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Mumsnet Discussions: Childbirth : Tried and tested 'make baby come' methods. (61 messages)
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Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 18-Feb-08 14:00:53
I'm 33 weeks now, so not expecting it for a few more weeks, but am desperate to go into labout by 38weeks.
What did you do to help make labour start? and when can you start the whole nipple stim/birthing ball/pineapple etc from?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By pippylongstockings on Mon 18-Feb-08 14:18:22
I had my first LO at 38 weeks - after a mercy shag from DP the night before.

My 2nd LO was at 40 weeks dispite sex every single day for the previous 2 weeks!!!
However he did arrive very quickly after a cervical sweep, walk, curry & clary sage bath & sex!!
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By StealthPolarBear on Mon 18-Feb-08 14:20:38
I would say travel to the other end of the country and forget your AN notes
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By moljam on Mon 18-Feb-08 14:22:52
i tried sex,curry,pineapple etc-even tried walking to top of here at 40 weeks(then paicked i wouldnt get down!)none worked and dd came when she was fully baked.

why do you want to go at 38 weeks?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 18-Feb-08 14:27:58
The cons wants to discuss a CS at 38weeks and I really don't want one, so if LO comes soon enough we cut out that problem.

I was thinking maybe a walk up here in a couple of weeks might help.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:17:17
I think I'm going to have to do every single possible way from about 37weeks.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By scorpio1 on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:18:28
come and stay with me and forget your notes like Stealth said grin
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Tommy on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:19:12
I tried all the ways at 40+ weeks and none of them worked - sorry sad
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By scorpio1 on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:20:07
for me it is sex and raspberry leaf capsules every time, also a walk when i feel an ache iyswim to help bring it on.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By EiWishFor3MoreWishes on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:20:24
i tried literally every baby-bringing method known to man and i still went 11 days overshock FWIW you are considered full term at 37 weeks in my local hosp so i would try stuff starting around the 37 week marksmile so list of things to try...
clary sage (massage and bath), reflexology, pineapple, HOT HOT HOT curries/chillies,
make plans for something you couldnt possibly do whilst in labour/nursing a newborn, tweak the nipples, go for looooong walks, almost get involved in an accident hmm(worked for me!! stupid DHhmm), my mum swore by laxatives for bringing on the babies (she had 4 all early all with fybogel orange as a start-off method!!) so maybe lactulose but ask your MW first obv!!smile cant think of any more...good lucksmile
xx ei xx
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By TheFallenMadonna on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:20:36
Nipple massage
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Haylstones on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:21:12
I'm exactly the same, 6 days to go and desperately uncomfortable sad. Dh is refuding to do the deed (can't say I blame him), I can't eat anything spicy, am in too much discomfort to walk too far (been told to rest after 3 day stay in mat ward last week) and not sure what else to try... If anybody gives you a miracle technique please share grin
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By EiWishFor3MoreWishes on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:21:16
oh yeah rasberry leaf tea/capsules i forgot thosesmile
xx ei xx
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By itwasntme on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:21:25
One thrust from dh was enough to break my waters at 38 weeks. blush

Poor dh.. I basically jumped on him when he was trying to get some sleep.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By MesaLoca on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:22:46
black cohosh worked for me.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:23:16
LOL itwasntme!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By terramum on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:25:19
Why is your cons wanting to discuss a cs? (You know they can't force you to have one don't you wink). Is there a reason he/she doesn't want you to be pg after 38 weeks?....seems strange for it to be ok for you to have a vb before 38 weeks & not afterwards...especially as term is classed as anything between 37 & 42 weeks so going over 38 weeks isn't usually anything to be concerned about. Surely if there was a potential problem then they should be offering you monitoring post 38 weeks not a cs?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:26:05
Meant to say I've been taking my raspberry leaf capsules, once a day for the last week, was told to gradually increase to maximum dosage so hopefully they'll help.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:27:30
I have a problem with placental blood flow terramum, I know I can push to go over 38weeks but the cons is a bit hmm about me waiting til then as it is (VBA2C btw).
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Lulumama on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:27:46
see a qualified herbalist/ aromatherapist/ alternative practitioner re stuff you can do

ASK your baby to come sooner rather than later

lots of sex
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By merryberry on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:34:10
lol at stealthpolarbear
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By merryberry on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:36:09
how much nipple stim, oh expert ones? don't you have to do it something like 26 hours a day with fingers of iron? anyone know?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:36:59
Good question, I also heard it's best to do it with a breast pump.
<eyes mam breast pump recently aquired>
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By TheBlonde on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:39:51
sex
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By merryberry on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:48:42
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 18-Feb-08 15:53:05
I love the last phrase

"Remember, you will not have much time to yourself after your baby is born, so unless you really are in the early stages of labour, you shouldn't try to use these techniques to induce labour. You should take this precious time to rest and nourish your body and mind for the labour ahead, in order for you to labour the best way you can."

I assume that's for first time mums? I certainly don't have much time to 'myself' now as it is!
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 18-Feb-08 16:42:45
Is castor oil recommended or not? I've seen it on loads of sites but am sure someone told me not to use it before.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By TheBlonde on Mon 18-Feb-08 17:02:41
castor oil not recommended!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By terramum on Mon 18-Feb-08 17:08:40
Wrt to your cons being a bit hmm about you going over 38 weeks....that's not up to him/her. They should be giving you information so you can make an informed choice, not pressuring you into trying to induce your baby early sad. All of the methods that have been listed will only work if you are ready to go into labour, so why use them anyway imo. If it were me I would be asking 'BRAIN' (benefits, risks etc) questions like how they know I have to get my baby out before 38 weeks? What possible complications can result if I do go past that point? What benefits are there to leaving you to go into labour naturally and what monitoring can they offer to ensure that the placenta is functioning properly?
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By babalon on Mon 18-Feb-08 23:37:27
The only one of the dc I went over with was th one I tried to induce only by a day. But DD (1st dc) day before due date Ds1 9 days earlier than due date, Ds2 day after due date. Just Chill

Baby will come out!

Bathes, plucking eye brows, hair dressers, long lunches, DH/DP time just chatting. learning how to work carseat,steriliser,pram,planning first break away from d baby. I suggest at about 6 weeks.

Good luck
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Slur on Mon 18-Feb-08 23:45:00
membrane sweep.

But 'fraid don't think anything will work if you're not ripe..
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Slur on Mon 18-Feb-08 23:46:37
Oh sorry that was stupidly blunt.

Don't worry VS you just will that baby to get going and stick it to them cons (hmm neo cons? ah no. penny drops. consultants)

grin
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Tue 19-Feb-08 11:06:26
Terramum, don't worry, I have done tons of research into this whole VBA2C thing. So far my informed choice says after 38weeks a VBA2C in this situation is not the best option due to the extra risk of stillbirth, so if baby is ready to come by 38ish weeks I just want to give it a helping hand to get here before they cut me open iyswim. Either way it's going to be here before my due date cos 38 weeks is when they want to do the CS, I've put it off to 39so far but am not sure how willing I am to put it off any longer, that's all.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By ILikeToMoveItMoveIt on Tue 19-Feb-08 11:15:32
As well as all the induction methods, make sure everything is ready for the new baby.

Are you mentally ready for the birth?
Is the nursery ready?
Is your hospital bag packed?
Are the baby clothes washed and ready to go?
Have you got the car seat ready to go?
Have you got childcare sorted?

Good luck xx

Oh, and do you have many holistic practitioners near you? I went to see a fantastic reflexologist who is very spiritual, it was almost like a therapy session and it mentally prepared me for everything - and I went into labour the next day.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By CatIsSleepy on Tue 19-Feb-08 11:17:47
I went into labour at 39 weeks
I had pineapple the night before
coincidence?! I think not grin
(was not trying to induce labour btw)
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By kekouan on Tue 19-Feb-08 11:25:27
Sweep, Sex and having a bit of a fiddle myself blush (for the oxytocin producing of course)

grin
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Tue 19-Feb-08 11:29:50
Really cat?What I've read says it can take upto 7 pineapples to do anything!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By terramum on Tue 19-Feb-08 11:30:14
Good to hear it VictorianSqualor...good luck!
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By CatIsSleepy on Tue 19-Feb-08 11:40:38
LOL VS...erm...perhaps it was coincidence then! grin
was quite a small quantity of pineapple as I recall
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Sketchi on Tue 19-Feb-08 21:40:12
I was 39 wks. I hate spicy food and I tried the pot noodle (the bad boy - black coloured pot noodle) the strongest one (my god it was stong) and then me and DH had sex with me uncomfortably ontop. As soon as we had finished contrations strated as I noticed my stomach muscles tighten and then release.

Good luck!
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By berolina on Tue 19-Feb-08 21:42:53
40+7, facing pressure to be induced at 40+10, absolutely nothing happening, tried (rather in despair ) sex that morning. Contracted very mildly on and (very) off all day, went to bed and nothing (i.e. slept) all night, was despondent in the morning, but started contracting again and ds2 was there by 10.30.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By rachaelsara on Tue 19-Feb-08 21:45:21
Acupuncture (sp) did it for me
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By tiredmumof3boys on Wed 20-Feb-08 02:25:33
I tried all the "methods" long walks, bumpy car rides, hot baths, lots of sex, raspberry leaf tea,spicy food, to no avail... my 2nd son was 6 days overdue, & I was extremely uncomfortable (1st son came a week early), rang my naturopath, she told me 2 reflexology points to press to bring on labour... hubby did it for me that evening... went into labour 1:15am that night/morn. Good Luck
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Wed 20-Feb-08 08:43:14
I think I'm going to book an appointment with a homeopath or soemthing tbh, I keep seeing all these herbal remedies but I don't want to mess anything up.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Buckets on Wed 20-Feb-08 14:45:25
Bouncy aerobic sex (on top) follwoed by as much nipple tweaking as you can stand in the bath. Worked for me (admittedly after 2wks of niggly contractions though.) Might be an idea to keep your legs in the air for a bit (a la TTC) to keep the prostaglandin in place rather than a bath actually.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By mommylongsocks on Sat 05-Apr-08 13:31:41
Hi, has anyone tried laxatives to bring on labour and do you think they are safe to use? hmm
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Lulumama on Sat 05-Apr-08 13:34:25
don;t do it

you can end up dehydrated, in pain and sat on the loo when you need to reserve your energy for labour
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 07-Apr-08 13:26:10
I tried castor oil, only a very tiny amount thouGh, it did nothing.
Most methods will only work if you're cervix is ripe anyway so try cervix ripening methds rather than labour induction.
I have tried EVERYTHING, it's not coming yet, because it isn't ready.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By nappyaddict on Mon 07-Apr-08 13:54:27
have you tried doggy style sex? or bouncy on the top sex? i heard they are the best ways. also thai food. have you tried that?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By SoupDragon on Mon 07-Apr-08 13:56:58
This works every time:

Wait.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By VictorianSqualor on Mon 07-Apr-08 14:23:33
Lol Soupy.

NA, I've tried hanging from the bloody chandeliers type sex, it ain't cominggrin
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By horseshoe on Mon 07-Apr-08 14:29:29
1)I think you have to eat truck loads of Pineapple for it to work!!

2)Cant be bothered with the sex....reckon that was a line men came up with grin wink

3)DH would literally have a heart attack if he walked in on me fiddling with my nipples - hence trying the next hour and half trying to increase his chances of point 2.

Point 2 will be used when I get really desperate!!! LOL
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By nappyaddict on Mon 07-Apr-08 14:38:54
VS - have you tried nipple tweaking using a pump? it's meant to be better than doing it by hand.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By phlossie on Mon 07-Apr-08 15:47:32
Acupuncture. It works using pressure points that you can also work manually (but needles are better because they get right to the nerves that need stimulating):
Pressure point 1: Is the tender point just between where your thumb and forefinger meet. Hold them to make an L shape, and then apply pressure with the thumb and forefinger from the other hand.
2: About 4 of your fingers up from your ankle bone is another tender spot. Apply pressure with your thumb. Even better, use a plaster to stick a peppercorn to the point and then apply pressure with your finger.
3: In the top of your foot between the bones of you big and second toes.
4: There are four points in you sacrum. If you have a tens machine, these are pretty much where the instructions say to place it. When you have acupuncture, the therapist runs an electric current through the needles - you can get a similar effect by using your tens.
5: In the depression just along from your shoulder blade is a spot used in Shiatsu massage.
All this points feel very tender to touch, so have a poke around until you find them. When you have acupuncture, you don't feel the needles go in because they're so fine, but when the therapist hits the point they need to stimulate, it feels like a little electric shock. It's amazing. I felt my baby get very active during the therapy, which I had on the Monday night. I had my show the next morning, was in established labour that evening and dd was born (very quickly) in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Antdamm on Tue 06-May-08 12:02:15
Tried lots of walking round the block, had tons o sex ;) but nthing, finally decided to go to tesco's and try raspberry tea and some pineapple. Was walking round tesco towards with said items in trolley when felt first contraction, they were every ten minutes and lasted about 20secs or so, needless to say i continud sopping and went home and ate the pineapple in between contractions!!
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By rainbowdays on Tue 06-May-08 20:43:19
Antdamm - Tesco's worked for me to bring on contractions too, each time I walked in the place I would be contracting by the end of the second aisle!!!!

NA - Ok seriously for me with so much prelabour contractions it was the evening primrose oil capsules that started me off. Worked fantastically for softening the cervix. Also I think it might have helped with stopping me getting a tear too, as with two previous births got 2nd deg tear, with this one nothing.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By snotbuster on Tue 06-May-08 20:55:32
There was a thread on here a while ago about a midwife recommending oral sex in this situation - very scientific argument too - but you have to swallow! (blush sorry but you asked!)
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By snotbuster on Tue 06-May-08 20:58:29
Also had that experience in Tesco's (not the oral sex one obv - contractions). What on earth is going on there to hasten babies into the world I wonder?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By sweetkitty on Tue 06-May-08 21:02:19
I tried everything apart from castor oil to make DD2 appear as I was in agony from SPD and desperate - nothing worked she was 12 days late.

This time doing nothing instead of focusing on due date am focusing on end date i.e. 14 days after due date.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By bergentulip on Tue 06-May-08 21:14:25
I had DS1 at 37 weeks. He was ready. What I put it down to is the previous couple of days I had -
been drinking raspberry leaf tincture, having lots of sex,
eating curry,
and walking lots.
Lots of wotsitmadoobery massage - perineum/perineal/perimanimineal....??

Did the trick
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Pavlovthecat on Tue 06-May-08 21:16:33
Sex, if already 'ripe' so to speak.

Midwife recommended it to avoid induction, 10 days earlier, and it worked a treat. in Labour less than 10 hours later!


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