Having a few niggles - What can I do to keep them coming and make them stronger ?

[FoghornLeghorn]

Had quite an uncomfortable night and have had a few mild niggly pains this morning accompanied with period type pains - think this could possibly be the start of things to come but cannot for the life of me remember what it was like with DD.

What can I do to make sure the contractions keep coming and get more regular - should I rest or should I get moving.

Wouldn't think I had done this before, feel like a complete novice this time

DD2 mine niggled on for ages, tried resting as mw advised me to tak eit easy and not tire me out. in the end I went for a brisk walk around the village and that kick started it. It might just have been the right time anyway but I am sure it helped. Perhaps a short walk in a loop so you can go home easily if you are tired - pref with someone so if you feel dreadful they can get a car?

Am home alone with DD all day today - DH is at work, 2 hours drive on a good journey. Not going to call him yet because he wont just sit it out at work, he will come home and then it might all be for nothing.

Think I will get dressed and go for a brisk walk see if that helps

What about cleaning ? I got down on my hands and knees yesterday and scrubbed the kitchen floor, should I carry on from there ?

Am chickening out of the walk cos its bloody freezing here today

Have you tried nipple tweaking?

Not had the pleasure of trying that one yet - is it just as simple as it sounds ?

Yep, it releases oxytocin which is a natural way to stimulate contractions. Pitocin is the artificial version. Not sure if it's called the same name in the UK as Us, actually.

Do I need to do it in the bath ? Think i'll wait til DD has her nap to avoid the questions

Jabberwocky - I was just about to suggest the same. A good old nipple tweak finally started ds3 off after 2 weeks of niggles. ( Not two weeks of nipple tweaking!) Keep busyish, keep moving and good luck! ( will leave now as am getting all broody!!)

Just having a toast and lemon curd break then I'll get busy - so far am going for a walk to Sainsbury's once I've eaten toast (about 2 mile round trip), then i'll put DD for a sleep and try the nipple tweaking, if still nothing i'll do more scrubbing as a last resort

keep walking around... worked for me the other day... though I didn't want them to keep coming! i thought it would make the contractions stop... it just intensified them.. which meant i got whipped off for my section at least. Good luck, take care. xx

Just keep moving generally or go for a long long walk do you mean ?

walking great....hands and knees great....but best of all if in any way possible is an orgasm? is there any way you could sort some self love out? or enlist the help of your dp/dh?

may sound like the worst suggestion possible in the world but it will absolutely bring things on....definitely!

Loud music did it for me...

Oh dear sophable - that made me cringe !
I had all the intentions of enlisting DH;s help last night but tiredness just got the better of me, starting to wish I had just done it now.

then forget it!!! cringing is not conducive to pleasure|!!!!

erm.....walking, really keeping moving is a good plan....dance around your front room to a cd? something like that?

not that it helps much Foghornleghorn, but i am in exactly the same position as you - although this is my first baby. Keep getting bad niggles but nothing more and its driving me crazy! Am trying all the things mentioned by others.. when i walk any distance my bump gets v tight and uncomfortable and more period-type pains arrive - hoping this is a good sign??

that's absolutely exactly a good sign...that tightening is the beginning of mild contractions

thanks Sophable - am in need of encouragement! Am going to go for a good long walk around the block now to maybe move things along..might just keep walking til i can go no further!

stairs are good....but better if you have someone with you and take them slowly....but my midwives made me do a LOT of stair walking

foghorn....try some nipple stimulation...can use a breast pump too if you have one....a walk......sex (!) i know you don;t want too...but it is a double whammy , i you will! the prostoglandins help ripen the cervix and the orgasm can help trigger more contractions!!

a few more cups of raspberry leaf tea..

BUT - do not wear yourself out...if labour imminent..don't exhaust yourself now..keep your fluids up and eat something light & nutritious!!

and HAPPY BIRTHING!!

and that goes for you too cheriton......! don;t wear yourself out!

Well am back from my walk to Sainsbury's. Got a pretty strong contraction on the way down there and one on the way back but nothing since, although have pretty constant period pains.
Am just having some lunch then i'm onto the next thing to try - nipple stimulation ?

do you have a book that has a sexy bit that gets you going???

read it after lunch!!!

just even being turned on will help a lot....it is what you're trying to achieve with nipstim.

nipple stim to encourage labour!