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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

Any tips on naturally inducing labour!

44 replies

wheniamqueen · 31/07/2007 14:56

Hiya, my baby is fully engaged and it really hurts, think im close now, was just wondering if people had any tips on how to get it going?

OP posts:

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CountessDracula · 31/07/2007 14:59

curry
sex
etc

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lulumama · 31/07/2007 14:59

how many weeks are you?

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wheniamqueen · 31/07/2007 15:00

i think no matter how long i have to wait im definatly not having sex!

OP posts:

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lulumama · 31/07/2007 15:01

well, sadly, sex is one of the few things that can actually help get your cervix ripe

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wheniamqueen · 31/07/2007 15:01

By the dr's dates im 36 1/2 but by my dates im at least 38 1/2

OP posts:

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FLIER · 31/07/2007 15:03

a really bumpy car ride and a hot curry-not at the same time tho

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lulumama · 31/07/2007 15:05

www.gentlebirth.org good tips on here

but not really much point until you are a bit closer to term...babies come when they are ready. but you can help to ripen the cervix , and get in a positive mindset

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mistypeaks · 31/07/2007 15:07

fresh pineapple helped me. (is far preferable to sex at this stage!!)

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FLIER · 31/07/2007 15:12

sitting on a birthing ball also helps to open you up, i believe.

I thought you had to eat loads and loads and loads of pineapple for it to have an effect?

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GColdtimer · 31/07/2007 15:16

I am not sure anything helps really. I tried EVERYTHING and still ended up being induced which also took ages to get going. The baby just wasn't ready. There is no harm in trying all the recommended methods but just don't expect anything to work (and if it does work, then it is probably because the baby was ready rather than the method working, iyswim).

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Lolly68 · 31/07/2007 15:18

Rosemary leaf tea - but I think you are meant to starty drinking that from 37 weeks onwards.

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Ceolas · 31/07/2007 15:21

I am firmly of the belief that they come when they are ready.

You can drive yourself crazy trying all sorts of stuff.

Sex is just about the only thing proven, but even then only if the baby is ready.

Relax and don't put any pressure on yourself.

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lulumama · 31/07/2007 15:23

raspberry leaf tea .. not rosemary !

also, you have to eat 7 fresh pineapples to get the enzyme effect necessary to help ripen the cervix

so make sure you have plenty of gaviscon !

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mixedmama · 31/07/2007 16:17

7 Pineapples.... blimey.

They have been recommended already and my midwife referred to them as the thre H's

Hot Sex
Hot Curries
Hot Baths

The thing with curry is that if you did go into labour and then happen to vomit it wouldnt be very pleasant, pineapples may be better.

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Meglet · 31/07/2007 16:58

I had acupuncture at 5pm in the evening and by 7pm I was starting the early stages of labour. However cervix failed to dilate at all and had c-section the next day.

Bloody painful having needles stuck in you though, it was in my foot and lower legs.

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LadyK · 31/07/2007 17:01

Try going somewhere or doing something where you really wouldn't want to go into labour. Seems to have worked for a number of friends!

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FLIER · 31/07/2007 17:34

I seem to remember someone talking about "nipple twiddling" to help get things started - or did I dream this

It's true that it will prob come when it is ready, but it does help make you feel that you are doing something to get things moving by doing any of these things.

I was 10 days over with my first-hot curry and bumpy car ride did the trick.
2ns time I was 4 days over and I'm sure lots of walking helped.

Good Luck. Let us know how you get on.

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NAB3 · 31/07/2007 17:45

Rhubarb
A long walk
Curry
Sex
Raspberry Leaf Tea tablets.

these will only work if baby is ready to come though

I did 1,2,3 and 5 and the baby came in 7mins!!

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meandmyflyingmachine · 31/07/2007 18:06

Nipple massage.

I say it on every thread like this, and am studiously ignored

But here someone has beaten me to it....

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FLIER · 31/07/2007 18:51

sorry meandmyflyingmachine !

I did actually try it with baby number 2.

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meandmyflyingmachine · 31/07/2007 18:51

Me too

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lulumama · 31/07/2007 19:32

meandmyflyingmachine...do a search for my name and the phrase:

'have you tried sex and nipple stim?'

am thinking of having it printed on a tshirt !

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beautifulgirls · 31/07/2007 22:10

Nothing worked for me, tried it all. Membrane sweeps are possibly one of the more scientific tried methods though - but even those didn't do it for me.

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MrsScavo · 31/07/2007 22:14

I tried most things mentioned. The only thing that worked for me was accupuncture.

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tigger15 · 01/08/2007 13:37

I knew I was being induced at 39 wks so tried:
raspberry leaf tea
curry
bumpy car rides
whole pineapple
lots of sex
bit of nipple stim
swimming breast stroke
birth ball

Nothing worked. If the baby is ready to come out these things may speed it up but otherwise it'll come in it's own sweet time.

My friend recommended castor oil mixed with lemonade but after swearing that it brought on ds1 said it hadn't worked at all with ds2.