Ok, so old wives tales for starting labour don't work, I know that. But life would be far easier if I went into labour this weekend. Give me an infallible list of things to try!

[robino]

I'm nearly 39 wks pregnant. DH works 300 miles away and we have 2 DDs (just turned 4 and 2.5). Both DDs came 5 days early, if this one did the same it would arrive this weekend which would be perfect in terms of logisitics. What do you reckon my chances are?

I'm beginning to get very concerned that if this one isn't obedient then I have a consultant appointment on Tuesday and they'll give me a sweep there and then. I've just tried to call my MW to talk this through and whether she might do me one on Friday or say it's ok to tell the consultant to leave it, she'll do one nearer the weekend but she's off sick.

So - I'm going out in a while to buy raspberry leaf tea and maybe some clary sage oil. I am going to blow my birthing ball up. My mum is here tomorrow and Thursday, I may have someone with me on Friday as well so I figured that as of tomorrow I may as well give "operation give birth at the weekend" a shot!. All ideas welcome.

Have eaten lots of chocolate SOH . That made me happy!

And I know about raspberry leaf tea - it was just in my mind 'cos I was off to the health food shop

Clean good woman. Clean, clean , clean. Scrub skirtings and cupboards whether they need it or not.

I did this all day on the Saturday DD was born Sunday night.

(Although she was 13 days over)

Ina May Gaskin recommends Castor oil. But never tried it and some say is not recommended. Depends how desperate you are!

Definitely don't have castor oil.

No, won't ever be desperate enough for castor oil. Bowels already active enough - am hoping this is a good sign.

What made you think of sitting on the loo with a raunchy novel whilst heavily pregnant, Starlight??

Califig - I promise!

Wasn't told about the raunchy novel, but my midwife neighbour did say to walk sideways up and down the stairs.

Sex.

Sorry.

But sex seems to get a lot of votes.

Sex works I tells ya..good orgasmic nooks

Nope.

No proven link between sex and labour starting. Slightly higher chance of labour starting if you ingest the semen orally but still not any causal effect proven.

Isn't it to do with the cervix getting a good old hammering that can start it off?

Lots and lots of orgasms. Provided by your DH or self administered!

Nope. If there was a link between the two, they'd be suggesting that you didn't have sex before you reached full term.

No study has ever found a link between sex and labour starting. The onset of labour is a still little understood chemical reaction that happens between the baby and you. Short of chemical induction, we have no say in it.

The orgasm and sperm actually help to induce (sp?) the softening of the cervix and labour

My obstetric consultant was talking about this the other day and he said that he thinks it's better to move away from discussion of what can 'start' labour and accept that no studies have ever found that anything can. He did mention the fight or flight thing but says it's often only applicable when labour is trying to start anyway so yes relevant as you say in terms of support a opposed to triggering, but what he worries about (he's my birth trauma counsellor I should point out) is that the implication that we can control it, just adds to the heap of guilt that mothers feel when it didn't go to plan.

He says he sees a lot of exhausted women where labour has finally started but they've spent a week walking too far, having too much sex and upsetting their bowels and making actual labour very tough for themselves. And even more women who have had to accept induction in the end and think they've 'failed'.

Go easy on the clary sage oil! A FEW drops in the bath can help, but too much can cause big complications and even be dangerous for your baby (according to my midwife, anyway, who's also an aromatherapist and told us all a scary story in antenatal class)

Talk to a herbalist about caullophylum (blue and black cohosh).
Acupuncture.
The prostaglandins in semen (even orally) are what makes sex work (along with the oxytocin) but we know prost pessaries don't always work either.
Raspberry leaf strengthens uterus muscle, it won't start contractions.
Clary sage regulates contractions, I wouldn't advise it until you are having early, irregular contractions.
Sideways walking uphill or stairs encourages waters to go.
Whatever you try remember It's still an intervention and if baby isn't coming there may be a reason.

Be careful with black and blue cohosh, I'd suggest you only take it homeopathically not in the extract form, it's quite strong and anecdotally it can result in baby getting distressed and passing meconium. Acupressure (foot massage) can also work wonders. Tend to agree with ShowofHands though, nothing has been proven to "start" labour and you do run the risk of getting yourself overtired and stressed. Having said that by 10 days past my due date I would have swung naked from the chandelier if I thought it would have worked! (I actually went into labour when I finally stopped trying and made myself a plan of what I was going to do every day for the next week...never got to do any of it!)

Can't imagine doing anything other than going easy on the clary sage oil - it stinks!

Had what I can assume were braxton hicks last night, never had them with DDs - was vaguely debating calling DH back from Devon. And I would appear to be having a good "clearing out" - am hoping these are both good signs!

Have no desire to wear myself out and I think that your consultant probably has a really good point SOH, wish they were all that sensible. Really, all this is just giving me something other to think about than "wahhhhhh, I really want DH at the birth and he might not make it ".