So my DH's SIL is 4 days "overdue" with her 3rd baby today. My ILs went out there this past weekend (several states away) to be sure they "don't miss it" (they're not going to witness the birth; MIL just has to be THERE when it happens...instead of waiting to go when the baby is born and having MORE time to spend with the baby...FIL has to be back to work on Monday, so either they are going to come back just a couple days after the baby is born, or FIL will fly back by himself and MIL will stay another week. nevermind that they could have just waited 'til baby arrived and BOTH had more time to spend. whatever.
)
So they've been there for like 5 days now "watching the pot." Ugh. Poor mama. I know how hard those last days are, waiting for labor to start, even when you DON'T have someone that came to town just WAITING for you to go into labor...just HOPING that the baby will come sooner so they have more time with him before they have to leave. Not to mention staying with you and watching/waiting. No pressure there, right?
So SIL went to the doctor yesterday. They told her that the baby's head was not positioned right, so he wasn't putting enough pressure on the cervix, etc. OK...good information to know, right? But what did they do? Tell her to use positioning and such to get him in the optimal position, not only for labor to START, but for labor to progress well? Nope. They told her that she "might need a c-section" ~ I guess not just because of the positioning, but because this is a HUGE baby, you know.
Plus he's "late" and he "might have a bowel movement" and "if your water breaks, the cord might come out and you might have to call 911."
Excellent job of undermining every shred of confidence this mama might have had. I really have to hand it to them.
AND...with this baby that is not in the optimal position...they decided to induce this morning. And how did they begin that induction? AROM.
MIL called a few minutes ago to let me know what's going on. She's convinced that SIL did not consent to this induction for their sake...but how can she NOT feel pressure to have the baby before they're scheduled to leave? I mean, I know it's her decision, and the induction police didn't come to pick her up, and all that...but you know she had to have been feeling pressure! It's SO not good to put a pregnant woman on a timeline. Tick tick tick... ("inlaws have to leave in 3 days...why won't my labor start???")
SIL's other two babies came "late" ~ by induction. Her mom gave birth "late." So, um...maybe her babies just cook a little longer? She really wanted to go into labor spontaneously this time, she said.
I was going to call her yesterday, but the time just got away from me. I wanted to give her some words of encouragement, since I knew that she was probably hearing a lot of DIScouraging things...and FEELING discouraged. I know what the last few days are like. I wanted to tell her that the key to labor starting and going smoothly is baby in the optimal position. And give her tips on facilitating that. Since I didn't get a chance to call her yesterday, I was going to call today definitely. I'm just one day late.
Who knows if a call from me would have made any difference, but I feel like I failed her by not giving her some encouragement. Maybe she would have tried some OFP things and started labor on her own last night and had a much different labor/birth. I just cringe to think of trying to force a baby out that (they KNOW) is in a less than optimal position.
Anyway, that's my vent for the day. When I get an update, I'll be sure to share the weight of this HUGE baby boy.
Spring has sprung! 
No due date
Well boo on the episiotomy, but I am so glad to hear she had a vaginal birth.
What a big boy, how wonderful!!
