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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Give me your tips to help kick off labour

31 replies

mamalovebird · 14/06/2013 05:56

So, my due date was Wednesday and I spent the entire day walking. I had a sweep yesterday. Started feeling a bit weird and getting tightenings all through the day and into the evening. Went to bed last night and felt them get stronger, so much so I was sick. Finally fell asleep about 2am and have been up since 5am but it all seems to have stopped now that I've slept. I really thought this was it. Is this normal? What can I do to get things going again?

I was induced at 41+3 with dc1 so I don't have the experience of it coming on naturally, and really want to avoid going through an induction again.

I've been eating pineapple, drinking raspberry leaf tea, rubbing clary sage oil into my belly but nothing is working :(

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ThisIsYourSong · 14/06/2013 06:33

In my limited experience, it'll happen when it happens (or you get induced). Sorry !

jimblejambles · 14/06/2013 06:43

Bending down to pick up conkers started one labour off and Mexican food started my 3rd labour.
Good luck

GeordieCherry · 14/06/2013 06:50

Could you bounce on a Swiss ball!

GeordieCherry · 14/06/2013 06:50

That was meant to be a ? Not a !

Original poster

mamalovebird · 14/06/2013 06:59

I'm bouncing on the ball at every given opportunity.

Deep down I know it'll just happen when it happens, I just had such a bad experience the first time, I'd love to have a more positive time with this one.

I ended up being in hospital for 5 days and I don't want to be away from ds that long, although I have been told things are quicker with a second baby.

I really thought last night was it. I'm so disappointed this morning.

OP posts:

MortifiedAdams · 14/06/2013 07:02

I had absoloutley no signs of imprending labour at 40weeks and got an invite out for dinner and drinks. Had a dance to Dolly Parton at the bar afterwards and left earlyish. Three hours later I woke.with contractions every three mins and dd was born that day.

Get dancing!

Sheshelob · 14/06/2013 07:05

Two sweeps, a tube journey and a visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum. I'd spent neat two weeks doing the whole relaxing, watching emotional films and taking gentle walks. It took my DH to point out that I am not a gentle person so should do something I would normally do to relax: go into town and bustle about. And it worked a treat.

We even had time to have a spot of lunch before the contractions got too intense.

The tube ride home was a bit ill considered...

bigkidsdidit · 14/06/2013 07:14

I think evidence shows that nothing works, unfortunately. You may as well have a nap! But if you're restless bouncing / walking lots can't hurt.

It's my due date today too, DS was 15 days over and I really really want this one to come sooner but don't think it will :(

Good luck!

Original poster

mamalovebird · 14/06/2013 08:39

Maybe the more inappropriate the location, the more likely I am to go into labour.

mortifiedadams love it - still, who can resist getting moving to bit of Dolly!

bigkidsdidit good luck! I don't mind if this one is a little bit late, I just want to avoid being induced if at all possible. Plus I guess I'm just desperate to meet my baby :)

OP posts:

igirisu · 14/06/2013 09:35

Hello! We had the same due date! I am also still overdue, I was booked in for a sweep yesterday and at the last minute the midwife decided I wasn't ready, how she figured this out I don't know because she didnt even examine me!

I hope our babies come for us soon, by the way I tried reflexology on Tuesday with a "pregnancy specialist" and that did nothing at all so I wouldn't recommend it!

bigkidsdidit · 14/06/2013 11:29

Yeah I was induced last time too and desperate to avoid it, have home birth booked this time! Good luck to you too :)

DehydratingManiac · 14/06/2013 11:37

You can't influence it at all. Babies come when they're ready and I note that a lot of these tips involve exerting yourself or eating spicy food or making yourself uncomfortable.

The 40wk 'due date' is part of the problem. A normal pregnancy is 37-42 weeks but with all this focus on 40 weeks, people start thinking they're 'late' past that point and that's such a negative and demoralising thought, coupled with people inevitably asking you if you've had it yet. Better to think it could come at any point in that 37-42week window. Which they generally do tbh.

I think at 40 weeks + you should do whatever makes you happy or remotely comfortable. Don't exhaust yourself in the pursuit of something you can't achieve. If you want to sit and eat cake in the bath, then bloody do it.

You don't have to accept induction either. You can opt for expectant management. Your choices all the way through.

Steffanoid · 14/06/2013 11:48

im 40+3 with my first who's est at well over 10lb by scans not fundal measurements, had a 'failed' sweep yesterday, she. could barely reach my cervix because of how far back it was and had trouble trying to move it forwards, my question (sorry for hijacking OP) can I go into labour with my cervix back and it move forwards during the process?

MiamiMe · 14/06/2013 11:57

Raspberry leaf tea.
Walking side ways up and down the stairs.
A car journey in a car with no suspension. Ermmmm....maybe don't try that one.

Show at 38 weeks kicked off contractions. Baby arrived at 38+6.

But everyone is different.

Good luck.

DontSweatTheSmallStuff · 14/06/2013 11:58

A bit of DIY in the bedroom dept and not recommended but a serious bout of sickness and diarrhea (thanks ds2!) did it for me!

Steff - don't worry about the position of the cervix. Mine was so far back they even struggled to reach it to check dilation well into establish labour. Apparently it doesn't mean you won't go into labour while its well back.

mia8 · 14/06/2013 12:02

Wish there was something that categorically worked (I would have done it if so!) but agree with the mums who say he/she will come when ready! Finally starting to relax at 41 + 4 and wishing I'd just relaxed sooner - last precious days with my son inside me, he's happy and healthy, hope yours is :)

Good luck!!

DehydratingManiac · 14/06/2013 12:11

Raspberry leaf tea is a uterine tonic, meant to make your 2nd stage, when it happens, more efficient. Nothing to do with the induction of labour.

Chesterado · 14/06/2013 12:48

Acupuncture! Convinced it finally got dd1 out at 41 plus 4 so starting on Monday when I'm 39 weeks with baby 2. Desperate not to go so overdue this time, guess i'll just have to wait and see!

Steffanoid · 14/06/2013 12:53

thanks dont sweat im convinced he's gonna ignore the pessary next Friday and ignore tge hormone drip.the day after, I just dont think he's ever gonna come

ThisIsYourSong · 14/06/2013 13:01

If it helps at all, least you're not desperate to go into labour like I was, so he wouldn't be born by ELCS on 1st April. But instead, went into labour on the 31st at 41+2 and ended up with an emergency c/s in the early hours of the 1st anyway...

Original poster

mamalovebird · 14/06/2013 17:19

Well, following a long walk today it would appear I have had my show (enjoy your dinner folks!).

Trying to stay calm and relaxed which is proving hard with a tired & grumpy 3.5yr ds back from nursery.

Have suggested to Dh that we may need to engage in some sexy time this evening, but he's a bit squeamish about it.

thisisyoursong I just don't want baby born on 21st June as that's the anniversary of my dad's death so it would feel weird but I guess I'm just going to have to resign myself to the fact it'll happen when it happens.

I have a niggly feeling I'll probably have to be induced again, just trying to avoid thinking about it :-(

OP posts:

Steffanoid · 14/06/2013 19:50

mama that was yesterday for me, the first anniversary as well, I had a chat with him and asked him not to make it happen,

I'm booked to be induced at 8pm next Friday, the 21st, tge 22nd is my birthday!! I dont wanna be sat there all day in a bed on my birthday, cause I know nothing will happen so ill be sat bored till they pit the drip on,

come on something spontaneous before then, I'll even do star jumps to make my waters break!

OdaBear · 15/06/2013 02:00

I ate KFC on both days I went into labour. Admittedly the first time I'd had a very successful sweep. The second time was Tuesday just gone, coupled with scrubbing the bathroom and bedroom. Good luck!

amazingmumof6 · 15/06/2013 03:37

had 3 spoonfuls of tiramisu with DD ( 6th child, 5 days overdue)

waters broke 5 mins later!

igirisu · 15/06/2013 07:20

mamalovebird are you still overdue? I am sigh I had false labour in the cinema last night and honestly thought "this is it" as the false labour gets worse every time and I was in a lot of pain. People call constantly to ask if I have had I'm or if I'm in labour and I have to keep saying no, then when I thought I was in labour I called my mom and told her to brace herself (my family live about 50 miles away) only to have to call them a few hours later and say its all off!

I wouldn't mind but I've been on mental red alert since 37 weeks, my hospital bag and babies crib have actually gathered dust! Had to change his bedlinen yesterday

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