Tips to bring on labour - what worked for you?

[trix1]

Did sex work for anyone? if so how long before labour started? Any other tips welcomed?

Apparently castor oil can 'work' because the nerves/muscles/something that wirks the bowel also works the uterus, so laxatives can stimulate contractions...but I doubt it would bring on labour if you wern't rather close anyway.

Nipple massage worked for both of mine (but maybe was close anyway?).

DD, was 7 days overdue, so massaged for about 15 mins every couple of hours all day, then went into labour early next morning.

DS, was keen not to go overdue, massaged every night (!) for 15 mins from about 38 weeks, a bit more closer to due date, had DS 4 days late after a nice (huh?) short labour.

I've read that nipple massage is actually proven by studies (as oppsed to pineapples...apparently you'd have to eat 40 to get enough of the chemical to do anything at all!), but really, how can you tell if baby was just about to come anyway? Having said that, will def do nipple massage again for any more kids I have.

HTH

digging my car out of a snow drift with one day to go

trix, how u feeling?

(i'm reading this with great interest as I'm due Xmas day and my plan is two weeks early as we've got family over!)

In first pg, I did sex,curry,clary sage(DON'T DO THIS),long walks,being driven over speed bumps,sitting on my swiss ball, talking sternly to baby,being READY for baby, nipple stimulation, raspberry tea, .

Had a stretch and sleep at 41 and a half weeks and DS popped out 20mins before I was due to be induced(The popping out took a day and a half BTW)

My friend said papaya thai salad works!

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

Had a painful night from the castor oil, really thought at times that this was it but no its all stopped. I wont do it again, Ive had a taste of the pain to come so I am going to wait patiently now until baby is ready to come. Im so releived them horrible cramps have stopped. Silly me.

Spina mum, why did you say dont do clary sage??? I have some burning now, cumin tea in hand. I am 5 days overdue and about to go radio rental!!!

Pls tell me if the clary sage is inhibiting an dI will throw it straight out the window!!!!!

PS some of the suggestions have made me laugh adn the over riding message of baby coming when he is ready is almost making it through to my intolerant brain!

I know its hard at the end, this baby will come when its ready, he or she is all snug inside you, not ready to face the big wide world yet.

Reflexology. ds1 and ds2 came 10 days early, the day after a reflexology session. ds3 was 3 weeks early - a few hours after a pedicure! In the unlikely event of a 4th, I'll use it again.

I have resigned myself that baby will come when he/she is ready.

This has been mentioned before but raspberry leaf tablets were great. The tea is rubbish and not very strong. Started taking it at 36 weeks.

Nipple stimulation made me have cramps so strong I stopped after a few minutes. You're meant to do it 3 times a day for an hour if you're serious about it.

Walking. Definitely walking.

Orgasm (DIY or GSI)

Raspberry leaf tea only ripens the cervix, and makes your contractions more efficient - it does nothing to induce labour.

With ds1, I had two pineapples blended, and went into labour the day after, but you have to eat SEVEN for them to do any good, so it was just a coincidence.

Im currently 38 weeks and want this baby out. Just had a bath in clary sage, and have done some 'niple tweaking' with a breast pump.
Have had sex (with lots of orgasms) the last two days, and have had about twenty hours of VERY strong contractions, but theyve stopped.

Clary sage in carrier oil rubbed on bump worked for me - with caution though as I think it may have made the contractions a bit more full on - not worse than they would eventually have been if you know what I mean but straight into it full on with no more gradual build up.

FOOT RUB WORKED IN THE MUPPET HOUSEHOLD!

Ds 2 arrived on his due date due to a foot rub 2 days before! Pains started almost immediately.

You are only supposed to use clary sage oil in the bath when in labour. It helps the uterus to open up so dangerous in the bath before.
doing nipple stimulation as i read this thread. 2 days over and straight away feeling something!!!!!!

i have tried everything
i am now 37 weeks pregnant and am tired and fat and uncomfortable and need a good night sleep.I have tried the castor oil,sex nipple stimulation,curry and walking and nothing has worked so now i am in need of some more tips on how to get this labour going.
could somebody please help lol

your baby is probably not ready at 37 weeks, that is only just full term!
if this is your first baby, then relax and get your feet up

lots of sex, raspberry leaf tea and nipple stim can help BUT only if you are ready

a membrane sweep at 41 + weeks can be helpful

Fresh pineapple and a 20 minute walk a day for a week did it for me. 1 day early and a 2 hour labour!

yes sex worked for me in the final week of my pregnancies

I'm trying the lot also, booked in to be induced on Wednesday at 41+5, they reckon the baby is about 9lb8! First baby so really nervous about the induction, really wanted to go naturally but have tried all suggestions, having 2nd sweep today and going to book reflexology, wish me luck!

A brisk walk while pushing Ds1 in his pushchair started off labour with Ds2.

I got a membrane sweep then walked a mile
into town for a very hot curry with DP.

hours later went into labour

at 40+5 I ate a bunch of parsley and made loads of parsley soup. It brought on strong contraction and partial dilation (baby couldn't descend as cord was round neck, so had to have section in the end).