Does ball bouncing actually work?

[whatkindofspring]

I'm 39 weeks. I have a 2 year old. I can't take being pregnant anymore, it's so much harder this time with a toddler, I have no energy!
My partner works very long hours during the day so I'm on my own most the time too.

I've bounced the hell out of my ball!
I'm tweeting my nipples every chance I get.
Drinking raspberry leaf tea (1 a day since 35 weeks)

I've been checked and I'm 2cm dilated, (yesterday)I know I'm not 40 weeks yet but I've just had enough! I want to meet my baby and get the horrible nervous feeling about the birth over and done with.

Has ball bouncing worked for you? And nipple stimulation?

My friend who was due the week after me has just had her baby and I stupidly feel so jealous!

Tweaking*

I bounced and bounced and bounced and bounced with DC3. And did every other bloody thing that’s supposed to speed things up.
DC3 was born at 40+12, the ‘lastest’ of all my children.

@SoyDora oh my goodness! I hope I don't go that far

I can't wait to get rid of this blooming ball.

If you feel like bouncing the balls after what they have done to you go for it

Nothing works really. Raspberry leaf tea isn't drunk to start labour either, it's a uterine tonic and supposedly makes your pushing stage more efficient. Normal pregnancies last 37-42 weeks so it might be a while yet.

It might help the baby into a better position for when the time comes however.

I hope you don’t too, it was a nightmare! Didn’t help that everyone kept telling me I’d be early as it was my third, my bump was low, I looked ‘ready’ blah blah blah. Longest 12 days of my life!

@madeyemoodysmum 

@ShowOfHands yeah I know, that's why I started drinking at 35 weeks, hopefully it works in that respect.

Only one thing worked for me in the end.. and that was DTD with DP I was at 41+2 and getting massive pressure from the mw to have a sweep (I had refused beforehand as baby was fine) and the next day I went in to labour.

Also did lots of ball bouncing too though!

@MrBobLoblaw we tried last night but it was so uncomfortable (and to be honest I was too tired) that I had to give up
I guess we should try again tonight!

I had my DD at 39 weeks. I tried all of the usual RL tea, ball bouncing, spicy food etc. The only thing I really felt made any kind of physical difference was walking. I used to feel increased pressure when I was walking, (did it non stop 38wks+). My labour finally started during a long walk in the local park.

It worked for me once I was finally in labour. Second labour I'd been 2cm from 38 weeks. It then took 12 hours of contractions at 41 weeks to get to 5cm. I then bounced the hell out of that ball and an hour later I was holding dd 😂

Given up with ball bouncing tonight! I can feel the babies head very low.

I have a sweep booked for Monday 22nd (the day after my due date) so hoping she'll be here before then.
I had so many sweeps last time round! I eventually went at 41 weeks exactly.

I bounced every day for hours and there was no benefit. It's a waste of time.

Good luck OP.

I tried bouncing for an hour 3 times a day with dc2 from 38 weeks and sex every day for the last week,plus walking miles and up flights of stairs sideways but nothing worked ☹️ But with her even breaking my waters and putting me on a drip made little difference she just didn’t want to come out and I was 40+10 when she was born by section. With dc1 I swore by breast pumping and sex as I did all this once and labour started the next day but it certainly didn’t work second time round!

Ha yes I have to admit it wasn't the most romantic or heart pounding shag of my life @whatkindofspring but DP closed his eyes and thought of England, or whatever.

Fingers crossed baby makes his/her appearance soon.

Out of interest- how have you found your pregnancy with a toddler tagging along? I'm v early on in my pregnancy and DS will be just over 2 years when baby hopefully makes their appearance so similar to your experience.

@MrBobLoblaw I won't lie it's been horrific for me personally. I was made redundant in my early pregnancy so I've had the whole time off and it's stressful, I had hyperemesis too. but it's been especially hard since about 32 weeks.

It's the having no energy and being so tired. Some days have had to be tv days! As I've just needed to rest a bit! I have a very energetic 2 year old.

My midwife suggested florodix*? It tastes gross but it does really help with energy and tiredness.

My daughter is very exited to meet her sister though and is constantly in the nursery asking about things and questioning stuff.
I know it will all be worth it when baby is here! But I just really want this pregnancy over with.

I think pregnancy with a young toddler is tough. My first was 19 months when my second was born and it was really rough going.
My older two were 5 and 3 when number 3 was born and that was much easier (despite HG) as the older ones could do much more for themselves.

Apparently dates help. A doula told me blow jobs are more effective than sex in terms of prostaglandins working but lots of orgasms are good. Anything that gives you oxytocin.

I've also heard you're less likely to go into labour with a toddler around as your body doesn't relax as fully, can you get DH or someone else to take a bit of leave and give you some peace?

I think you meant tweaking your nipples not tweeting