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?

I ate a pineapple at 5:30pm and my waters broke at 6pm.
(then nothing happened for 24 hours!)

Sex - and probably a sweep. Not sure which actually worked but I would like to think it was the sex, as it was more pleasant!

Sweep on Thursday, midwife said have a 'romantic' night , which we did no the friday - as due to be induced early on the monday so thought we would celebrate last weekend without baby! Had sex at about 11:30pm and waters broke at 5:30am ish on Saturday morning.

18 hour labour - only 8 of which were painful.

That should ready, I was due to be induced early. Induction on Monday - ie baby was coming early due to complications! Not early on monday! [lol]

That should ready, I was due to be induced early. Induction on Monday - ie baby was coming early due to complications! Not early on monday! [lol]

That should ready, I was due to be induced early. Induction on Monday - ie baby was coming early due to complications! Not early on monday! [lol]

That should ready, I was due to be induced early. Induction on Monday - ie baby was coming early due to complications! Not early on monday! [lol]

That should ready, I was due to be induced early. Induction on Monday - ie baby was coming early due to complications! Not early on monday! [lol]

That should ready, I was due to be induced early. Induction on Monday - ie baby was coming early due to complications! Not early on monday! [lol]

That should ready, I was due to be induced early. Induction on Monday - ie baby was coming early due to complications! Not early on monday! [lol]

Passive smoking

Some dirty animal blew smoke near me and I had a huge coughing fit which resulted in my waters breaking.

Not sure I'd reccomend it though

My first 2 babies were on time 40 weeks and 40+8. was convinced my 3rd would be the same - went to 40+12, tried everything i could manage:
long walks, sex, pineapple, castor oil, visualisation, curry, glass of organic wine, sitting on birthing ball for hours, went for 4 sweeps but as cervix tightly shut this was impossible.
Finally the dreaded induction at 40+13 which was a fantastic experience but thats a different thread!!!

ps midwife did comment how old and gritty my placenta was, knew my dates were spot on due to less romantic nights having already 2 small children if you know what i mean!! you still have 3 weeks :0

caulophyllum worked for me I got it from a homeopath. It was recommended to me by a friend and I'll recommend it to anyone.

tried all of the above and still waiting at 41 wk today.....i'm now bouncing up and down on the gym ball like a demented Tigger...I presume this is not dangerous!

My sister is a midwife and she says nothing works, baby will only come when ready. As previous poster said, people claim certain things have worked but it actually would have happened anyway at that time. She did say once labour has started sex will progress labour more quickly as the sperm 'eats away' at the cervix causing it to dilate more quickly.

I have heard you should take x 1 tbsp of castor oil in a food such as scrambled egg (protein and easily tolerated) and if needed repeat next day but no more.

HTH x

nipple tweaking

walking definately helped me...had my beautiful little boy Sunday morning (24th)
i took the dog for a long walk on saturday evening and then started to really do some serious cleaning, woke up about 7 am, was leaking fluid, had a shower and called the hosp at 8.30, as was getting light contractions, was told to make my way in when they got to 5 or 6 mins apart, at 9am they were so i called a taxi, got there at 9.30,they monitered the hb for 20 or 30 mins then we just had time to fill the pool, he was born at 10.50am best birth experience i ever had, water was amazing for relief,

Sex started off both labours for me. Contractions fairly instantly but no waters broke.

Raspberry Leaf Tea is not supposed to bring on labour so can people please stop saying it as it is misleading!

Sweep at 10am followed by reflexoloy at3pm.
Baby born 10.21am the following day!

I tried everything with no.1 and nothing worked, except shock of being told I was being induced that evening.

With no.2 (also overdue), I had three sessions of acupuncture, including moxibustion to turn the baby in the last session, and went into labour next day.

I also ran up a hill (chasing toddler).

Good luck

Assembling some Ikea flat-pack furniture - twice!
DS2 was induced with a chest of drawers and a pair of bedside tables.
DD was induced with a couple of bookcases.
In both cases my waters broke in the early hours of the next morning

I found a wee bit of prostoglandin gel and artificial membrane rupture at 40+11 worked just fine for me.

Membrane sweep,
Stress of moving house,
Flat pack furniture,
Decorating,
Pineapple,
Hot Curry,
Sex,
Several Long Walks...all did nothing.

But a couple of friends have both reported that flying late in pregnancy is very effective! Bit of a worry for me as am flying at 34+5 with my toddler, and will not be quite ready for baby as again am moving house! Oh the madness! I'll be keeping my legs firmly crossed...wish me luck not to pop LOL

DS1 = one hour swim in morning and 2 mile walk in afternoon

DS2= 4 mile cycle ride up and down forest tracks.

Both were nine days overdue.

sex worked for me though it wasnt planned got a "show" in the middle of sex at 36/37 weeks