the good stuff (pitocin) she wasn’t budging. 18 hours of labor later (thank goodness for epidurals) she was “forcefully evicted” to put it nicely. Second baby didn’t get a chance, I went ahead and scheduled my c-section. But I think I’m pretty unusual. My body doesn’t respond well. One thing I’ve heard that works really well, is when the Dr. ‘strips the membranes’. If you don’t know, google it. Doesn’t hurt and works for a lot of people. But most Dr.’s won’t do it before 38 or 39 weeks.

Comment from leigh
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:51 am

I have never been in labor and will never get the chance. For that, I’m a little sad, but in a way from the posts that have gone on, I’m a little glad. I would probably be trying all of the “once-tried-get-this-baby-out-of-me-experiments”

I do know that my sister was teaching aerobics with her first child in the morning and went into labor that night. With her second she had peperoni Pizza the night before and went into labor a while later. I’m not sure about the other two. Maybe it has something to do with the high fat food content,,,hmmmm

good luck!!

PS Oreo’s are my favorite!!

Leigh-NC

Comment from Amie C
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:53 am

Ditto, what Brittany said. My dr did that for me 3 days before my due date and I was in active labor within 24 hours. (But in my opinion, it does hurt a little. I can give more details through email if you like ) I still had to have my water broken, and was given pitocin to help things along. Good luck, roomie!!

Comment from Robyn
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:55 am

Things that I have heard that worked (safely, of course) was
1. Mexican food (worked for several people I know, including mother in law)
2. Steam room (not hot tub, and only briefly in steam room – staying hydrated)
3. Long walks
4. Castor oil (never tried it, because ew, but heard it works)
5. Eating pineapple, kiwi, or mango – something about the enzymes in them…chemistry..blah blah…
6. Something about beets, but I can’t remember exactly.

I fully understand the “get this baby out of me” feeling. I have 3 kids. Tell her to find a gym or a hotel with a pool and go swimming. It might be the only way she’s comfortable for the next couple of weeks.

Comment from mandy
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:55 am

Tell roomie that the baby is less trouble in, than out. Take advantage of your time…while it’s still YOUR time.

My mom went ballroom dancing, ate pizza & then walked to the hospital. She’s pretty much awesome.

Comment from Racer
Time: October 17, 2008, 11:05 am

Tell Roomie to sleep as much as she can. She’ll get alot more sleep with baby in the womb than out of it.

The ideas only work if Baby is actually ready to make his grand debut.

Walking helps
Castor oil can be applied to the belly as opposed to drinking it, I’ve heard. So maybe try that???

1st babies rarely make it out ahead or on schedule.

Comment from Jennifer M.
Time: October 17, 2008, 11:15 am

Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.

When I was pregnant with Chandler I walked until I thought my legs would fall off!
I ended up being induced, but when the midwife checked me before starting the pitocin I was MUCH further along than I had been the day before at my appointment.

The Cleveland mall isn’t good for much, but it’s a great place to walk!

Comment from Tamara
Time: October 17, 2008, 11:23 am

This: “Oh, Little Debbie. Do you even know how many women you have forced to become Big Debra?” is too true to be funny, yet too funny not to laugh!

I hear that foot massages/pedicures can be “productive”. And if it doesn’t cause labor, it’s still a treat!

I had a friend (a teacher, not a student) who had a school cafeteria burrito just before she went into labor. She ended up having to have some surgical “repairs” due to complications, and all she could think about was how the school burrito was her last meal for 4 days!

Comment from Kerri
Time: October 17, 2008, 11:27 am

Something I heard that worked is a long, bumpy ride on country roads. I couldn’t tell you if it worked, because apparently we live in a rich county or something. There were no really bad roads. We found some gravel roads, but they were as smooth as could be.

Our county commissioner was doing his job, but it could not have been at a worse time for me.

All three of my babies were induced, and two were induced because they were late. That being said, induction was not as awful for me as some people would have you believe.

Comment from Leslie
Time: October 17, 2008, 11:29 am

I knew a lady that went for a walk with her husband to try to get labor going. And it worked! Her husband had to leave her there and go back to get the van and pick her up.

Comment from Elizabeth
Time: October 17, 2008, 11:35 am

I went to the local elementary school and swang (swung?) in the swings. Of course I had to sit in the handicapped swing because it’s the only one I would fit in, but it worked. And, this is a little more invasive, my midwife stretched me out a little and it worked. Fast! Someone above suggested it as well. It hurts just a tad, and you have to make sure baby is really ready, but it definitely got things going for me.

Just remember, he will come when he’s ready. And it’s true. They are easier in than out!

Comment from Gayle @ thewestiecrew
Time: October 17, 2008, 11:47 am

Please do NOT get desperate enough to give in to the Castor Oil. It doesn’t work. And the misery is severe and endless. Ask me how I know…

Comment from Jennifer
Time: October 17, 2008, 12:25 pm

I can be of no help on the helping labor issue. T was 9 (yes, nine) days late. SHHH…but, don’t tell Roomie that! I just had to pop in to comment on the Little Debbie/Big Debra comment. Oh how funny and very (very) true! Good luck to you girls!

Comment from Deidre
Time: October 17, 2008, 1:03 pm

Okay, the comment about ‘Little Debbie’ forcing women to become ‘Big Debra’ made me CRACK UP! That is hilarious!

I tried everything and was still 2 weeks late with both. I hate to say it, but just wait it out — sorry!

Comment from Haroldly
Time: October 17, 2008, 1:27 pm

hi…im kinda a new reader, but as for ways, my mom said she walked alooooot, and then the other day i was out. i think it could be an option…

Blessings

Comment from Dana
Time: October 17, 2008, 1:36 pm

As uncomfortable as roomie feels right now, just be happy that boy is staying in there to “cook”. Trust me, the little ones are much easier to care for in utero. Let him come out when he is good and ready.

But FYI – a Chick-fil-a chicken biscuit was consumed by me three hours before hard labor began. I’m not saying it was the “kicker”, but it was delicious anyway.

Comment from Rachel
Time: October 17, 2008, 2:58 pm

I am the one who went into labor 5 weeks early and convinced AB that you should pack right away. What I did not tell you before is that 6 weeks before my due date I went on a campout with our teens. On this campout we did some site seeing. The sight we chose to see was 198 steps down. My beloved husband said, “Rachel I don’t think you should do this.” I said, “Honey don’t be silly I already missed the canoeing! It is just a few stairs.” I said this on the way down! On the way up I almost went died! I about killed one teen girl who kept saying, “She is going into labor! It was a terrible idea for her to go down there!” and on and on she went. I finally reached the top and I did not go into labor, BUT one week later to the day my precious Grace arrived. So my advice STAIRS. It is awful, but it worked for me!

Comment from Ronnica
Time: October 17, 2008, 3:36 pm

That Debbie/Debra comment? Hilarious! I think I might just eat myself a Little Debbie. Why’dya have to talk ‘em up for?

I love the comment your mom left!

Comment from Kelli
Time: October 17, 2008, 3:36 pm

Umm inductions work nice!

Comment from Kim
Time: October 17, 2008, 4:27 pm

I was a couple weeks overdue with our firstborn and the hubby really wanted the tax write-off that year so he took me shopping at the mall. ForAnEntireDay. We were there when the mall opened, and we walked and walked and walked…He let me have a 20 minute break mid-morning, a lunch break and 20 minutes more in the afternoon. We left at 6 p.m.
Yes I went into labor at 10 p.m.
And was so tired from all the walking that I didn’t have the energy I needed to birth a big old 9 lb. baby boy.
Seriously.
Ended up needing a c-section.
That wasn’t the only problem that necessitated the surgery.
But still not recommending anyone follow in my shoes.
Which I wore the tread off in one day at the mall.

Comment from Kelly @ Love Well
Time: October 17, 2008, 4:44 pm

Anna’s story made me laugh really hard. Ghettofied. I love it.

I have to say, the only time I wasn’t induced was with Connor — and I’m going to post the second half of his birth story TODAY. So you can come on over in about two hours and read how we got him to come out without the use of Pitocin.

Comment from Kim
Time: October 17, 2008, 4:57 pm

As my doctor told me when I was a week overdue with our first baby, “we haven’t left one in there yet.” Try to enjoy yourself Roomie.

Comment from Cindy-stillHisgirl
Time: October 17, 2008, 5:49 pm

Chinese hot and sour soup. Proven to work.

I was about 6 mos preggo one time and in a Chinese restaurant and the lady said, “No hot sour soup for you.” SERIOUSLY.

Then, past my due date and desperate, we went in for some hot and sour soup. The next day, I had a baby.

Comment from taryn in ny
Time: October 17, 2008, 6:26 pm

my sister in law recently tried every single solitairy way of inducing herself this july from drinking raspberry tea to balsamic vinegar to EVERYTHING in between to drinking castor oil on TWO separate occasions (GROSS). NO BABY. He came when he was good and ready.

myself- i tried to induce myself with various methods (see above LOL) and then they tried (my Dr) inducing me for 3 days in the hospital- they kept stopping it because there was a baby boom too many women in labor not enough beds etc. on the 4th day i checked myself out of the hospital my contractions were 2 minutes apart but I wasn’t dialating. i went home and gorged on a 1/4 of a sheet pizza (just cheese) and was in labor 3 hours later. my labor was 17 hours pushing for 6. HELLLOOOOOO ouchies. I think the pizza *might* have been a coincidence. My son arrived exactly on his due date. Anyway…

I firmly believe that …

when the “turkey is done” he’ll pop out… OR
as my gram says
“when the apple is ripe it will fall from the tree”

LOL!!!

Comment from Bethany
Time: October 17, 2008, 6:44 pm

OK. To be honest, short of things that should not be used without supervision/OK from a care provider, nothing you try will work if Baby isn’t ready.

99.9% of the time a woman’s body knows exactly when it is supposed to go into labor and short of drugs or herbs that carry with them risks (yes, even pitocin/cytotec inductions in the hospital have risks), there really isn’t anything to persuade your body otherwise.

Castor oil is a bad idea on so many levels. #1 It tastes bad. #2 It dehydrates you (baaaaad idea) because of the runs you get as a result. #3 It can pass to Baby and cause a BM while still in utero. #4 It doesn’t work unless Baby is already ready anyway. Most of the herbal “remedies” can cause their own problems as well. And stripped membranes do too so HURT and can introduce infection and cause the cervix to swell and not dilate.

There are some things you can do to make labor easier when it does happen though…

Red Raspberry *LEAF* tea tones the uterus and helps make contractions more efficient. It can also help the uterus contract to its normal size more quickly after birth – which means less bleeding.

Walking, as uncomfortable as it may be, provides natural pressure on the cervix to dilate before labor even begins. The more “work” the cervix does now, the less it will have to do when the pain kicks in. But no one wants to go into labor *already* exhausted so Roomie should take it easy.

As everyone has said, as miserable as it may be right now, you will get a lot more rest with Baby inside than you will when he is out!

Comment from Melissa
Time: October 17, 2008, 10:53 pm

I have heard that a pedicure with a foot massage that hits the right pressure points works to induce labor. My sister went into labor less than 12 hours after having one.

Comment from Chatty Kelly
Time: October 18, 2008, 4:13 pm

Raspberry hot tea. And a prenatal massage. (and even if it doesn’t work, you’ll feel better anyway). Make sure the massage therapist is certified in PRENATAL massage!!!

Comment from Laurel Diacogiannis
Time: October 19, 2008, 3:58 am

Wow! Love all of the comments. I had no idea that so many other women went the induction route also. Six of my 10 bio. kids were induced (added 3 adopted kids later).

Baby #1 – induced 2 weeks late … came out weighing in at 10.1. Yikes!
Babies #2 & 3 – arrived just before their due dates
Babies #4 & 5 – twins – induced at 40 weeks … came out at 7.2 and 8.3. 15.5# of baby!
Baby #6 – arrived just before his due date … weighing 8.14
Baby #7 – induced 3 weeks early … still came out weighing 9.14 (really didn’t want to set any weight records)
Babies #8, 9, 10 – induced a couple of weeks early – all weighing over 8# – by this time I really liked the idea of scheduling a day, since I didn’t really want to go into labor while hubby was at work and I was at home on the farm with ALL the little ones.

Natural labor and delivery with every one of them. No epidurals … no pain meds … figured women have been having babies naturally for a few thousand years, so I wanted to do it the “old fashioned” way. Wouldn’t recommend any other way!

You are an AMAZING friend for Roomie. Keep up the good work! It WILL be more work once you have a new little roomie. But … you’ll LOVE it.

Blessings,

Laurel
mama of 13
http://ajourneyoffaith.net
(my new ministry website)

Comment from Laurel Diacogiannis
Time: October 19, 2008, 4:02 am

Oh yea …

… tried the bumpy country road thing … it didn’t work.

… tried the spicy food thing … it didn’t work.

… tried the walking thing … it didn’t work.
(when pregnant with the twins, I went on walks with the just turned 2 year old sitting on top of by HUGE belly … still didn’t work)

… Pitocin is the only thing that seems to nudge my little ones out of their comfy waiting room. Yes, there are risks … but there are also risks in having 13# babies. I’m not in to record-setting, weight-lifting newborns. Bring on the Pitocin …

Comment from Ashleigh (Heart and Home)
Time: October 19, 2008, 4:59 pm

Castor oil got both of mine out, but seriously, I wouldn’t suggest doing it. I think they both were ready anyway and I feel sick just thinking about taking the castor oil. I second everything Bethany said above. If I wasn’t rambling about nothing in this here comment box, I’d say what she did.

But, hey, keep trying the Oreos, because at the very least, you’ll have a cookie lovin’ kiddo coming out… important stuff, you know.

Comment from Shelly W.
Time: October 19, 2008, 7:32 pm

These comments are just priceless! I am laughing so hard! But truly, having those membranes stripped really does work, but you have to get your doc to cooperate. I had it done and was in labor by the time I got home from the office visit.

Pizza has worked for more than one of my friends. No kidding. At the very least, she will be well-fed for the big event. I remember being very hungry while in labor . . . and they don’t let you eat no matter how long you’re hanging out on the table (30 hours for one of mine!).

Truly, don’t rush it. As many have said, the kiddo is much more cooperative and easy to handle on the inside than on the outside. Especially 14 or 15 years down the road!