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?

Pineapples! With dd I tried pineapples, sex and curry 3 days before edd. The following day I was in labour. I thought it was the curry with extra green chilli :))) With ds (not really wanting to give birth before edd) my partner served pineapples after dinner 3 days before edd. That night I went into labour ha-ha. So pineapples, definitely...

Sex worked for me with both my pregnancies, hadn't done the deed for a few weeks then was in labour 4 hours later with first and 3 hours later with second.

Nothing works, babies just come when they're ready!

All the people who claim long walks and sex bring labour on crack me up. If that was true surely we'd all have to abstain from sex and walking before we were due? I mean most women do just... go into labour... between 37 and 42 weeks. I was walking up to 5 miles a day still at the end of my pregnancy and still having fairly regular sex. Waters went at 40+3. It was a few hours after I grumpily went out for a meal and had a glass of wine and a rare steak... so you could try that, just because it beats pineapple

MOVE MOVE MOVE!! dd2 arrived after a 5 mile walk to the drs (to see the mw which was handy) the last 5 minute stretch (usually) took 25 mins owing to the stinging i got when my cervix began to thin. mw said its normal and could mean the baby will arrive "today,tomorrow or in two weeks" but things are progressing. I was on the postnatal ward 12 hours later.

dd3 arrived after getting rid of my kids for a week to grandma during my 37th week. both my others arrived at 37+5. Bounced on a birthing ball, morning, noon, night (walk was planned but pelvis had other ideas). I bounced so much the room still bounced when i stood up off the ball (but under no circumstance attempt to eat a box of krispy kreme at the same time, bouncing and donuts are no good bed fellows). My contractions started at 37+5 (two hours after dd1 and dd2 arrived home...law of sod!) and she arrived at 37+6 (two and half hours later). Dont stop moving!!!

Actually squidkid it does work, ask a midwife it's a
Proven fact. It worked for me both times.

Alas, if sex brought on labour I'd have been in labour at 37 weeks bang on! Was right horny throughout pregnancy

Lol, I couldn't bare the thought of it with either of mine, but it was what the midwife recommended although apparently it won't work unless baby is ready. Glad I gave it a try as I really didn't want to be induced.

I don't think sex itself brings on labour, but an orgasm can! So whatever works for you to get there, if you get my drift...

I went into labour at 6am but the night before (I was 5 days overdue) I drank 4 cups of raspberry leaf tea, had sex twice (it literally exhausted me, I was like a breathless whale afterwards) and asked my MIL to make me the hottest Indian food possibly, she used this as a chance to show off her cookery skills and I ate literally every traditional punjabi dish (I am convinced the ghee butter in the paratha helped DD to slide out). I also had a glass of pineapple juice before bed. I went into labour at 6am, didn't go to hospital until lunchtime as I was so calm and just practised my breathing exercises at home and then had a water birth: DD was in my arms by 4pm. Just relax, have sex and eat curry! Birth is something to look forward to .

I just had a 45 minute reflexology session with clary sage oil followed by a 2 mile walk, lets see how this pans out! I am 40 weeks tommorow

Hmm, yep, I've been doing ALL of those things with absolutely no results. #3 is officially 3 days overdue despite her brothers both coming at 38 weeks! You'd think that after doing this two other times my body would just drop this one out, but she is nowhere near to coming earthside at this point.