Tips for activating labour.

[Celou]

Any tips for activating labour, apart from, pineapple, raspberry leaf tea, sex, castor oil, lobster, walking up and down the stairs, brisk walks, bumpy car journeys, going to the hairdresser's and hot curries?

[acnebride]

poor you celou. sleep as much as poss? or do you have insomnia, or other children?
sorry to be graphic but bjs are supposed to work, not that i ever told dh, but i did try it
a stretch and sweep worked for me but i think it only shifts things a few hours at best (only my opinion)
reflexology worth a try, not sure if it helped me or not, but it's so nice
best wishes

[cat82]

hehehe sex. It works! Dp and i managed it (just) on my due date and I gave birh the next day
(only do this if you actualy feel like it and it isn't too uncomfortable though)

[babysteffee]

IME the sex, pineapple, raspberry leaf tea etc don't work. The walk thing probably helped a bit as I went for two hour walks every day for the last two weeks of my third pg, but the one thing I truly believed brought my labour on was an espresso.

I had no signs at all and was totally fed up of waiting (5 days over) one night and dh suggested I try one of his espressos. I did, went to bed and a few hours later waters broke, no contractions, three hour labour and baby sped out. This was totally unlike 1st and 2nd (both 24hr+ labours and one of each sex) so I'm convinced it did the trick.

Good luck!

[rosies]

theres always nipple twiddling but i believe one has to do this for awhile . hot sex and motorbike rides, not necessarily at the same time.

reflexology by someone who knows what they are doing (i.e. me!!). a regular therapist may not work on the traditional chinese medicine (TCM) points that also get things going along with working other specific areas and i do believe it is more enjoyable than a sweep!

however, babies come when they are good and ready...

best wishes

rosie

[vivat]

accupuncture worked for me

[mummytojames]

sorry to here your having a rough time celou try warm baths relax were and when possible and remember a baby got there own calenda and they come when they feel like it
sorry not much help

[maretta]

It wasn't until I accepted that I was going to be pregnant forever and went to buy something nice to read whilst I was being induced that I actually went into the labour naturally. I was 9 days over.

I'd spent hours trawling the internet for suggestions and made myself ill eating hotter and hotter curries and endless pineapples.

It's all rubbish. If pinappleas actually properly induced labour then they'd be on the banned foods list.

I say enjoy eating what you want to eat and do what you want to do. I know it's so hard but afterwards - and it will happen - you can be proud of your body for making such a perfect home for your little lodger.

[maretta]

Did also hear bikini wax.

[CP]

As far as I am concerned nothing will bring labour on except for the baby when ready to come out or the midwives when they induce! DS was 13 days late and believe me, I tried everything...

[pupuce]

CP is right.... if baby isn't ready it won't come!
Castor oil only works on a ripen cervix (and that is only diganosed by a midwife).... so sex first (to ripen)...
BJ????? it is far better to have semen on cervix not in mouth unless you swallow
Curry and pineapples don't work.
Sometimes talking to baby and talking to yourself about welcoming baby and fears / anxieties you might have.... but you are not due yet.....

[gscrym]

I got told a really funny story and spent an hour as close to doubled up as a pregnant lady can be. I did however end up in labour for 21 hours but at least he came bang on his due date.

[stellarmum]

Hmmm how about get someone to tell you the baby is in a very difficult position and you must have a c section... you will then go into labour four hours before you're due to go into surgery and give birth in theatre surrounded by several terrified midwives? It worked for me!!

[motherinferior]

I really think they come when they're ready, sorry honey...

[wellsie]

Speed Bumps taken at 30mph! Worked for me.

[ScotsBird]

My mum suggests a ride in a tractor - god only knows how she worked this out cos my sister and i are both adopted !

[mummytosteven]

I'd avoid the castor oil - if it doesn't work it could give you a really nasty tummy upset! In my case having the midwife tell me ds was not engaged at all at 39 weeks, and I wouldn't be early seemed to be the catalyst for labour to start 3 days later (!)

[hatter]

My midwife got me some homeopathic gunk to drip underneath my tongue: it was either blue or black cohosh (both exist, I think: just can't remember which it was she gave me). It was absolutely foul but I think it might have done the trick - but I think it's one of those things that you're NOT meant to take during pregnancy so please don't try it without some professional advice. There's an oil for oil burners that supposed to be good too - I think it might be peppermint, but again, it might be something you're meant to be careful about.

[hatter]

Just read on another site about someone blaming cohosh for virtually having her baby on the doorstep. Wonder if it had anything to do with me having dd2 before the midwife got to me

[rosies]

some essential oils are used with caution during pregnancy due to their properties being believed to start contractions. but they would need to be applied via a massage or bath... a room burner wouldnt do it.

but as stated, baby comes when its good and ready... even if induced medically!

[Linnet]

Babies come when they are ready I'm afraid. Although I'm sure it was the threat of an induction that did it for me.

With my second pregnancy I tried raspberry leaf tea tablets, curry, fresh pineapple, none of which worked
I then went a week overdue and had to go to my overdue appointment on the Thursday, Dr said if I hadn't had baby to come in on Sunday night for an induction, I went home really upset as I wanted to avoid an induction if at all possible. Woke up in the early hours of Friday morning in Labour and dd2 was born 13 hours later.
Good Luck Celou.

[vac]

Celou I am also overdue, my second baby was due on 26th June and nothing has happened. I had a sweep at thhe hospital last wednesday to no affect, I have tried curries, again no affect. I have now resigned myself to the fact that my home birth is out the window and I will be going in on Thursday for my induction.
I can hardly wait

[vict17]

A long walk and a large gin worked for me!!

[jampot]

How about a nice long walk in the middle of very rural countryside absolutely miles from anywhere - bound to get started!!!

[vac]

I think I will try the large gin tonight. I've done the long walk thing, just ended up knackered.