39 weeks today and needs ideas to get this baby out!

[jennieLMH]

Im 39 weeks pregnant today.. experiencing lower back pain and period like cramps through out the past week and lost a clear jelly on a few occasions but still no major signs shes on her way.. any advice?

[CBear6]

To be honest there's not a whole lot can be done. Walking, sex, spicy food, nipple stimulation, etc might be hailed all over the internet as "surefire" ways to induce labour but if any of them worked there'd be no need for hospital inductions.

You'll lose nothing from trying (although please stay away from castor oil) but ultimately she'll come when she's ready. You've got early signs and you're so close to the end now, I know it's probably not the answer you were hoping for but it really will be over before you know it.

[YummyHoney]

A hot curry and sex - that should do it.

[dinkystinky]

Hmm, babies definitely come when they want to I'm afraid. It sounds like your body is warming up for delivery. I walked around 6 miles a day, did the curry, cod liver oil, acupuncture etc. thing for DS1 and was still induced at 42 weeks. DS2 - walked 5 miles a day over a weekend, had 6 days of looking after his toddler big brother and hoicking him around north london (again walking loads, lots of stairs) and he arrived nearly 2 weeks early.

[SchrodingersMew]

Lots of pineapple?

[Hodel]

A friend swears by washing the floor for a good hour or so. Something about the position is supposed to spark things. I won't say it works for certain, but I did do it the afternoon before dd1 was born so can't hurt - and you'll have sparkling floors. I'm 38 weeks myself with dc2 so can empathise!

[Beccabop]

Im almost 38 weeks and Im pissed off and sick :( keep getting shooting pains up me fan and horrid sharp squeezings in the bladder area. Have been told this is the babys head leaning against things and not urine infection as I had previously wondered about.
Everyone has different labours though, dont they? Some ppl's waters break, some ppl have shows, some dont.
I especially want baby born before my next mw appt (just over a weeks time) cos I want a home birth and all the mw's think Im nutes and talk to me like Im daft
(well thats certainly how they come across)

[Beccabop]

...Im so sorry Ive just realised Ive hijacked your post and gone on about meself and havent even referred to your questions, aw its cos Im that sick lol :(

I couldnt possibly face sex at this stage lol but am well into cleaning at the mo so will be scrubbing the kitchen floor tomorrow!!

Have you tried that raspberry leaf tea?

[Nicplus1and1baking]

I agree that they come when theyre ready im afraid - i say that through gritt teech asam currently 5 days overdue!!!! yes 5 bloody days, dd1 arrived 5 days early so am not to happy being this pregnant now

[Lynzilove]

4 days overdue, tried sex, curries, raspberry leaf etc etc etc - getting twinges but nothing is kick starting at the moment!! Although am dilated a cm, have had a show and a sweep! Fingers crossed for another sweep today!x

[Velvetunderground]

Rasberry leaf tea, it will help with the cramps too.

[ct148]

Sorry to hijack the thread - but what is it the raspberry leaf tea is meant to do again? Bring on labour?
I remember reading about it when I was first pregnant and made a mental note to get some towards the end of my pregnancy.
But now I can't remember when I should start drinking it, and what its meant to do!
Am 35 wks on Wed!

[CBear6]

Raspberry leaf tea doesn't start labour because it takes time for it to build up in your system, it's a uterine tonic so it's supposed to help the uterus work more effectively once you're actually in labour.

Info here: www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/planningyourbabysbirth/raspberryteaeaselabourexpert/

[Badgerwife]

Nothing works WAAAAIIILLL (she says at 39+3)

Sorry I'm having a bad day with it too...

[ShowOfHands]

Nowt works. Babies come when they're ready and you wouldn't want it any other way tbh.

It sort of helps if you can, to think about a 'due period'. Normal gestation is 37-42 weeks so you're not overdue until 42+. Psychologically, you will struggle if you have a 40wk deadline in mind and you go over it.

While you can't do anything to induce labour, you can do anything you please. It's one time in life where you should do what you bloody well please if it helps even for an hour.

[Badgerwife]

ShowOfHands that's great advice, yet I can't help feeling that this precious time is that little bit wasted on pregnant women who struggle to stay standing for more than 15 minutes at a time lol bitter me??
I am finding that "do anything you please" has unfortunately reduced to "do what you can that makes you feel a bit better", and boils down to eat lots of chocolate and watch lots of tv because there's nothing else you can ACTUALLY do even if you wanted to.

I feel lucky when I don't need to go on all fours to go up the stairs (they are steep)

[Flisspaps]

I'm with ShowOfHands

If anything worked, there'd be no need for anyone to go for induction for post-maturity.

Enjoy the quiet.

[PotatoWaffle]

Just think that the longer she is in there, the stronger and more 'finished' she will be! That's how I saw it with ds when I was 42 weeks! I was ready for him to be born but in my head I knew he wasn't ready and there's not much you can do.