Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

I know it's been done before... but what can I do to get this baby started... ?

36 replies

RobertLouis · 17/04/2009 21:17

I'm now past due and being threatened with an elective section next week, which I really really don't want.

With my DD I went into labour naturally just a couple of days past due and I just kind of assumed this time would be the same... however, nearly a week later there's still nothing.

I've had a sweep from the midwife, long walks, hot baths, enough raspberry leaf tea to float a ship, been back and forward over speed bumps and potholes and even had a go on a wee trampoline... still nothing doing..

... tomorrow I'm off to get clary sage and a mountain of pineapple... any other ideas ?

PS ... did try to enlist DH's "help", but he looked queasy at the mere suggestion and offered to make me a curry...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

StudentMadwife · 17/04/2009 21:19

put something sexy on and tease him till he can resist no longer. seriously, sex is the very best method

LuluisgoingtobeanAunty · 17/04/2009 21:22

sex and /or DIY orgasm , nipple stim and a good comedy DVD! marslady swears by a good laugh to get you opened up

why are you being threatened with a c.s? have you had a previous c.s?

thisisyesterday · 17/04/2009 21:23

lol, why are they threatening you with a section?
how far over are you?

baby will come when it's good and ready

Original poster

RobertLouis · 17/04/2009 21:34

I'm previous cs, and desperate to at least try for a VBAC. I've already been told that induction isn't an option.

I've always felt very much that I just didn't do it right last time, and my CS was not a good experience so I really want to have another go at having it go right this time.

CS was down to deflexed, OP and large baby and never fully dilating after 26 hours of active labour. This time LO seems to be the lying the right way and isn't measuring so big as the last time, so I feel that I have a good shot at managing the VBAC, if only the damn labour will get started...

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 17/04/2009 21:35

i'd plan a really nice day out at vast expense. it's bound to come then

LuluisgoingtobeanAunty · 17/04/2009 21:36

your best chance of a VBAC starts with a spontaneous start to labour, as you know

you do not have to agree to a c.s you can discsuss it again at 42 weeks. you can ask for expectant management and surely you can have at least one or two sweeps to see if that helps

you can also ask for a second opinion from consultant MW and another consultant as some will induce with ARM or prostin

kitkatqueen · 17/04/2009 21:51

When you go for the pineapple remember that it has got to be vv ripe, ( golden, not at all green!) peel it and puree all of the flesh and core, drink all!! I have been reliably informed that the core has the highest concentration of the chemical that starts labour( my sisters consultant believe it or not).

If that doesn't work book a hair appointment good luck!

rainbowdays · 17/04/2009 21:53

Have you tried Evening Primrose Oil, I am convinced this is what worked for me!

surprisenumber3 · 17/04/2009 21:57

I'm in the same situation...have had a sweep followed by a show, followed by tightenings for days but nothing.

Have tonight gone down the curry/sex/nipple tweaking line and all I have now is a headache!!

Good luck!

rainbowdays · 17/04/2009 22:15

Do trying the EPO, internally and orally.... helps soften up cervix.....

surprisenumber3 · 17/04/2009 23:51

might be a daft question rainbow but I've not heard of that. What do I need to get and what do I do with it?

ruthosaurus · 18/04/2009 00:00

I'm with the "plan a day out" idea - I never did get to see Quantum of Solace. Maybe it was thinking of Daniel Craig that did it in the end. Mm, Daniel Craig... Sorry, where were we?

I necked RLT in vast, unpleasant quantaties as well. Don't know if it helped.

Don't do the pineapple, though - apparently you need to eat about 6 or 7 pineapples for it to work and you really haven't got the stomach capacity for that!

All the best, I really do feel for you. My little bugger darling gave me false alarms and evil practice contractions for 10 days beforehand and I was so relieved when my waters broke that I cried. Why is induction not an option for you?

doulalc · 18/04/2009 01:02

Any signs of your cervix preparing yet? Nothing will work if your body isn't ready for it....but go ahead and give the usual remedies a try, won't hurt. Ask to have occasional NSTs until you get to 42 weeks.

ruthosaurus: some midwives and consultants are no longer agreeable to vbacs with inductions out of concern of a slightly higher possibility of a uterine rupture....however the concern is more if a drip is deemed necessary.

potplant · 18/04/2009 01:06

Get a massive Tesco shop in with all your favourite treat foods.

I spent £150 on shopping and was hospitalised the next day. Came home a week later and chucked most of it in the bin.

TheYearOfTheCat · 18/04/2009 01:19

Good luck - I remember talking to a window fitter when I was 2 days overdue, who told me that his wife was also overdue. He said they were trying all the old wives remedies to get her started, and the conversation continued like this:

Me: Ha ha, yep, all that curry and sex
Him: Erm, no, raspberry leaf tea.
Me: Oh
DH: [Silence, with the 'what are you saying' look of disbelief on his face]

Sorry, not much use, but maybe laughter may get you going?

39and3quarters · 18/04/2009 01:23

Tried walking up a steep hill? It worked for me (6 days overdue) although not practical this time of night?

abbierhodes · 18/04/2009 01:37

It's gotta be sex.Your DH is mean!
Tell him...he put it in, he can get it out. (As my nan would say )

Original poster

RobertLouis · 18/04/2009 09:47

well I got the good laugh from abbie's comment at least.

Spent my waking hours in the night (I get restless leg, so there's usually a few waking hours every night) going up and down my stairs, leaning forward and bouncing about, and doing some good nip twiddling and lots of visualising of a wonderful successful birth.

...and nothing yet.

I can feel LO still well in my pelvis (4/5s according to MW on Thurs) and a fair few tightenings going on, but just not getting properly started.

Today's plan includes more walking about (I'll try and find a hill !) more RLT, get clary sage, EPO, I'll try a bit of pineapple (it can't hurt and it's nice anyway)and keeping going with the positive visualisation.

OP posts:

surprisenumber3 · 18/04/2009 12:58

Rob - hope things get moving for you, I am off to get some EPO today.

Also, I had a VBAC last time and although I was induced, (I was booked in for induction but he came a day before), but I was very slow to dilated so I was put on a drip. nothing was mentioned about my previous caesarean but it had been 4.5 years before - don't know if that makes a difference? All was okay anyway

Original poster

RobertLouis · 18/04/2009 18:09

Ok... walked about, ate pineapple, drove over cobbles, had a good laugh, daubed in clary sage, and take EPO.... let's see if anything happens...

OP posts:

BabyBaby123 · 18/04/2009 18:30

is evening primose safe? have some which I was going to use (am 38+5) but someone told me it's not

Jenski · 18/04/2009 18:44

Oh good luck.
I tried the lot and eventually managed to get DH to oblige. DD3 born the next day!

merryberry · 18/04/2009 19:07

for ds2 what worked for me was having induction date for the next morning, finally agreeing with MW and others that i would go in, giving up the ghost on all my plans, weeping myself completely calm and resigned about it all: bingo, woke from nap in labour.

ruthosaurus · 18/04/2009 20:17

Quite similar here, Merryberry - I went to bed for a nap on the Saturday morning saying "The only thing that had better wake me up is a contraction - I'm knackered" and had the bairn about 15 hours later.

How you doing, Rob?

kitkatqueen · 18/04/2009 21:48

One Pineapple worked for me But it has to be ripe and include the core...

Flip

1 2