Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how to get this baby moving!!

44 replies

TheHermitCrab · 09/01/2015 18:37

I know I could post this in pregnancy, but it's quite quiet on there and I know it's popular here, (OK I'm cheating!!)

I'm 38 weeks pregnant, my waters broke at 4am this morning, and they have booked me in to be induced at 5am tomorrow, and I am not keen on the idea!

I've not slept in 48 hours so spent the day in bed today, so really I need to spend the night trying to get this baby moving.

No guarantees I know, but any of you got any ideas on some labour inducing activities at home?? (I don't have any gym balls or anything snazzy)

Thanks ladies!

OP posts:
youareallbonkers · 09/01/2015 18:41

I would refuse to be induced unless baby is struggling. Go for a walk? Do some sit ups?

editthis · 09/01/2015 18:43

Congratulations, OP! Not sure how practical this advice is, but my grandmother would say scrub a floor on your hands and knees. I did do this and it felt proactive (and I had a very clean kitchen to come home to). Hope it all goes well, induction or no.

editthis · 09/01/2015 18:44

(NB Something to do with the rocking back and forth, plus forward-leaning posture - optimal positioning!)

Kinsman · 09/01/2015 18:45

I second going for a walk. Slow and steady and let gravity do the rest. Good luck!

WerewolfBarMitzvah · 09/01/2015 18:46

I cleaned my washing machine with a toothbrush! I felt compelled to do it and in hindsight I was in labour while I was doing so.
Good luck - it all goes well for you

RoganJosh · 09/01/2015 18:47

Walking up stairs sideways I think. Acupressure points of nipples and the web between your thumb and forefinger. Press/twiddle every few minutes.

DazzleU · 09/01/2015 18:52

Go up and down stairs - that supposed to help speed labour along if it's already started, sex - there is something in sperm that supposed to actually start labour.

That all I know that has any actual basis for helping labour along.

Pineapples have something that can start labour - but in very small quantities so you'd have to eat a huge amount - so much it's not really practical. Raspberry leaf tea - supposed to help speed labour along but you drink that from 35 weeks onwards - not sure about actually starting it.

On the knees thing is again for a few weeks before - so baby gets in the correct position ie not back to back as modern bucket seating found in cars and a lot of chairs apparently encourages. Wouldn't hurt - but again I don't think it about starting labour.

I wasn't induced but know a few people who had both natural and induce labours and said the induced labours were no worse and in some cases better than the naturally starting labours they had.

Keep active and try not to worry to much - best advice I can think of.

luckyjazz · 09/01/2015 18:54

Hot curry and a long walk, uphill if possible, did the job for me, twice (although could have been a coincidence, Good Luck x

Bellejessleo · 09/01/2015 18:55

I second cleaning on all fours! I would usually suggest sex but not if your waters are broken, I think there's a risk of infection. Best of luck Flowers

Original poster
TheHermitCrab · 09/01/2015 18:58

Thanks ladies I'll try some of those.

Sex - can't because my waters have already gone, too much risk of an infection.

Pineapples - I think you need to eat about 10, my heartburn won't cope with that haha!

Myworry about induction isn't the extra pain (although clearly I won't be a fan) but the higher risk of forceps and c section. And The fact they've told me my birth pool might be out of the question now. I just wanted it all the happen as it should. Don't we all!? lol

Baby is in the correct position, head down and not back to back or anything, she's just not engaged. (My actual due date is the 21st)

I must admit I didn't think they'd be so fast with the induction, I thought they'd just keep checking me every 24 hours, check I don't have an infection..etc. Especially since natural labour could last much longer anyway :/ But what do I know! lol

I'm so knackered I just wanna go back to be, but must get moving! lol

OP posts:
Original poster
TheHermitCrab · 09/01/2015 19:00

Haha I had 3 curries this week, maybe that's what started the waters!? lol

Best start crawling around the house!

OP posts:
editthis · 09/01/2015 19:05

Sorry about your water birth. It didn't work out for me either, first time. So exciting to be in labour, though, no matter how it shoots out!

Original poster
TheHermitCrab · 09/01/2015 19:10

Another question. IF I don't get going, should I take my hospital bag in at 5am when I go to triage to be induced? OR is it another "give you these drugs and come back when you are screaming" or do they keep you in and watch you?

Don't want to be lugging luggage back and forth as I don't drive, OH will have to walk with me and carry all my stuff.

OP posts:
Slutbucket · 09/01/2015 19:19

Take your bag with you at all times. I was induced with my first child and I was on a monitor all the time so you will stay in if they have started you off.

Original poster
TheHermitCrab · 09/01/2015 19:25

Thanks! my bag is huge I think I'll get funny looks lol

OP posts:
Mammanat222 · 09/01/2015 19:30

I think there is a medical reason they will induce you (risk of infection to baby increases after waters break) so do keep that in mind.

Yes you can refuse inductions BUT in your situation I personally wouldn't.

Do you have an exercise ball If so get bouncing!

Also walking is meant to be useful.

Good luck, I am 38w 3d so very close to having a baby myself - its so exciting!

Whatever happens you'll be dandy, don't worry about induction as it isn't always horrendous.

bigfam · 09/01/2015 19:37

Op did u have any signs u were gonna go into labour or was it just literally ur waters breaking? I'm do fed up now it's unreal!

auntynorm · 09/01/2015 19:41

I was booked in for an induction 48hrs after my waters broke; i really didn't fancy it so to try and move things along i spent the entire day beforehand walking my dogs - the exercise must have helped as ds arrived 9.30pm that night (i had also ordered a really spicy curry to see if that helped - luckily/unfortunately it arrived as we were rushing out the door to the hospital).
My sister was induced for her dc2 and found it a much easier birth then her first not induced labour
good luck with the birth

needaholidaynow · 09/01/2015 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MincePieDiet · 09/01/2015 19:53

Well you do have a choice. If you don't want to be induced you can sit down and discuss a plan to attend for daily monitoring and temperature checks for anything up to 4 days after your waters break. The risk of infection does exist but unless you display any outward signs of it or your baby's not movng well there's a school of thought that it's better to wait it out and see. Every maternity unit has it's own policy. A lot induce after 24 or 48 hours. Some wait 4 days. They would not do this if their rates of infection in mums and babies were high. You may not agree but I just feel it's wrong to go along with it just because they say so when it's clearly not what you want.

Original poster
TheHermitCrab · 09/01/2015 19:59

Mammanat222 - mentioned in my OP I have nothing snazzy like a gym ball I'm afraid. Don't even have any nursing bras, on a tight budget lol! :)

bigfam from about 4am until 12 noon my waters broke in gushes, every time they did I had mild period type pains just after, havent had anything in the last few hours though. But other than that no, nothing, I feel the same as I have for the last month!

I just wanted to be able to birth without any messing after such a simple pregnancy. I felt like shit the whole pregnancy but every mw check everything was "perfect" so to be messing about at the end when I thought I'd just be jumping in a pool is annoying me! I've never had anything medical done to me really (never even had my blood taken until I was pregnant), Don't want the extra stress of people faffing about with me. Stupid waters breaking lol. I know induction isn't rare or special, just inconvenient when you feel like your body will probably sort itself out anyway!

I'll probably go in with my epic hospital bag/suitcase/second home in the pissing down wind and rain and end up having to turn around, go home, and wait again! lol

OP posts:
MrsCaptainReynolds · 09/01/2015 20:00

Focus on exercises to engage the baby -spinningbabies.com/techniques/activities-for-fetal-positioning/walchers-trochanter-roll

MrsCaptainReynolds · 09/01/2015 20:02

I'd alternate them with moving around to let gravity help.

Original poster
TheHermitCrab · 09/01/2015 20:02

MincePieDiet

I do agree with you, they've sent me home with thermometer strips, got to log my temp every 4 hours, colour of waters (although they've stopped now) and any sickness. I do feel sick but I think that is purely lack of sleep.

The fact I have to go in at 5am is somewhat annoying too, they are really sticking to the book, MW said they want it as close to 24 hours after my waters broke as possible. Being I'm still 2 weeks off my due date, and showing no signs of anything, and baby is fine, seems a bit strict.

I think waiting another 24 hours would be better than going straight in for the induction, as they both have their risks. :/ It's a pickle.

First baby so I'm going in blind.

OP posts:
mrsm16 · 09/01/2015 20:03

Go for a walk but walk one foot on the path and one foot on the road! advice a midwife gave me, didn't work for me though sorry! Best of luck

Swipe left for the next trending thread