Bring it on...

[Juicylucytoo]

Am not due until Tuesday, but am getting impatient. I know all the old wives tales are probably just that, but thinking about giving them a go anyway, so:

1. Sex (every day??)
2. Curry
3. Fresh Pineapple
4. Long walk??
5. Raspberry leaf tea 4+ cups a day
6. Walking upstairs sideways to open pelvis (will circular movements on birthing ball has same results?)

Which are most effective (if any) and have I missed any??

I was told by my mw that the most effective was driving over speed bumps as the action of baby hitting your cervix (..?) can start labour...BUT just to put things on a dampener..baby will arrive when ready. I hated being told that but its true....

DD was bang on time..yet..ds was a week over and I tried EVERYTHING. The night before he was born however I had spent the night on my birthing ball and ate a hot curry (hot for me anyway)...Hmmmmm never sure if it helped or if he was cooked just right..?!

Good luck. BUT enjoy this time as much as you can as once baby arrives.............yeah yeah you've heard it already. .

sex - at least once a day, the semen contains prostoglandins to help ripen the cervix and orgasm can help trigger contractions...and nipple stim !!

curry- well, depends if you want control over your bowels when you are in labour

pineapple - you need to eat the equivlent of 7 fresh pineapples to get the enzyme effect that helps ripen the cervix..stick with sex, less chance of hideous indigestion !!

long walk- good, gets baby down onto the cervix, but don;t wear yourself out ! labour is hard work

RLT is an excellent uterine tonic, cannot induce labour but tones the uterus which can shorten labour by making contractions more effective..and keeps you hydrated without caffeine...a spoon of honey in it is nice too for energy and for taste!

walking upstairs..also good to help get baby into a good position by opening up the pelvis

Disclaimer...none of these methods will actually induce labour unless your baby is ready to be born ! but it is nice to feel you actually have some control over it !

Bloody lulu and her nipples .

Hiya

hi honey !!

have i mentioned sex and nipple stim ???

Knew I'd forgotten the nipple stimulation as soon as I'd posted, but also knew it wouldn't be long before some kind soul mentioned it

Assume Sex + Nipple Stimulation are more effective when combined - also more likely to happen together!

I had a vindiloo the night my son was born( went into labour in the resturant ,waters broke everywear and they sat a customer on my chair after, yuk) anyway, wasn't very good for baby when I breast fed him 9 hours later poor thing. But it worked!

you could always try that 'old wives' favorite of cod liver oil............

Too much vit A in cod liver oil, not good for baby

an get as many sweeps as you can from a friendly midwife. it wont work unless your cervix is favourable but then you wont be going into labour anyway if you arent favourable!! i kept on having them last week and went into labout last saturday having been induced first time round so am sure they work!!

God I used to get laughed at so much by Dp as I spent most of my 14 bloody overdue days circling on my ball while twiddling my nipples and watching tv! Funny how he didn't really complain that a huge whale used to jump him every night either...

How can you even think about sex though.....my spirit is willing, but the body is definately weak and sore and uncomfortable!

I was only joking tulip27 wouldn't recommend that to anyone!!!

very definatly sex & nipple stim are the best way to go - i was 11 and 12 days over with ds1 and dd respectively and didn't do the sex & nipple stim - but did with ds2&3 and they were 1 day over and on due date

I had a sweep for my ten day overdue daughter next day she arrived. The sweep is a little uncomfortable but worth it.