to think this comment is totally inappropriate

[SantasLittleFriend]

I phoned my friend this evening to wish her a Merry Christmas & ask how her pg was going. My best mate is 41+5 weeks pg & a midwife came to do a sweep but it was'nt her regular midwife. She told her the usual that she should go into labour very soon blah blah, however, they said that with her DD 1 and she ended up getting to nearly 43 weeks & had to be induced.

The midwife told my friend that the best way to get into labour is to have sex but to swallow is more effective, my friend said "what do you mean by swallow" and she said "you know, oral". She wan't even laughing about it either.

I really cant believe a trained professional would say something like this. Should she report this midwife? I told her she should. I would be furious. Is she being unreasonable to report her because of this comment?

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[stripeymama]

Er, I think she could be right. Something to do with the way prostaglandins are absorbed from semen?

Someone else will know.

Anyway I would not report it. Why? Did your friend find it offensive?

[POOKAingwenceslaslookedout]

But the midwife is telling the truth. Prostaglandin, which can trigger labour, is contained in sperm. But would not be absorbed as effectively unless taken orally.
Is grim idea when 41 weeks pregnant. But is true and one of the ways of trying to trigger labour (and prob more scientific than eating thousands of pineapples, curries and caster oil).
Nipple twiddling also very good.

[SantasLittleFriend]

Of course its offensive. Besides who want to give their DH a bloke a blow job (and swallow) when they are heavily pg .

[POOKAingwenceslaslookedout]

Sorry - shoudl have said semen rather than sperm. But YKWIM.

[soopermum1]

my (male) obsetrician recommended some 'hanky panky' with DH. i did blush a bit, but it was no big deal. YABU. probably comment wasn't in the best taste but nothing to get worked up about.

[christmosschops30]

Oh dear god, we're all adults, surely your friend has given oral sex at some time in her life.
True she may not want to do it whilst 41wks pregnant, but it certainly doesnt warrant reporting

[Snaf]

Which bit is inappropriate?

The advice is quite possibly correct. Some people do say the prostaglandins from semen are better absorbed through the digestive tract. Not sure if it's really evidence-based, but...

Should the subject of sex not be mentioned around pregnant women, then?

[POOKAingwenceslaslookedout]

I really don't agree that it's offensive.
Just a bit of info for your friend to either ignore or act upon, depending on how desperate she is for the labour to start.
So you are being unreasonable IMO and there should definitely not be a complaint.

[Sidge]

Why is it offensive? It's true.

Are health professionals not allowed to mention sex? Not even a midwife whose whole job is there because people have sex?

[hercules1]

Can't see a reason to complain. She was giving factual advise and they were all grown ups who had presumably done a sexual act in order to be in that position in the first place.

[SantasLittleFriend]

Well who is she to asume ALL women swallow?

[POOKAingwenceslaslookedout]

And it might not work, but then again, it might.

[wessexgirl]

She wasn't assuming all women swallow. She was just mentioning it as a way of bringing on labour. Really don't see a problem with this.

[Snaf]

ROFL @ 'who is she to assume all women swallow?'!

Sorry but I find this hilarious. As far as she's concerned, she's giving advice. It has nothing to do with her asumptions about your friend's sex life!

[POOKAingwenceslaslookedout]

She didn't assume though - according to your OP she clearly said that twas best to swallow (in terms of possible birth-triggering that is, don't think she was commenting generally on the pros and cons of oral sex and etiquette).

[Snaf]

I'll be honest - I've said this to women before if they are really desperate to go into labour. But usually only if I think they have a sense of humour...

Perhaps you should report me?

[hercules1]

I've just reread the op. I really don't see how her suggestion was offensive. Your friend is late, already had a baby late before Surely having the baby induced unnaturally would be far more offensive?

[stripeymama]

Is this for real? The midwife was offering advice - would you rather she did not advise your friend on possible natural ways to induce labour?

[bandgeek]

not offensive at all imo

[LadyOfTheHollyAndTheIvy]

I always thought semen direct to the cervix was better then orally?

[SantasLittleFriend]

I guess I am shocked by what the midwife said. Its not something I heard in my pregnancies and I went overdue on both my DC's (42 week on both).