Natural labour and birth

[SophieLouise93]

After abit of advice guys, I'm currently 28+5 with my 2nd and I'm wanting to look into natural ways or any methods of softening the cervix etc and to bring on labour, with my first I was induced and it was long and horrible and want to try and avoid that this time round as much as possible. The midwive is planning on doing a stretch and sweep on me when I hit 38 weeks to try and avoid induction,

Anyone know of any methods essential oils etc to help me go into labour naturally?

I was induced at 42+1 with my first so understand your preference to avoid. I tried absolutely everything last time - dates, evening primrose, sex... nothing worked.

Had dc2 after spontaneous labour at 41+3 last week. I had 4 sweeps (first failed at 39+5, followed by 3 good ones at 40+4, 6 &8). I think they worked well because they were close together and things were looking ready. Don’t be disheartened if your first couple of sweeps don’t do anything, 38 weeks is still pretty early.

Also try harvesting your colostrum from 36 weeks - nipple stimulation is one of the few things with actual science to back it up!

Hope all goes well!!

I honestly think relaxing and trying not to over-think it is key. This promotes the release of oxytocin which induces labour.

When my midwife booked me in for a sweep she offered to give me an induction date but I knew that knowing the date would make me nervous so I got her to just tell my fiancé (who obviously planned to tell me the night before or something). That helped me relax and took the pressure off things but I understand it's not for everyone!

Went into labour spontaneously at 41 weeks. Good luck op!

Eat dates!

My midwife who's retiring soon swears by raspberry leaf tea every day from 37 weeks, slowly building up from one cup to a litre a day.

It's supposed to soften the cervix and speed up labour. Did it last time and had a pretty good labour compared to my first where I scoffed at the thought.

I was induced last week and when I was in for initial examination and sweep the doc said my cervix was “surprisingly very ripe” and pretty much ready to go. “Surprisingly” as I was only 36+3 at this point. I think it was because DH and I had a very active sex life right up to the end something to do with hormones in semen I believe.
Anyway, few hours on the drip with minor period pains, one hour of active labour, few puffs of gas and air and baby was here. Being pretty much ready to roll must have played a huge part in making the process relatively quick and straightforward.

Why a sweep at 38 weeks? Your due time is up to 42 weeks.

They want to do a sweep to hopefully avoid me being induced

I went into labour at 37+6 with no previous signs, I put it down to reflexology that I'd been having, and the sex we'd had 36 hours previously