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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

what did you do to bring on labour naturally?

87 replies

lightsandshapes · 08/11/2011 11:43

I am 41 + 4 and don't want to go down the hospital induction route....

what did you do to bring on labour naturally (that worked???)

Thanks!

OP posts:

AMumInScotland · 08/11/2011 12:27

Sex!

Recommended by our lovely practical midwife at my afternoon appointment, acted on that evening, went into labour in the early hours...

I know some people think it's an "old wives tale" but one induction method is a prostaglandin pessary - your DP can deliver a natural version of the same hormones in a much more relaxed environment. (Always assuming you have a male DP available of course, which is not always the case!)

JenniferYellowHatsRedLingerie · 08/11/2011 12:31

I booked my induction - that was enough for my body to act on!
Also I found sitting on my arse eating chocolate bouncing on my ball very soothing.
Good luck!! :)

Flisspaps · 08/11/2011 12:32

Nothing works. The amount of prostaglandin you need to ingest (note, ingest!) to start labour is far, far higher than you would be able to get through a deposit of human semen. The prostaglandin pessary contains a very concentrated amount of hormones, and even then it can take several before anything happens.

If anything worked, then no-one would accept medical induction of labour for going post-dates, it really is that simple. Anyone could say 'ooh, sitting on the sofa eating Jaffa cakes worked for me' - but it will happen when it happens, it's a hormonal exchange between you and your baby, not something that sex, pineapples, curry, long walks, handstands or eating cake can start.

If you don't want to go down the induction route, you can accept expectant management.

worldgonecrazy · 08/11/2011 12:34

I had to bring on labour due to waters breaking prematurely. Sex wasn't allowed due to risk of infection but I had acupuncture, ate 4 fresh pineapples and sniffed clary sage. It worked.

oopslateagain · 08/11/2011 12:37

Sex. It might not be scientifically proven but I was in labour within 6 hours.

It's more fun than the other methods, at least!

AMumInScotland · 08/11/2011 12:48

But surely the idea of prostaglandin pessaries came from an attempt to copy a mechanism which has always been considered at least a good bet, if not always effective?

I'm not saying it will always work, but if it sometimes works, and isn't against advice, like for worldgonecrazy, then even a low chance of it being effective is surely worth a try.

(And if nothing else it put us both in a much better mood for getting through labour...)

oltob · 08/11/2011 12:50

I was booked for an induction on the Tuesday at 40+12 so the previous week I tried everything. Acupuncture, fresh pineapples, sex, curry, to name but a few. The thing I felt helped the most was reflexology. The baby really responded during it, she was always very acrobatic but she did wake up for it. That was the Friday evening and labour started (latent) Saturday night. At the hospital they tried to induce me again (BP) but I asked for a bit of time and walked up and down the stairs alot, v difficult as she was on my sciatic nerve so more of a shuffle/waddle but well worth it in the end. She came naturally by the end of Sunday. Also lovely thing with reflexology is it's wonderfully relaxing for you, it was my first go & always meant to go again. Will try with DC2. Good luck.

ShowOfHands · 08/11/2011 12:56

What Fliss said. None of it works. Sometimes coincidentally it seems to work but no research ever has found a link. For every one person who says sex worked, you'll find a million more for whom it didn't and countless people who were sitting/sleeping/eating chocolate when it happened. The chemical process between you and the baby which starts labour cannot be replicated outside of fairly intense chemical induction.

Of course there's no reason not to have sex and eat curry if you want to but I think the absolute best course of action is to do what you want to do. It's all very well doggedly pursuing sex and curry in the hope it'll work but if you end up resentful, tired and with a sore stomach then you're just adding to your woes.

I'd seriously consider being utterly selfish and doing whatever you want to do safe in the knowledge that babies come when they're ready.

sevensevenseven · 08/11/2011 13:08

I'd try sniffing clary sage oil as it stimulates the uterus to contract. Surely if sex and curry were really effective at inducing labour we'd be told to avoid sex and curry before 37 weeks?

morethemerrier · 08/11/2011 13:11

The most natural thing I have found is Patience!

They come when they are good and ready,anything else is a coincidence in my opinion! And believe me I tried everything with DC2 who was eventually 10 days late!

With DC3 I was much more relaxed and she was only 3 days late! Funnily enough DC1 was born on DD!?!

Absolutley no hurry when time comes for this one (exp DC4) as it will be my last and I want to enjoy every last minute of my last pregnancy!

coolascucumber · 08/11/2011 13:11

First two pregnancies were induced. Third started naturally after I'd lifted 15 three year olds in and out of a fire engine on a nursery day trip.

ParkerRocks · 08/11/2011 13:14

Spent the the entire weekend either walking or bouncing on the birthing ball! Went into labour early hours of Monday morning. Seeing as I was 41+1 at this point it may have just been a coincidence though! Good luck!

morethemerrier · 08/11/2011 13:16

Coolascucumber thats one that you dont hear the midwives recommend!

Get your hands on 15 three years old and head of to the local firestation! Just goes to show how spontaneous and random labour is!

My sister went into labour after watching Peter Kays live at the top of the tower dvd,she says she laughed so hard it set her off!!!

Good luck OP, sure your little one will make an appearance soon,when you least expect it!

BornSicky · 08/11/2011 13:16

walking, reflexology, disgusting tea, scrubbing floors, spicy food, pineapple.

None of it made a jot of difference!

iarebaboon · 08/11/2011 13:22

i went on a swing, it worked, had a few cramps on walk home, DD born 6 hours later

lollystix · 08/11/2011 13:22

Sex induced 3 put of 4 of mine. Got me moving from prelabour into full blown labour. Other one my waters just popped (when on mumsnet)

SenoritaViva · 08/11/2011 13:24

I went for a hideously long walk..

OriginalPoster · 08/11/2011 13:31

Waiting two extra weeks always did it for me...

OriginalPoster · 08/11/2011 13:32

Let us know when it happens...I like a good labour thread

And good luck with it all...

pruney1977 · 08/11/2011 14:06

Watch an episode of the goodies, that's what my mum did with me but she refused to go to the hospital until the episode had finished - risky as I was very quick, born within an hour. But this was in the days of no video recorders and I was her 4th.

Dirtydishesmakemesad · 08/11/2011 14:34

I spent a long time bouncing on a birth ball my baby was in a wierd postion and i was told to sit on a ball. I did for most of the evening and went into labour that night.

Superene · 08/11/2011 14:44

Ds1 I tried: pineapple, sex, curry, positive thinking, negative thinking, stairs, walking, reflexology, shiatsu, homeopathy, yoga, massage, 3 sweeps, bouncing on ball, whinging, eating ice pops, sitting on my huge arse eating chocolate. Nothing worked. He was induced.
DS2 - hot bath, change of sheets, good book... Twang! Waters broke, born three hours later.
Good luck!

thisisyesterday · 08/11/2011 14:48

i think that's an oxymoron isn't it? you can't bring something on naturally! lol

baby will come when s/he is ready. I know that isn't what you want to hear, but it is up to you whether or not you accept induction. You can request daily monitoring if you'd prefer not to be induced

laser4 · 08/11/2011 14:50

Decided to have the day off and watch DVDs all day, having spent the previous 7 weeks bulk cooking and decorating and never stopping. wanted one day to myself to pamper myself. At midnight the day before I was due to have this me time I went into labour. 7 years later and still havent had that pampering day!!

MrBloomsNursery · 08/11/2011 15:19

Clarysage DOESN'T work. I started off sniffing it gently. Then I put a few drops on my pillow at night. By week 41 I was soaking cotton wool balls and rubbing it on my belly about 3-4 times a day, and soaking my pillow in it, and sniffing through the night. It didn't work.

The prostaglandin pessaries didn't work either.

How about skipping or jumping? Or running up and down the stairs? I've heard eating RAW pineapple may help.

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