Sex to induce labour - Is it worth the hassle??

[mama2moo]

Im 38+4 weeks pg now with dc2 and have been having random contractions for the last week that always stop! The baby has been 3/5ths engaged for 2 weeks and I have had enough!

I saw the mw today and she wont do a sweep until Im 40+7!!! She told me to have some good sex as it will do the same thing as a sweep and the sperm is good for getting things going.

Any advice, has it worked for you? What is the best position? I am not looking forward to doing it and dp isnt happy about it - He doesnt want to feel used!!!

Thanks

the prostaglandins is sperm and fluid cause contractions an is in the gel that they use for induction. So yes ,lots of sex

I tried the "lot's of sex" unfortunetly for me a wasted effort.

My midwife told me to exspress some milk in a bottle and it would get contractions started as when you have a baby and breast feed your tummy contracts .. i never actually tried this as i was to scared after all my moaning of wanting the baby out i chickened out :-)

as for what postion i would say what ever you are lucky enough to be able to get in ha ha

good luck

It worked for both of my babies. With DS1, we had some nookie at bedtime and I woke up with labour pains at 6am. Baby was born 3am next morning (4 days after due date). With DS2 we had a relaxing lunch and wine in the sun by the river then went back to bed for the afternoon. I had a show at 9pm and woke up with labour pains at 1am. Baby was born at 9am (2 days after due date).

It might also have helped that both times I took some homeopathic remedy (Caulophylum) at the same time. Actually it might well have been that and not the sex...!

As far as positions go, I would think any way you possibly can manage!! I would suggest a good snooze after too! Tell your DH that his needs and feelings are of course secondary to yours and he must just think of England!

It def worked for me with DS, my second baby, but cervix was soft anyway. A good hearty bonk is good as it will all help stir things up. I dont know if it made a difference, but when I did it I let myself fall aleep without standing up, so all the prostin or whatever it is was sat doing its work on my cervix for a few hours. Did the deed at 11pm, woke with light contractions and show at 4.30 am. Then had contractions on and off thru the day, regular by 6pm, hurty by 6.30pm, hospital by 8pm, delivered by 9pm. Cant remember position but I think probaby doggy. As for DH he wants to be grateful he's getting any, lets face it it might be a while before he gets any more! I did read somewhere or was told by someone that the prostin is just as effective administered orally but reckon a bloke probably made that up. DD was 42+3, ds 39+2 so i was proccupied with getting it going as determined not to have intervention. Best of luck.

Thanks all. I think we will give it a go this weekend. Dp can have a drink before!!

girlynut What is Caulophylum and what do you do with it??

You can buy homeopathic remedy kits for childbirth with Arnica and other similar remedies. They are just tiny tablets with minute quantities of plant extracts that you put under your tongue to dissolve. There's evidence for and against them working. Some people think its a load of codswallop, others swear by them. I'm unsure but was willing to try anything! Caulophylum is a remedy that can strengthen weak contractions and help to kickstart labour. Maybe it works...?

Approach Caullophylum with caution. I used it with dc#5 and had a very quick 40min labour.

Another friend barely made it to hosp and had him in the little room next to the car park!

Another friend took it and 30 mins later i saw an ambulance pull up outside her house...baby born at home.

It does not put you into labour but can make it super quick when it does all kick off.

I am often late. With dc#7 i was prepared for it and had sex everyday pretty much in the run up to due date. She was born just 3 days late! That is a massive improvement on the 12-14 days late i normally am.

I say go for it but you have to mainatain it >

Good luck!!

Hmmmm interesting! Im all for trying things to get the baby out fast!

DD was logged as a 2.5 hour labour (established) and that was with rasberry tea leaf tablets.

I think I will buy some and think about it!!

If baby is not here by the weekend dp will have to put out!!!

Caullpophylum didn't help me sadly,I was in labour for hours and hours and still ended up with an EMCS for Failure to Progress!I'm pregnant again so will try the sex thing this time if I can be bothered!
Good luck!

Nope, didn't work for me My baby is fully engaged now for 2wks straight. I'm now 40+5 and I know what you mean by feeling fed up!! I've tried the sex bit and it just didn't work. My baby must not want to come out. But its worth a shot, everyone is different so good luck!!

Surely it´s not hassle even if it doesn´t work?

after the baby gets here as frosty said will not be a sexual high point so he should make the most of the opportunity while he has it

child 1. sex, baby arrived next day, 10 days early.

child 2, no sex baby arrived 10 days late.

If you can't face sex, the DIY approach worked for me. Apparently you release oxytocin when you orgasm and this can also help to get things going.

Perhaps try this and it might "get DH going" and you can go for a double whammy (not quite as pervy as it sounds)

Have fun and good luck.

didn't work for me - rampant from 37 weeks - baby arrived 40+10 after 30 hours labour and EMCS.

If you look at the levels of prostaglandins I think you have to have sex something like 200 times to get anything approaching an effective dose, so the "sperm" aspect is hooey. If you can have vigorous enough sex to irritate your cervix and things are more or less ready to get going anyway then there might be an impact, but probably only to speed things up by a few hours.

We tried curry and sex. Neither worked. I enjoyed the former much more than the latter, unlike tight-fisted ex-DH who was just annoyed that curry was £50 and it didn't work.

Not for starting labour but good for a laugh I found - along the 'like how? fashion!

Also fwiw i think laying with your bum on a pillow for 15-20 mins after sex so the sperm have prolonged contact with your cervix instead of dripping out immediately after(sorry) helps. as I said before, with ds2 sex in the morning about 10am, contactions started 8pm that night.

Hi mama2moo

Well, it can't hurt to give it a try! I was told that the contractions of the uterus during orgasm can sometimes kickstart labour, so try self-manipulation if DP doesn't want to feel exploited (!)

Position wise, (TMI warning!!) I'd recommend the "bit on the side" ie lying more or less side-by-side with one leg between his and one leg resting on top (does that make sense?) - this may not give you the clitoral stimulation you need from his efforts alone, but it's very easy for you to employ a hand and do your own twiddling, assuming you're not too shy about it with him there as well! No pressure on your bump or boobs and he should find it enjoyable too.

Good luck!

With last babe I went for swim in afternoon, curry for dinner and then a walk around the neighbourhood returning all the toys our dog had stolen from people's gardens. Sex at bedtime, waters went 01.20am and DC4 born 04.20am. Three days early, when all the others had been overdue.
Unintentional result, although it may have been a co-incidence
If you feel up for it, then go for it!

Thanks all! If nothing has happened by Saturday I may have to do it!!