lots of methods needed

[mummygow]

Sorry everyone I am only going to be 16 weeks preg this week but I go back to my mw next week and I am going to be trying for VBAC this time and even if I go over my due date I want to be induced so I have been told that they will do their part if I do mine and so I have homework!!

I need to know all the different ways of trying to bring on labour naturally and all the methods of making sure baby in right position and when I can start each of these methods!!

She doesnt know I know so many specialist in the subject of having babies lol

[Chuffed]

mummygow do you mean not induced. Accupuncture can help bring on labour after due date but it helps to have had a few sessions beforehand to make you more 'receptive'.
Keeping your knees below your pelvis apparently helps keep the baby in the 'right position, sitting backwards on a chair, not putting your feet up on the couch above your pelvis lots of cleaning on your hands and knees...

[mummygow]

If I go over my due date i.e reach my 10 day ultimatum day I still do not want to be sectioned I want to be induced they told me that they will as long as I have a healthy preganancy and do everything I can for myself to try to begin my own labour - the mw said that one of the things that I should do is have sex every night from 36 weeks as even if it does not bring labour on it should certainly have softened the cervix as the gel that they use to induce has a hormone that is naturally in sperm - so I need all ideas and when to start using them!!

[Ellbell]

Mummygow
Don't want to worry you, but do you know that the risk of scar rupture with a vbac is much higher with induced births. Sorry - I don't have the stats on this any more, but I did a lot of research on it when I was pregnant the 2nd time and ultimately decided that if I went 2 weeks over (and my consultant was willing to let me have up to 42 weeks) then I'd have another section rather than risk the induction. Another reason was that I wanted to avoid an epidural because they can mask any unusual pain (e.g. between contractions) in the scar which might be a sign that it is starting to rupture. I wasn't convinced that I could cope with an induced birth without an epidural. I'm really sorry if I'm being negative. Other people might have more positive experiences or 'real' statistics (Mears?).

For me, what got labour started was a very hot Thai meal with fresh pineapple for pudding. Got home at 10 p.m., waters broke at midnight! Otherwise, sex is meant to work . Also nipple stimulation (but you have to do it really regularly - e.g. for 20 mins every hour... and keep doing it... sounds pretty boring!). Other friends have tried acupuncture and reflexology.

Good luck with it all.

[starlover]

mummygow I tried EVERYTHING to bring on labour but nothing worked.
fresh pineapple, curry, raspberry leaf tea, sex, walking up and down stairs, castor oil etc etc etc...

Your baby will appear when s/he is good and ready!

[mummygow]

Ellbell I think I may be able to it without the epidural as during my first labour it did not block my back passage at all and also as I reached 9cm at midnight they did not give me anymore and dd was not born until 5.35 am so I did not have any epidural for the last 5 hours before I was sectioned.

I also dont think the rupture rate is that great obviously I know it is higher than if i was not to be induced.

So when do I start the nipple thing (at what week of my pregnancy)

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Reflexology worked for me. Dh did it for me after he had been given instructions from a friend. He started one afternoon and I had given birth the next day!

[Ellbell]

I wasn't in labour at all with my 1st (placenta praevia) so had no idea how I'd cope in labour, which is why I wasn't sure if/when I'd be screaming for the epidural (!!!). I do vaguely remember saying 'Just give me the f-ing section... I want this baby OUT'... but that was well into a rather long 2nd stage! Sounds like you'll do fine.

I think you do the nipple thing when you are ready to roll... but I'm not sure. I never got that far. Mind you, I have fairly flat nipples and it was suggested that I use a breast pump on them to draw them out, but I was advised not to do so after 36 weeks, in case it set me off in labour, so maybe start twiddling after 36 weeks? (I had my dd2 at 37 weeks, btw, so no agonising about trying to induce myself.)

Good luck again.

[mummygow]

Thanks for your rplies so far but come on ladies I need more help - I want a table made up of the Method and the week to start trying them so that I look as keen as I feel!!

[mummygow]

just giving my thread a wee bump as its off the screen now!!

[mummygow]

I dont think they want me to pass an exam I think they just want me to be aware of everything that is involved and want me to be involved in starting my own labour as much as possible without medical intervention, although they have said that they will induce me and thats where the position of the baby comes in - because if baby is in correct position after induction then another c-section will be less likely. I know I have a long way in my pregnancy to go but I want to be as prepared as possible and the more research I do then hopefully I will get the birth that I sooooooooooo much desire and to be honest I just floated through my first pregnancy not paying much attention to these kind of things so I dont know what can be done and at what stage!!

COME ON LADIES HEEEEELLLLPPP!!

[franke]

• optimal foetal positioning (see link below)

- there is a thing called diaphragmatic release which an oesteopath should be able to do which apparently turns breach or posterior babies
- there are homeopathic remedies for turning babies
- natural remedies such as raspberry leaf tea and squaw vine (?) are supposed to bring on labour
- acupuncture in the weeks leading up to your due date (I had this and it worked - ds arrived bang on his due date)

Google all of the above and you should get plenty of up to date info, if not I'll see if I can dig up some old links for you.
But the main thing is RELAX and don't get too uptight about this now. I know this is easier said than done, I was in exactly your position with my second. But there is a great deal you can do in the final weeks; the most important thing is to have a healthy stress-free pregnancy now

[mummygow]

right i'm nearly off the page again - will start a new thread!!