DTD to bring on labour. Did it actually work for anyone?

[LovesToBake]

I'm 37+5 and this afternoon my midwife asked me if I was doing 'the things' to bring on labour. When I said I was drinking raspberry leaf tea and occasionally sitting on my exercise ball when I could be bothered, she basically suggested 'sex, curry and beer'. I know people say DTD can bring things on but I'm more of the opinion that it will start when it's ready. Anyone think it has worked for them?

Isn't it true then that the pessary they used to use for inductions included prostaglandins from bull semen? sure I read that somewhere and thought "bloody hell, I'd rather have DH's prostaglandins!".

DTD worked for us on both our DCs, but I think it only worked because they were ready anyway iyswim.

Worked for a friend straight after a sweep! Nipple stimulation worked for me

Hadagutsful I've read the same, I'm sure they have proved that there is a enzyme in semen that breaks down the plug?

I agree, that loosing the plug wouldn't necessarily bring on labour, however, I DTD and lost a massive chunk of my plug immediately afterwards and more the next morning, another day on and my contractions started.. as above thought, I can't prove it worked, but I do wonder...

For me raspberry leaf tea gave me BH. I had a short and strong labour, so I hope it helped that too!

As a midwife, I'm less and less convinced of anything being effective. I don' t suggest trying anything until 41 weeks! Before then I think it just creates anxiety and stress. I prefer to get women to imagine their 42 week date as their " will be delivered by" and then to find distractions. About sex specifically I just say " do it only if it will make you laugh while passing the time..."

DS1 was 10 days late. We tried everything: I had 5 sweeps, Dtd, curry, Mexican, walking up huge flights of stairs. He came when he was ready.

When I was overdue with DD I made my DH have sex with me and as soon as we got started I had my first contraction! No joke. I was 7 days late by then so I guess maybe she was just ready to come...

It worked for me. With DD2 at 35 weeks I was told to stop DTD beacuse it brought labour on. At 13 days overdue it brought labour on instantly. I thought it was the climax, but the doctor said it is the hormones in the sperm.

My waters broke within about a minute of having a little fiddle with both babies - first at 38 weeks, second at 40+5 . Not sure about number 1 but with second I had had two sweeps and was 3-4cm dilated with membranes bulging.

With the first, I couldn't sleep one night and thought it would help me drift off. Bit stunned when I felt this 'pop' and waters broke. With the second, I thought 'nah surely that was a fluke and won't work again'. Within a minute or so, felt that pop again.

I have never told anyone this IRL!

I sat on a birthing ball eating pineapple, drinking raspberry tea after a curry and sex- all of the time thinking "you are an idiot -you know this stuff is bollocks!" Waters broke next morning- definately due to being 9 months pregnant- the only thing that really brings it on!

A long walk about 1 hour 45 minutes did the trick for me when DS was 5 days overdue :)

DM assured me this was how she got labour going with my brother and I and accompanied me on the walk!

Curry and adding fresh chillies to every meal just have me heartburn :(