Sex at 36/37 weeks - did it start anyone off?

[Namehelpplease]

Just that really. I'm due to be induced (don't want to be - not nice last time) so wondering if anyone had any luck with sex?

[twinklesparkles]

Nope :(

It didn't at 38 or 39 weeks either

[MumaBex]

Now 40+3. Even with regular sex, still nothing. But still worth the go ;)

[Namehelpplease]

Damn - thanks for letting me know.

[Newmum2013]

We had sex at 41 weeks and nothing! Also had curry, long walk, sweep and pineapple and spend most of my time on the birthing ball but still nothing ha!! I know how you feel about thought of being induced. This is my first baby and booked in on Monday. Hoping it happens naturally as heard some horror stories about inductions x

[ShowOfHands]

None of the myths work. Sex, curry, pineapple etc. Have sex because you want to and you'll enjoy it but it won't start labour for you.

Have you got a say over any of the induction? Have you a birth plan? Are there elements from last time which you could avoid this time?

When is your induction booked for? Is it medically necessary?

[Beveridge]

Inadvertently! Had DS at 32+4.

Can be directly sourced back to the intense rhythmic back pains I experienced straight after DTD that had me running to the bathroom as I started retching! Was feeling fine before that .

DS fine, big bruiser of a boy who looked a total imposter in neonata so I suspect it was all ready to kick off anyway.

[RightUpMyRue]

No. 40 weeks today and not a twinge.

[Emmaw9]

Yes!!!
Did it at 37+2, fell asleep afterwards, got out of bed at 5am and waters gushed all over floor! (haha sorry for tmi) and I'd had him that night!
Worked for me :-)

[LuckyOwl28]

My midwife yesterday said the only thing she's recommend is sex and rasberry leaf tea. She said to lie on your side after sex to let the sperm get to the cervix. Sperm content is similar to the gel they use to induce you which is why it (sometimes) helps.

I'm 39+2 and have told husband he can get to it, even if the chance of it helping is only small!

[ShowOfHands]

The thing is that there are of course a few people who had sex and went into labour some time afterwards. There are millions more who didn't. Otherwise they would ban sex in pregnancy. There are prostaglandins in semen, same as there are prostaglandins in the chemicals they use to induce but not in the same quantities and strength and in no research ever has sex been shown to induce labour in any way shape or form.

Put it this way, if I said I ate rice and then went to sleep and when I got up the next morning my waters broke!!!, would you believe me if I said rice induced labour? What if I'd eaten a jaffa cake? Or a plum?

It pees me off no end that all these induction techniques, despite having no empirical basis whatsoever, all consist of women having to eat indigestion inducing food, go for mad walks or have uncomfortable sex when they don't want to. Nothing wrong with doing these things if you want to, but telling vulnerable and hopeful women that it will bring on labour is not only erroneous but totally bloody demoralising when it doesn't work in the end.

And to pick up your midwife on a couple of points LuckyOwl, after sex, you shouldn't be encouraging sperm to stay in for significant amounts of time. A wee after sex and letting the sperm out is a way of preventing UTIs (particularly important to avoid when pg) and raspberry leaf tea is not and never has been linked to induction of labour. It's a uterine tonic and pregnant women take it to make their second stage of labour more effective when it finally happens. I have noticed in recent years that it's been lumped together with the induction myths.

And I always say this on these threads, but the logical linking of prostaglandins to labour starting implies that we'd be better off taking the prostaglandins orally. So you need to be on your knees thinking of England or putting it in your tea. Still won't work, but the theory is sounder that way.

[learnermummy]

Either that or the curry prior . Was 42 + 1 though!