Mumsnet Talk

Hi ladies - I know they all might be absolute rubbish and complete myths but... I am very fed up and just want to do something proactive.

So . . . what ways of bringing on labour have you heard of? What I know already are:

Pineapple
Curry
Raspberry Leaf Tea
Sex
Bouncing on birthing ball
Lavender

Any tips (however silly) will be appreciated. And real life examples of how you maybe did it would be AMAZING.

The day before I was due to be induced I was getting desperate so made DP take me out for a thai curry for lunch (with pineapple), then took him home for a shag (tmi but tried to make sure the old spunkadoo stayed up there as long as poss on recommendation from midwife!) then marched up a steep hill, took a REALLY long walk through some woods kind of stomping as I went and thank f**k it worked!! Came back and had a show!

For me sex worked (had tried everything else). My waters broke 4 hrs later! Good luck!

Clary sage is supposed to be good

Nipple stimulation

But as with all these things, they'll only work if your body is favourable towards labour anyway - your baby will come when it's ready.

Also raspberry leaf doesn't induce labour, it tones the uterus for an easier pushing stage.

Good luck!

It's all down to when babys good and ready, ds1 I tried EVERYTHING, was induced 12 days late. Ds2 in the last week I walked alot, scrubbed the floors on my hands and knees for hours, had sex (poor dp) which eventually did work went into labour not long after, slow labour though.

Rasberry leaf tea dusnt induce, just tones the uterus. Had it from 34wks with ds2 .

When I got strong braxton hicks I would bounce on my ball for ages in front of the tv it seemed to kick them in stronger.
Good luck hope little one don't keep you waiting too long xx

A breast pump! Works just like nipple stimulation but stronger, I can roomies it'll give you pretty strong bh, but am not not promising full blown labour good luck op.

Promise not roomies!

I did all the usual stuff with no results. But the one thing I think did work, for both my babies, was reflexology/pressure points on feet and hands.

Sex? Urgh... can't think of anything worse at this stage. So fat and uncomfortable. Didnt realise about the tea - thanks. Will start drinking that today.

Sex is not nice at the end so uncomfy but it did produce very strong pains that started every 8 mins an hour after

If these things worked there would be no need for inductions.

Didn't stop me trying them and them failing!

Sweep?

When I was overdue I was on a thread on here where tonic water was mentioned. I think it's the quinine (sp?) in it or something.

Read on here the other day - walk up and down stairs sideways, slowly.
And carefully I would think
Good luck.

My favourite tip - regardless of whether it works - is to raise your oxytocin levels by doing a series of pleasurable things that make you go "mmmmm", have a massage, relaxing bath, slip into clean sheets, eat ice cream, anything that gives you the mmmmmm.

My second favourite: read erotic fiction on the loo. Again even if it doesn't work, no harm done and preferable to shovelling down quantities of pineapple or marching up and down the stairs!

No need for the sex....well, no need for the uncomfortable part anyway. Supposedly an organs works better than spermies, perhaps your oh could help in other ways rather than getting his leg over, or maybe a 'little friend' lol xx

Obv I meant orgasm! My iPhone's a prude lol

Reflexology worked for my friend.

I tried all the above - including long walks etc - with DS1 and nothing worked. With DS2, hoicking his toddler big brother around all day seemed to do teh trick.

Greasy food.

No signs at all on my due date (not even a show). Had the one and only meal of junk food I'd had my entire pregnancy (I looked so classy eating a Burger King with a huge bump...). Waters broke 4 hours later. I still reckon it was the grease lubricating everything ;)

Cod liver oil is meant to help. It gives you a really upset tummy, which is said to start labour. Not pleasant, so didn't try this one myself.

Cuddling a new born. Think its the releasing of the happy hormones thats meant to make this work.

Hula hoop on the Wii fit. My midwife recommended this to me last time.

I have tried all the suggestions by everyone, except the cod liver oil and nothing has ever worked. Even spent £60 on accupuncture and not even a twinge.

thanks everyone. some very amusing ones. ha ha. like reading erotic fiction on the loo best.
we will see ..... for now i have decided to stop thinking about it. I cant imagine EVER being pregnant again. i have disliked nearly every single stage of it Feel terrible for saying it but i really havent liked it one bit.

I'm with you there. I've not had a bad pregnancy at all, I just really really prefer not being pregnant.

Mine was a greasy tea the night before I had a greasy KFC that morning 1am it all kicked off.

Careful with the pineapple - ate nearly a whole one. Thought I was in labour. Turned out to be trapped wind!

standing around for ages waiting for a table in pizza hut followed by standing around watching street theatre at Edinburgh festival worked for me.

oh God - ive got to go all the way to Edinborough?! (joke).
If greasy food and KFC helped I would have given birth every friday and saturday night from 20 wks! (joke)
last night i made a curry with 2 extra large green chillis. my partner chose to sleep in spare room!! All i have this morning is trapped wind. and my one boob leaked so much I thought i had spilled my tea. is that normal?! Every day i think."today might be the day"....

sorry - i spelt Edinburgh wrong. oops.