A list of ways to kick start labour. Old wives' tales, scientific facts and the ridiculous welcome.

[TimeyWimeyStuff]

Please add anything you've heard of or believe works. I have:

Walking
Sex
Fresh pineapple
Laxatives

There must be more?

DD2 arrived bang on her due date, despite DD1 having been 10 days late. I am convinced it was because DH and I had sex. Contractions started 2hrs after.

Has to be worth a go, no?

hot curries?
rasberry leaf tea?
castor oil?

Cod liver oil and orange
A greasy tea did it for me lol KFC

The only thing that worked for me the second time was the threat of induction again!

Arrange to go out for one last meal before the baby arrives. Worked both times for me. With DS I actually got to finish my meal (contractions started as we were leaving for the restaurant), but with DD I didn't make it out of the house, as they started a couple of hours beforehand.

Get booked in for induction. DS arrived 5 hours before I was due at the hospital to be induced.

I ate curry three nights in the week before dd arrived

My mw told me sex and driving over speed bumps fast presumably not at the same time

Whispers I am booked for induction on 22nd when I will be 40+12. I was induced last time (pessary and drip) because waters began leaking at 40+8 and I didn't go into labour naturally. Although it wasn't too bad compared to the horror stories (12 hr labour, epidural, baby born naturally, 2nd degree tear, post partum bleed but recovered quickly) I would rather avoid it this time.

Has anyone tried acupuncture to start things off? Do they do it on the NHS? What about raspberry leaf tea? Anything else!!!???

I meant to add Whispers that maybe the threat of induction again will do the trick!

To sex on speed bumps. Maybe it's something to do with the shock/adrenaline rush you'd get when arrested

Saving all this up for two weeks' time. Just read an interesting debate about whether penetrative or oral sex is better for getting semen prostaglandins into the mother's system. With suggestions that oral is better, but if you don't like to swallow the normal way, perhaps mix it up like a cocktail. Think I'll pass.

Timey YUCK!! I would rather be induced.....

Have my MIL come and visit you for lunch, worked both times for me within 24 hours...

Dream, i'm afraid raspberry leaf won't get you started, it's just supposed to tone your uterus and made it more efficient. I'm drinking a cup a day at the moment - quite like the flavour anyway.

jaggy I think having my MIL over would work too as fortunately she lives far away! The stress of her visit would likely start things off!!

Ooh Jaggy, my MIL is coming next weekend... Quite bizarre really, because DD was prem and I'm in a state with SPD etc, they are coming to "babysit" me and DD while DH works all weekend. I'm not massively keen but it will be a Godsend if anything happens.

Ha ha, just read this on a website:

"There is a vegetable oil called CASTOR Oil, which is sometimes used to get labor going or for other medicinal purposes. There is a petroleum product, i.e. motor oil, called Castrol Oil, which could be toxic. Please do not confuse them!"

Are people really that stupid or desperate?

Nothing works.

If it did, no-one would ever be induced.

Simple.

Still interesting to hear about suggested methods fliss, if only to pass the time while waiting.

Here's a DIY reflexology tip I just found:

"Reflexology or acupuncture. Point in the roof of the mouth that stimulates the uterus. The technique seems to work best if the client has at least reached 3cm. Carol recommended using "dum dum" (brand name, spherical) lollipops. They fit perfectly into that spot in the roof of the mouth! One other bit of information- this should speed up contractions within 30 minutes... if it doesn't the body is probably not ready."

Could do wonders for Chupa Chup sales

I was warned (by midwives, pregnancy books and NCT) NOT to use castor oil, because although it might help induce labour, it's very likely to make you sick & give you diarrhoea + it tastes horrible - think I prefer pineapple!

The other issue with castor oil is it can cause the baby to pass meconium, which is why it isn't recommended.

Clary sage oil is supposed to work, there have been threads on it in the past - only try it after your due date. Didn't work for me though.

I agree with flisspaps nothing works, anything that does is coincidence.

Blowing up balloons :o

Have tried:

1. Sex - no result
2. Speed bumps (not together - no result)
3. Swallowing (worked after two hours with #1, not with 2 or 3, haven't yet tried with current @ 37+5)
4. Ate a whole pineapple (strange allergic reaction in tongue and lips but no labour )
5. Laxatives (no result - not even what u would expect)
6. Walking (no result other than to aggravate my spd)
7. Stairs (see walking)
8. Walking with one foot on, one foot off kerb (got strange looks)
9. Blowing up balloons (nada)

10. Curries/chilli/other spicy food (bad heartburn and reflux, otherwise nada) 11. Threat of induction (worked with #1, combined with aforementioned swallowing , also worked with #2, both times went into labour 12 hrs before induction scheduled) 12. Birthing ball (possibly helped #3 along after about 4 days solid)

Currently desperate but only really want to try 1, 3, and 12 again due to ineffectiveness and unpleasant side effects of the rest!

Any further suggestions welcome!

In addition to those mentioned already:

1. evening primrose oil capsules - both swallowed and taken up your ahem fanjo as a pessary (found this one on baby and bump forum)
2. clary sage and lavender essential oils in a fairly hot bath, once or ideally twice a day (clearly only possible after mat leave has started!)

PFB baby born 20/12/2012 at 40w plus 3 days, into hospital 10.30am baby arrived by 4pm - was also drinking copious amounts of raspberry leaf tea, eating chilli hotter than the gates of hell and having lots of sex - not sure which of the methods (if any) actually bought things on!

So, the evening primrose oil capsules - what do they do? And (stupid question) do they dissolve up the ahem fanjo?

Congrats btw!