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Original poster

Be honest: none of these 'labour induction' methods actually work, do they?

55 replies

TrinaLuciusMalfoy · 27/07/2011 12:11

I have tried everything bar castor oil: pineapple, nipple stimulation, both delivery methods of prostaglandins (>ahem< Blush), walking, bouncing, curry, other spicy foods, juniper oil, rosemary oil, foot massage, stretch and sweep. Didn't bother with raspberry leaf tea as that did bugger all last pregnancy. I am SO fed up with pregnancy and desperate to go into labour before section next Tuesday. I honestly don't believe any of these things ACTUALLY work and if one more person (health care 'professionals' included) says 'oh go and have a curry' I'm going to have to hurt somebody.

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nocake · 27/07/2011 12:14

Membrane sweep works, sometimes, and so does nipple stimulation, but you have to do it a lot... for hours. None of the others do anything.

icravecheese · 27/07/2011 12:19

bet you go into labour next monday night... from everyone i've known who has been booked for induction / section, the 'threat' of medical intervention the next day is pretty much enough to kick start labour!! I would say relax & enjoy the peace before baby arrives, but I'm guessing from your post you've already got one or more little people to look after anyway, so not really an option!! Good luck, hope it happens soon!

Original poster
TrinaLuciusMalfoy · 27/07/2011 12:42

Peace? What's that? I have a two year old...

So sodding depressed right now, I've had it

OP posts:
FunnysInTheGarden · 27/07/2011 12:46

No they don't, not with me anyway. 10 days over with both and was induced in the end, so I feel your pain. Pineapples, sweeps, sex etc all for nothing! I think its just to give you something to do until they induce you!

milkandnosugar · 27/07/2011 13:02

Yup, I've reached that conclusion too, nipple tweaking and raspberry leaf tea give me braxton hicks and nowt else.
This pregnancy has gone from utter excitement/not real feeling, middle trimester meh-ness to third trimester tedium. No happy medium, certainly no 'blooming' stage for me and now moany cow stage until the wee thing comes!

Markandkark · 27/07/2011 13:07

Masturbation to orgasm is supposed to be just as effective, if not more effective, than nipple stimulation/sex. Might take your mind off things, if nothing else!

Original poster
TrinaLuciusMalfoy · 27/07/2011 13:09

Nope, tried that too Blush

OP posts:
galwaygal · 27/07/2011 13:24

Only thing I tried and it worked for me, was evening primrose oil, internally and orally.....but then my babies did not put up too much of a fight to exit.

The other thing that I have seen is when people give up trying to get the baby out, the resigning themselves to induction seems to work, some would say it is to do with the body relaxing. Relaxing and resigning myself to not being about to hurry the baby along worked for me, chilling out with my other children going swimming and having fun, seemed to set it all off for me. But it is easier said than done.

Hope it all happens soon for you.

Original poster
TrinaLuciusMalfoy · 27/07/2011 13:27

Definitely easier said than done when you're in constant pain :(

OP posts:
startail · 27/07/2011 13:35

Sex started DD1, and DH and I never got passed the fore play with DD2Smile

DD1 was due to be induced at 39 weeks because she had low fluid and had stopped growing. I guess she just agreed with the consultant that it was time to come outGrin
DD2 was 3 days early, I just thought I'm getting uncomfortable, let's see.

edwinbear · 27/07/2011 14:08

The threat of sex hurried DS along, 13 days late. I had a major hissy fit at DH the previous night calling him a selfish for not shagging me to try and get things going and nagged him by e mail all day the next to day until he agreed we could that night to shut me up. Labour started at 9.30pm that evening just as I was thinking about heading off to bed.

suntansue · 27/07/2011 14:51

Can I join in too. I'm 4 days over and also tried everything apart from the primrose oil, even done castor oil twice but It just makes me sick and nothing else, I'm so fed up and really want my dd1 out now because it's ds2 birthday on 3rd aug and really don't want a double birthday.
Been getting Loads of little niggles but they never come to anything.
Can't even rely on 'sods law' lol been washing the bedding every 2 days to get my waters to break :/
I'm so glad school is finished because if 1 more person said 'still here then' I think I would of gone insane.
Any way rant over and good luck Trina I hope you get your baby before your c section is due

banana87 · 27/07/2011 20:59

It's all old wives tales. A sweep may work, can you ask for one?

PrincessJenga · 27/07/2011 21:41

I've just booked a reflexology session. Though DP prefers the midwife's suggestion of 'an early intimate night'

fatbottomgirl · 27/07/2011 21:43

NOTHING WORKS GrinGrin I am on my 4DC due on the 1st August. I have been exactly 5 days overdue with the other 3 and was determined not to get excited till +5 days this time but since 37 weeks I have been desperate Hmm.

I have have more sex the last 3 weeks than we had when ttc Blush. I have done everything (apart from sweep which they are refusing to do until my due date). I think I should just give in and accept it's just not ready. Wink

ShowOfHands · 27/07/2011 21:47

None of it works. And it's quite annoying how tiring a lot of the suggestions are- walking, sex etc- or how heartburn inducing- curry, pineapple etc. You just end up with a load of heavily pregnant, exhausted women with sore tummies and indigestion.

There isn't a single home induction method that works and while some people will say 'oh x worked for me', you'll find it didn't work for the vast majority and it was just coincindence with those that swear by it. Babies do just come when they're ready and as painful, uncomfortable and bloody frustrating as that end bit is, you wouldn't really have it any other way.

A sweep can work btw but only if you're about to go into labour anyway, it just hurries what's actually happening along a bit. And raspberry leaf tea is nothing to do with labour induction, it's a uterus tonic, meant to tone up the uterus for an effective 2nd and 3rd stage once they arrive.

I'm sorry you're finding it hard. You do sound so very down.

reastie · 27/07/2011 21:48

sorry but not even being induced worked for me Shock Hmm

JenniL1977 · 27/07/2011 21:54

Aw, Trina, you poor thing :( you're really miserable, aren't you?! Sending lovely hugs from the moaning at the end thread.
Don't want to give you any false hope but three people have said about clary sage oil in a bath? Don't know if it's supposed to do the same thing as Rosemary or whatever, but it's the one thing not on your list.
Disclaimer- I'm only on my first pg, so I know nothing.

Ilovekittyelise · 27/07/2011 22:13

has anybody tried acupuncture? does it work?

JenniL1977 · 27/07/2011 22:17

Actually, one of my bosses swore acupuncture got her started both times; I have a friend who's a reflexologist and she says she's got loads started.
And even if it doesn't work, at least you're a bit more chilled out?!

Orbinator · 27/07/2011 22:24

I've got a sweep tomorrow but due to my MW being promoted (our BC shut down so really she had to leave) I feel I've slipped through the net a bit as I haven't been seen for 2 weeks (am 41+1). So really I only have once chance to get everything going with their help as they only hold appointments once a week now :( It's depressing as I feel if I lived somewhere else I'd have either been offered more sweeps or at least had a proper hand over to new MW's. I think next stop for me is to be induced in hospital, which is in the next town and will cost me £100 return fare by taxi, not to mention the fact they have been known to turn people away as they are now having to cover the whole area with a rising birth rate :( So unimpressed.

Original poster
TrinaLuciusMalfoy · 27/07/2011 22:48

Hi - yeah have been really down :(

Had a sweep, other than getting rid of the plug (eventually) it did absolutely nothing else: even though consultant was really tooting his own horn on how effective his sweeps were. Bastard HCPs and their false hope Angry

Can't try reflex or acupuncture as can't afford it - although as a qualified reflexologist I have been talking DH through which bits to focus on with my nightly (rosemary-oil-based!) footrubs! Two weeks of those though and nothing...

Show - agreed, why can't anyone come up with the suggestion that sitting on the sofa with a cuppa and a bar of chocolate is the best way, why does it have to be something that involves ENERGY? And I haven't exactly been feeling sexy the last few weeks - low mood a factor, how can I expect DH to want to dtd with a weepy exhausted emotional mess? I was five minutes away from handing him a cup the other day and telling him to provide a >ahem< sample and get a syringe...

(Incindentally, cuppa+chocolate does not work, I have put EXTENSIVE research into it Grin)

OP posts:
Boosaphena · 27/07/2011 22:53

I tried everything as wanted a home birth 3 x sweeps ALOT of sex, nipple stimulation, pineapple, clarys sage and Jasmine rubs and baths, only had one curry as got concerned at the idea of gippy tummy and a birth pool. My mw ended up saying have a glass of wine, sex for fun, and an early night, you can do no more... I had him the following morning in my kitchen. I just ended up relaxing and it happened. Actually I say relaxing, I did sulk and have a strop too!
Good luck, I do hope something works for you.

Boosaphena · 27/07/2011 22:54

Ooh there are some accupressure points on hands that also helped-google it!