So, eat pineapple or not?

[Havingkittens]

I can't remember which thread it was on but some people were saying that eating pineapple really helped them get things going and someone came on saying it wasn't a good idea as it hardened the mucous plug. So, now I don't know whether to try it or not!

I've been told I will be induced by 40 weeks because I'm over 40 and am booked in for a sweep next week at 39 weeks but if I can avoid intervention I'd like to. Hence being curious about the pros and cons of pineapple (amongst other things).

Any thoughts either way?

[GreatSoprendo]

I'm eating some right now - similar situation to you and really want to avoid induction. I just read elsewhere though that you would have to eat 7 whole pineapples for it to have any potential effect

[Velve]

To be honest if your baby is showing no signs of wanting to come out then no home remedies are going to help.
Also, you would have to eat at least one whole pineapple in a sitting to get any effect, and that would most likely leave you sitting on the toilet for the rest of the day/night.

[carrielou2007]

I ate half a fresh pineapple every day (I kid you not!) along with all the other things that can help still induced at 40+12. Just as with dc2. Very likely with dc3. I have never touched so much as a piece of pineapple on a pizza since and never will

[Sheshelob]

Pineapple did nowt for me. And I ate a fair few. Two sweeps later and bub appeared at 41+6...

[FrantasticO]

Good luck!
I ate way too many with no imminent result, might just be me!
Also tried every other trick in the book...lies all lies! For all 3 deliveries!
They come when they are ready in my experience! Mores the pity!

[FrantasticO]

Think a man may be responsible for the remedies that bring on labour?
Curry....check
Sex...check

Only thing that's missing is football

[AnisotropicWeetabixFTW]

None of the old wives' tales work. Some people eat pineapple and coincidentally go into labour. Thousands eat pineapple and don't. Some people eat chocolate and go into labour too. I ate rice. This is all coincidence. Nothing short of chemical induction works. The pineapple thing is a myth based upon the fact that pineapple contains an enzyme linked to labour beginning. Except you'd have to eat approximately 8 in one sitting, leaves and skin included, to replicate it. You physically can't do it. Babies come when ready. Which is as it should be.

[marshkat]

I ate 2 whole pineapples in 2 days last week and im still waiting for my baby due on monday!!

[chainstore]

I found a reflexology/ acupressure thing on you tube, I think that worked for me.

[toffeelolly]

It helped me in hospital a week pains on and off got hold of fresh pinapple ate a whole one went down to labour that night

[LoganMummy]

I'm sure I've read you need to eat seven pineapples to have any (if any) effect. Think it's the same 'chemical' that's in sperm?

Long walk? Keeping active?

Who was it that posted the classic get in bath, hang one leg over the side and yell swim towards the light? Brilliant!

[catlady1]

I ate whole pineapples (even the core after I read that was important) on about four occasions after I was overdue with DD... Did absolutely nothing I'm afraid. I also tried sex, curry, evening primrose oil, long walks, jumping around, bouncing on a ball, and had four sweeps before I finally went into labour. I did have my last sweep the day before my early labour began, but I was 10 days overdue by then so it could have been in the works anyway. DD was finally born at 41+6, hours before I was due to be induced.

[willybreeder]

The myth about sex does have truth in it due to proglastalin in sperm, you need to keep the sperm inside so instead of jumping up to the loo (as I usually have to do)put your feet up against the wall. Twice is what does it for me!

[Havingkittens]

Long walks are out due to SPD unfortunately. I have acupuncture tomorrow but only one session on the NHS so probably won't be enough. We'll have to see what happens I guess. They've told me that at my age there's a risk of reduced placental blood flow which can mean a higher risk of still birth so I'm anxious about that, as well as the induction. This is my 7th pregnancy, and the only one which has reached term so I'm finding it hard to just "go with the flow".

[FadBook]

Acupuncture will be good for you - if they're a good one, they'll get the blood flowing and make you aware of you "bearing down" points (top back / shoulder). It should help you relax too.

I've only ever had acupuncture to help conceive (worked) and to go in to labour (within 12 hours and dd arrived within 20, I was 41+2)

If you can afford an extra session, do it. Even just the relaxation part is worth it, DP thought she'd drugged me

[AnisotropicWeetabixFTW]

Oh congratulations on your pregnancy. You must be utterly thrilled. Are they keeping an eye on you closely? Placental blood flow, should they be concerned, is something they can monitor daily if necessary.

The thing is with these 'myths' is that people who say they work often say well I did x and the next day I had a baby so it worked for me. Well in the 24hrs leading up to labour, people do a million things. You can't confidently assert any one thing, short of chemical induction, worked.Plus, at 40+ weeks pregnant, it's imminent anyway. Indeed all research shows that nothing at all works. Going into labour is an as yet not understood process and you can't influence it. It seems to be a communication between the baby and your body. It's nothing to do with pineapple, curry or sex.

willybreeder, it doesn't have truth in it. Yes there are prostaglandins in semen, just as there are prostaglandins used in the induction of labour. BUT not in enough quantity to do anything at all. Certainly, if you followed your logic through to the natural end, you need to apply that prostaglandin orally, just as they would in a chemical induction. In fact, they have carried out research where women took it orally to see if it did work better and actually there was an increased incidence of labour beginning but still only in a tiny minority and still not in any remarkable way which could show anything like cause and effect. Research really does suggest that nothing works and if a woman coincidentally goes into labour after doing any of these things, then she is just going into labour and making a link erroneously between the two. And at the very least, you need to go for a wee after sex anyway, not try and keep sperm in with your feet up. This is good advice for all women, but particularly pregnancy women. Weeing after sex prevents UTIs.

I suppose what pisses me off is that all of these old wives' tales are built upon things which make you uncomfortable. By all means march around, eat curry and have sex if you really want to but I see too many women feeling like they HAVE to end up with indigestion and have uncomfortable sex and then demoralised afterwards because it doesn't work after all. I am all for starting my own myths where chocolate and jaffa cakes and slumping on the sofa work for inducing labour. Women should be encouraged to enjoy the final days, relax, do whatever feels right and helps them feel comfortable even for a minute. Not chase after an impossible goal.

[AmandaPayntedEgg]

YY to your last paragraph Anisotropic.

You know what I've heard works? Industrial quantities of Dairy Milk and a DVD box set of the West Wing. Oh, and being waited on hand and foot by all other available family members apparently works a treat.

[AnisotropicWeetabixFTW]

Amanda, with all due respect, that's a myth.

It's industrial quantities of Dairy Milk, a DVD boxset of the West Wing, waited on hand and foot AND a bucket of earl grey/comforting beverage of choice.

[AmandaPayntedEgg]

[AmandaPayntedEgg]

They tell you that to give you something to do, not because there is proper proof it works!

[AnisotropicWeetabixFTW]

My consultant told me not to bf my baby who had gastroenteritis because dairy isn't good for poorly stomachs. Last time I checked I wasn't a cow.

My hv told me that I couldn't have sex while bfing (she meant while generally in the period of lactating, not while in the act of bfing) and I should give up or 'dh would go elsewhere'.

Medical folks have opinions on all sorts of crap. Doesn't cancel out the actual research and facts.

[Havingkittens]

Thank you Anitstropic, yes I am both thrilled and, I have to admit, shit scared at the same time! I have had very good care from my midwife and the consultants at UCH, so I feel like I'm in good hands.

OK, so I shall eat pineapple purely for pleasure and no other reason.

The acupuncture was interesting. I have another appointment in a week. I'm quite impressed that it's offered as part of the ante natal services at UCH. It was quite holistic, she treated me for induction of labour, strengthening my body for labour, heartburn, SPD, lower back pain and joint pain. Not bad considering the initial referral was to turn a breech baby, who is no longer breech.

Anyway, we'll see what happens.

[MammaCici]

It's pineapple core that's supposed to do the trick. You don't have to eat the whole pineapple, just the core, or several cores.
My sister swears by a very hot curry. Worked twice for her - she has 2 kids.
Castor oil if you can stomach it.
But I'd check with my midwife before trying anything.
Why do they induce labour if you are over 40? I'm almost 39 and I don't see what difference 1 year makes.

[AMR73]

was in similar situation to you- told that because I was over 40, I should make arrangements for an induction just prior to 40 weeks. As baby's health and my health were fine, I said that I would prefer not to be induced unless baby at risk. Doctor respected my decision and said that they would take me in for scans to monitor baby. (Doctor also seemed surprised that I was aware of the risks attached to induction- something I suspect they would have omitted to mention).

Baby born at 40+1. I prayed for a natural birth without need for induction and my prayers were answered. In addition, I tried various things which are meant to help things along naturally, inc walking, relaxation and raspberry tea. Sex is also said to help. Try not to worry about it otherwise your body will think it is not a safe time to have your baby and hang onto her for a while longer.

My Mum (former midwife) also says to take some car rides over a bumpy road!

Don't know about pineapple but wouldn't have thought it would do any harm.

Hope all goes well. Trust yourself to know what is best for you and your baby.