Second labour - how to get active

[lindy100]

Ok, so it's early days, but I'm keen to start thinking about my first labour and how that will inform things this time around.

Long story short, I was very proactive in researching what kind of birth - went for a home water birth, not keen on induction, read lots of research and made my decision based on that, so felt very well informed and wasn't going to accept stuff just because 'you have to have X if Y happens'.

In the event, waters broke but only trickled for a few days - broke Sunday lunchtime. Was advised to be induced when we went to hosp the next day. I held out against this, under some pressure from the consultant, but on Wed morning decded the time was right.

Induced Weds morning, DD born Fri evening. Three days' stay in horrible ante natal ward before birth. Knackered. Forceps. Not terrible, but I want my homebirth!

Anyone any tips for bringing on active labour in this kind of scenario? Am thinking reflexology/acupuncture - obv will research this.

Thanks for any advice!

You know what I think you just have to see how it plays out. You cannot make it go the way you want / don't want you just have to be rested as much as you can and try not to get too stressed out. The most important thing is the healthy child that comes out at the end and both your well being. Good luck!

Thanks anonymosity. You're right, of course, but it's not entirely in my nature to just hope for the best - if the same thing happens next time, I know I'll be annoyed that I didn't at least look in to how things could have been different.

Staying two night on an ante natal ward really is horrible...

my waters broke with ds1 but when the midwife came out i was 2cm. she gave me a really, really thorough stretch and sweep cause i really wanted a home birth. contractions started 1 1/2hrs later and baby was out by bedtime. it was all quite intense and i didn't feel like i had a good build up for early labour but i got my home water birth. i'm usually really against stretch and sweeps buy my midwife did her dissertation on them and said they are worth it if your body is ready to go.

with ds2 they didn't go till the last minute. i spent most of early labour massaging clary sage. don't know if it helped but i read that it could so thought it was worth a try.

i also did hypnobirthing with both so spent a lot of time visualising how and when i wanted to give birth. apart from not waking hubby up early enough for a water birth with ds2 i pretty much got exactly what i hoped for.

I would also consider babies position. Waters breaking as the first sign of labour can be an indication that baby is malpositioned or posterior.
I would consider seeing a chiropractor in pregnancy to rule out pelic issues and use the techniques on the Spinning babies website www.spinningbabies.com/
I use these often as a doula to good results.
Selina

lindy, I had an unplanned (and lovely) homebirth with my first. Water broke at 2pm, was booked in for induction 2 days later, went into labour at 11pm, baby born at 2am. I kept physically active by walking daily, including up a big hill - because I did it most days throughout my pregnancy, it wasn't hard. I even walked up after my waters had broken and I think that got things moving. Birthing ball from 20 weeks and I sat on it as much as possible after about 32 weeks. i never sat in any other position at the end and on the sofa I lay down. I did yoga too right up until the end, but have always done it - best to keep exercise very gentle if you've never done it before.

i'm hoping to do similar things this time as I really want another homebirth - but at 10 weeks pg I am currently completely floored by morning sickness!!!

good luck.

Thanks for your messages, guys - natural, I eventually had a sweep but waters broke on my edd, so no planned one. Perhaps I should have asked for a sweep sooner.

Selina, thanks for the info - will look at that website thoroughly, and look into a chiropractor too.

cara, I ran up and down the stairs sooooo many times after my waters started going, it wasn't funny! Have good intentions to stay active this time - hope you feel better soon too!