Forgive bluntness - usefulness of BJs?

[HardCheese]

39+2, midwife already pushing to do a sweep at 40 weeks, which I have declined, but am also anxious to avoid induction if at all possible, or going over 42 weeks so I can't give birth in the MLU - so am trying all possibilities to kicktstart spontaneous labour. (Though I think scan dates are early - but am feeling anxious and vulnerable to being hit with stillbirth risks, though have read NICE stats myself, so am informed etc.)

My blunt question is - is there any evidence to show semen taken in via oral sex as effective in getting in the right prostaglandin etc as semen from vaginal sex? I've read anecodotal stuff on line, and my NCT teacher said it, but it doesn't seem terribly logical to me. We'll do whatever works, obviously, but I'm not feeling massively like having intercourse if Other Methods work equally well.

All thoughts welcome. Thanks in advance.

I thought the whole point was that the prostaglandin needed to be applied directly to the cervix, hence why the induction pessaries are just that and not a tablet.

Oh dear I have never heard of bj's being helpful, I believe the sperm is supposed to hit the cervix.

Yes, exactly - I wondered why you wouldn't be induced via some oral medcation, if that was the case, but some sources seem to suggest otherwise, so am checking with the collective wisdom of Mn.

hmm sounds like a myth put about by blokes! I'd say (with no knowledge at all on the subject!) that surely it has to go direct to cervix. Any semen in your stomach will be broken down and pee'd out without any going via the womb area.

My BabyCentre app says the same thing- that actually its more beneficial if taken orally (I'm not telling DH this, doing the sex and being this big is awkward enough )

There we go:

"Alternatively, giving your partner oral sex may work better. It is thought that prostaglandins are absorbed more efficiently through the gut than through the vagina. (Note: you may prefer to keep this piece of information to yourself!)"

It's a conspiracy! It's also Steak & Blow Job day.

Coincidence? :o

Ooh, just had a brainwave. I'm sure when I worked on a medical magazine they pointed out that, ahem, arousal and orgasm increase blood flow to the womb and general lady area.

Perhaps the theory is that by giving the BJ you get turned on and the increased blood flow and oxygenation gets things going?

Either way, there's no way in hell DH was getting a BJ at the end, I felt like a beached whale with the sex drive of an asexual amoeba.

Call me odd, but I genuinely enjoy BJs, and while I would generally claim to be a fairly sexual person, I've spent so much time in odd positions for the last couple of weeks trying to turn my back to back baby, the idea of having sex just feels like another contortion too far, especially with an extremely active baby getting involved and kicking and wriggling like mad! I'm sure my libido will come back, but it seems to have gone AWOL for the moment...

The only way I can see this might have an effect is if you were to get excited yourself in giving the bj, and all the movements and hormones 'down below' kicking off a trigger for labour to begin? Although I have zero knowledge on this topic!

If it's any help, I had a mild chicken korma the night before each of my children were born. Lots of people suggest curry, but you don't need to punish yourself with an unbearably hot phall!!

cyclebump the drive of an asexual amoeba! Love it, hit the nail on the head!

I asked my midwife about it after reading it on the Babycentre app. She raised her eyebrows and said "And who do you think came up with that one, hmmm?" so I don't believe it!

If any of this stuff worked then no-one would go in to be induced with pharmacological methods. If you want to give your DP BJs then do so, but not as a means of starting labour.

Ditto sex, curry, long walks, pineapple...if it worked it'd all be banned in pregnancy. What triggers labour is a hormonal exchange between mum and baby, it happens when it happens.

Equally good chance of getting things going sitting on your backside eating Jaffa Cakes!

Flisspaps you have a point, when once I was booked for induction I spent the 5 days in between doing everything I could to get things moving, after I had the first pessary I was up and about pacing round the hospital. The next day when things still hadn't got moving after the second pessary I was practically hiking around the village where my hospital is located in an effort to get things moving. Contrast with the women in the bed opposite who just sat there and started having contractions after the first pessary . She was clearly just closer to being ready than me.

I agree with Flisspaps so I'm guessing that we where ready and the BJ I gave 6 hours before labour started may well have just been coincidence!