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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Real stories to kick start labour

22 replies

Lou1324 · 23/01/2018 15:11

I'm sure this has been done before but...

I'm interested in your real life tips to kickstart labour. We all know the old wives tales about long walks and spicy food but what has actually worked?! A friend of mine told me her waters broke after scrubbing her kitchen floor but I'm not sure I'm up for that! I'm 37+1 and So. Uncomfortable. Baby is pressing on a nerve in my pelvic area which regularly sends white hot shooting pains through me down below. It's horrendous and getting worse every day. I went to 42 weeks with DD and can't face the idea I could have nearly 5 weeks left!

OP posts:
drinkswineoutofamug · 23/01/2018 15:22

Son was a week late. I scrubbed a rug clean. Next day got twinges .

Daughter ate lasagna, watched a shite film had sex went into labour

Last daughter she decided herself to be early. Has been early to everything ever since!

Willrunforgin · 23/01/2018 15:43

I was 11 days late and did everything that has ever been suggested in the history of pregnancy. NOTHING worked apart from my second sweep on day 10.
But you never know if these things work or if baby woulda made a move anyway.... good luck I hope it happens for you soon 💐😘

StopTheRoundabout · 23/01/2018 15:47

It depends on how favourable your cervix is for labor before you go putting yourself through more misery trust me, I know because I've already tried Sad

AnneWiddecombesHandbag · 23/01/2018 15:50

Did loads of gardening so spent a day crawling round on my hands and knees. Went into labour that night!

AnneWiddecombesHandbag · 23/01/2018 15:51

I was 5 days overdue

Amatree · 23/01/2018 15:53

Sex. You might not feel like it but it worked for me-contractions started within half an hour.

Amatree · 23/01/2018 15:53

Oh and that was a day after being examined and told I wasn't showing any signs of going, no dilation and cervix not favourable.

RockinRobinTweets · 23/01/2018 15:54

I got a birthing ball and leaned on it with my forearms and had my knees and shins on the floor and then kind of rocked - it was the only way I was comfortable.

That and sex.

Original poster
Lou1324 · 23/01/2018 15:55

Oh no stopthe that doesn't sound good Confused

I am just miserable! This baby needs to come out soon.

OP posts:
proudmum4 · 23/01/2018 15:56

We went for a bumpy back road drive, the next day I had him x

StopTheRoundabout · 23/01/2018 16:30

Tried to get a sweep on my last pregnancy and they said I was no where near labour Lou. Sad. Took another week and a half to get going. I tried all sorts.

There were posters with the following tips:

  • Laughing lots
  • Eating fresh pineapples but not too much or it gives you heartburn.
  • Bouncing on a birthing ball.
  • Drinking raspberry tea.
  • Eating spicy food or a hot curry (but this could also cause diarrhoea)
  • Walking (but not straying too far from a toilet for obvious reasons in late pregnancy Grin)
  • Sex (if you are able and not too uncomfortable)
  • Taking Caster Oil BUT this really is NOT recommended as it can be dangerous for the baby (and according to a MW I know the placenta can come out covered in oil Shock)

Not long to go even if it feels like an eternity, hang in there. Flowers

StopTheRoundabout · 23/01/2018 16:30

Tried to get a sweep on my last pregnancy and they said I was no where near labour Lou. Sad. Took another week and a half to get going. I tried all sorts.

There were posters with the following tips:

  • Laughing lots
  • Eating fresh pineapples but not too much or it gives you heartburn.
  • Bouncing on a birthing ball.
  • Drinking raspberry tea.
  • Eating spicy food or a hot curry (but this could also cause diarrhoea)
  • Walking (but not straying too far from a toilet for obvious reasons in late pregnancy Grin)
  • Sex (if you are able and not too uncomfortable)
  • Taking Caster Oil BUT this really is NOT recommended as it can be dangerous for the baby (and according to a MW I know the placenta can come out covered in oil Shock)

Not long to go even if it feels like an eternity, hang in there. Flowers

StopTheRoundabout · 23/01/2018 16:31

Sorry, it posted twice.

SprogletsMum · 23/01/2018 16:32

I was playing at the park all day when 38+6 with dc4. I didn't feel all that pregnant and was playing with an ankle hopper. Got home and I'd had my show. Went to bed nice and early, woke up at 2am when my waters went. Contractions were started with the drip at 8am and dc4 was born at 8.19am

Lemonicelolly1 · 23/01/2018 17:36

I tried everything that was suggested to me and nothing worked. Sweep also failed as midwife couldn't reach my cervix. Eventually I gave up hope and responded myself to the thought I was going to be induced. Contractions started a few days later when I was out for lunch with friends. Hopefully something works for you though op. Good luck 😊

GimbleInTheWabe · 23/01/2018 20:11

DS was 9 days overdue. I tried it all except the one thing that finally kicked it all off- sex! DP and I dtd and low and behold my waters broke the very next day!

MountainVista · 23/01/2018 20:14

A week late, went for a very long walk and things felt.. lower... afterwards. Waters broke in the early hours

awankstainonhumanity · 25/01/2018 07:46

New year's Day, started the day with a bit of morning 'fun' Wink then went on the annual news year day long walk, had friends over that evening where I made Vietnamese spring g rolls (spicy) and a stir-fry with a bit too much chilli in! I was 2 weeks before my due date, did not plan to do these things together, or to try and kick off labour, but at 3am, my waters broke!

actino · 27/01/2018 09:08

Schedule something important for Monday, on Saturday night (39+1) proclaim to friends "if the baby could just hold off until Tuesday, that would be great."

Worked for me, I had a baby in my arms less than 12 hours after that proclamation.

Bobbiepin · 27/01/2018 11:14

Got a Chinese take away and picked every last bit of chilli off my chicken. Went into labour at 2am.

BellMcEnd · 27/01/2018 11:17

I skipped around the local country park at 40+3. DH and DCs were appalled.

Worked though.

gamerpigeon · 27/01/2018 11:26

Nando's!

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