Induction booked for Friday, how can I start labour naturally before then?

[Shoegal30]

Ladies I am booked in to be induced on Friday.

I wanted to try some natural remedies to try and possibly get this labour started naturally.

Any tips?

[specialsubject]

there are none. Shag and eat curry if you want but otherwise, there's no control, 'natural' or otherwise.

old wives' tale.

[angelpuffs]

Hot baths, raspberry leaf tea, pineapple are all "supposed" to help.....

[goodnessgraciousgoudaoriginal]

Sorry but nothing you can do other than hope.

There is the sex, spicy food, tea, pineapple and (urgh) castor oil, but none of them are proven to actually do anything.

[StringTheory]

With the risk of TMI it was a flick of the bean that moved my plug. I then went on a brisk walk and 24 hours later he was here.

[specialsubject]

you mean a shag and a long walk?

no evidence it works, but might as well make the most of the last chance...

if there was a 'natural' way of doing it no-one would need an induction. And babies would not have died before modern medicine due to labour not starting before the placenta failed.

[Daysleeper1985]

Semen contains prostaglandins, I couldn't want sex less right now but I'll be pestering DH towards the end of next week! I've heard the orgasm thing before, I certainly don't mind giving it a go

[blackkat1978]

If only there were sure fire ways of evicting babies unfortunately that annoying saying of they''ll arrive when they're ready is frustratingly true. With my 1st I tried pineapple (burnt my tongue), hot food (just cleared me out) & other things but nothing worked. 2nd time I didn't waste my energy on any of the myths just kept active & he eventually arrived at 41+6, clearly when he was ready, with only a few niggles the night before.

[Runningupthathill82]

Apparently the only thing that is "proven" to work is nipple twiddling - but you have to do it for three hours a day, over several days, for it to have an effect.
Anecdotally, a long walk and a curry "worked" for me first time round, but I suspect being 40 weeks pregnant had more to do with it.

[MaisieDotes]

I really don't think I could set my mind to twiddling my nipples for 3 hours a day. What's the science behind it running? Is it to release oxytocin?

[zippyswife]

My 5th sweep which was a load more intrusive than the previous 4 did it. I lost the plug virtually immediately and contractions began before is even left the hospital. I was due to be induced the following day. Book a sweep and get them
To give it some welly!! Good luck.

[VoldysGoneMouldy]

If you're not happy with being induced, you can refuse it. It's your decision.

[Wardrobespierre]

As others have said, nothing works. Semen might contain prostaglandins but poppies contain opium too. You won't get high from eating one any more than you'll induce labour by having sex. In fact, the type of prostaglandin means that if the science stacked up, you'd be better off swallowing it. Still won't work but is scientifically more plausible.

Raspberry leaf has never been associated with labour starting either. It's used in late pregnancy as a uterine tonic to increase the effectiveness of the second stage of labour.

I think at last read, the nipple twiddling was recommended for establishing or speeding labour once you've hit the early stages. It does stimulate contractions but they are unlikely to be productive contractions if labour hasn't started.

You can't induce labour naturally. You can eat cake though.