Help Bringing on labour first baby

[Katieb21]

Hi, was just wondering what helped bring your labour on with your FIRST baby? I understand baby’s come when they are ready but I’m so scared off going overdue and was just wondering if there’s anything I could do to encourage things... I will be 40weeks on Wednesday, what do you think worked for you? And when was your baby born? Thanks in advance!

[Katieb21]

Hello everyone thanks for all your replies I saw a consultant today and had a sweep I don’t think it will do much going by what she wrote in my notes but I can have another one on Wednesday which is my due date heres to hoping things start happening soon this is what was written....

[lovelsa]

Trying to remember back to when #1 was born!

A few days before labor started, I went on a quite hilly walk. I was eating TONS of pineapple. I kept active - walking, cleaned the house in preparation for baby arriving, bounced on my ball while watching TV, and sex.
Sorry! Might be TMI, but I had read online that Prostaglandin (the pessary gel used as an induction technique) contains similar hormones to that in semen. So had sex and put a pillow under my hips and stayed put for 15-20 minutes each time to help the cervix "ripen", as the midwife said it. Bubba came 3 days before his EDD.

Also, remember that although you have a due date, baby isn't "late" until 42 weeks. Good luck! x

[PasstheStarmix]

happens for*

[PasstheStarmix]

‘Relax, keep active, and remember that induction is something to discuss with your midwife rather than something that has to happen before you're ready.’

That’s a good point but I wish they let you get in alittle earlier too. I was the size of a house and really uncomfortable being so far overdue and wanted to be induced at 41 weeks as I was so worried about the baby. I had to wait until 42 weeks to be induced as the Midwife forgot to book me in at the 40 week appointment. Every day extra felt like a month. If you are wanting to be induced before 42 make sure you get booked in for induction at your 40 week appt as they get full up. The appt can always be cancelled if you give birth before. Good luck op and hope it happens be for you soon.

[AlistairAppletonssexyscarf]

Please, please, please just relax. None of the old wives' tales works but stressing can inhibit labour. Relax, keep active, and remember that induction is something to discuss with your midwife rather than something that has to happen before you're ready. I know this is really hard advice to follow but be nice to yourself!

[appleblossomtree]

Relaxing!

[PasstheStarmix]

Forgot to mention tried pineapple, hot curries, sex and everything else imaginable and none of it worked. Def give the dates a go.

[PasstheStarmix]

the*

[PasstheStarmix]

I mean dried dates- the kind you get in sealed pouches in he supermarket.

[PasstheStarmix]

Hi OP. I highly recommend fresh dates. I’ve heard they’re amazing and have worked for people I know. I’m gutted I didn’t try them after 38 weeks myself as I was 2 weeks overdue and had to be induced! Good luck

[Shaunieh95]

@LittleRen I've heard a glass of wine works before . I've been strictly no alcohol all pregnancy but I might actually have to have a bath and a nice glass tonight, I need this baby out 😩

[LittleRen]

Nothing really works. For me what “worked” with my third was having a huge cry to my husband and finally relaxing about it, then I topped it off with a glass of wine... next day contractions started! I was 10 days over though so just coincidence I am sure... although it certainly helps not to stress about it.

[Shaunieh95]

I'm trying everything to get mine to come before my induction 😩.

So many people have sworn by clary sage oil however nothing seems to work. I really am starting to believe he really will come when he's ready which I know is THE most annoying phrase you can ever hear 😩

[Ekphrasis]

There was a study on eating dates being more effective than not eating them.

Raspberry leaf capsules are supposed to be better than tea.

[Flisspaps]

@ShowOfHands I ate a box of Jaffa cakes the night before I went into labour with DS, I definitely recommend it as an induction technique 😂

[Clevs]

39+6 here and wondering the same! Have just ordered takeaway but decided against curry as we fancied pizza instead. I might blow my gym ball up later though and have a roll around on that!

[BossWitch]

Agree with pp. Nothing works works. But for interest:

Walked dog.
Washed dog (golden retriever who has to be lifted in and out of the bath, so no small undertaking!)
Drank a large bottle of cobra beer.

Had dd on her due date in under 3 hours.

[Katieb21]

I’ve drank a litre of pure pineapple juice and attempted to use my breast pump, been on my birthing ball for about a hour had a few niggling pains nothing much though I doubt anything will happen though...

[Katieb21]

Thanks for al your lovely replies ladies, I know raspberry leaf tea doesn’t bring on labour even though the way I wrote seems like I was using it to try and bring it on I’m just hoping it makes labour a little easier! My baby is measuring small and have a growth scan today so just want him out as it’s making me worry!

[annlee3817]

I went into labour when I stopped trying everything I could to bring labour on. Instead I had a lazy day on the couch with lots of naps, was glad I did as went into labour in the early hours and lost a night's sleep. Raspberry leaf tea is meant to make contractions more effective rather than actually bring on labour. I'd had a sweep on the Wednesday, was 3-4cm dilated, waters bulging, my lazy day was on the Sunday.

[ShowOfHands]

Nothing works. I like the "this is what I did in the day/hours before so it MUST be that" theory. In that case, sitting around and eating jaffa cakes definitely works.

None of it works. Sex, curry, pineapple etc. They've studied it, tested it etc. Nothing short of chemical induction works. For every one woman who claims she had sex and then a baby at 40+1, there will be dozens who had sex and had no baby. The baby came because of the 40+1 bit. It's coincidence.

Raspberry leaf btw is recommended to strengthen the pushing stage. Nothing to do with starting labour.

[GimbleInTheWabe]

I denied any sweeps and the like as I'd heard they can be painful and ineffective if your cervix isn't ready or somesuch. I went 9 days overdue.

It was the old 'one way in one way out' method that got things going for me. I can't say it was the best shag of my life but it was certainly the most amusing! Labour began the next morning. Lots of sitting on my yoga ball also helped I think.

[Celticlassie]

Nipple stimulation.

[Orangedaisy]

I mowed the lawn and stood up all day baking the day before I went into labour with DD1. With DD2 swam the day before she was born and went round a farm with DD1 on the morning DD2 arrived (v fast labour-no contractions until well past 5pm, baby at 9.40pm). So keeping active seemed to do it for me....

[guest477337]

I'm sure it was the raspberry tea leaf tables from Holland and barter