Long pregnancy 41+2 Suggestions!?

[Appleseed365]

Hi there wise women!

39 years old and have independent mw with a planned home birth and feel very relaxed about where I am at, mum had very long pregnancies with us (3 weeks over) so just looking for some advice re starting to get things moving should it not occur tonight or tomorrow!

Castor oil - anyone use this? What dose to take?

Also is it possible to have a 'sweep' and still birth at home? Would seriously like to avoid all intervention of a hospital nature.

Rasp leaf tea? Evening primrose?

Anyone out there go into 42+ and have some positive stories to share?

Hoping a full moon and some vigorous walking will help get things moving but any pearls of wisdom would be appreciated!

:)

Hi there

Don't take castor oil, my first midwife told me horrendous stories.

i drank raspberry leaf tea at end of all 4 pregnancies, it doesn't bring on labour, but does help your uterous contract well.

Yes i've had sweeps with all of mine and had home births.

Don't know about evening primrose, but i do think walking is good - or rather i've always been on a big long walk prior to my babies being born. If nothing else it helps with positioning.

I feel for you because my first was born at 42 weeks on the nose, just before they were going to force me to take induction. I'd definitely get a sweep asap and then take a long stroll.

Best of luck x

Yes to the raspberry leaf tea. I started within 12 hours of drinking the first lot. And get walking, as much as you can do, unless all your nearby pavements are covered in ice.

I went over 42 with both previous pregnancies and dont want to this time so have been looking into acupuncture which a lot of others are recommending!

Another vote for raspberry leaf tea with a curry to go with it.

my sil had a sweep and home birth, went into labour about 12 hours after sweep

I was 40 +11 with both my boys. Had to be induced as no movement at all! Tried pineapples, RLT,sex, curries, long walks etc. No use at all I'm afraid. Oh and a sweep with both at 41 weeks. My babies were quite happy thank you!

oh and did acupuncture as well, nice but pointless

Pointless! No pun intended!? Ok, long walk it is for me and some tea and curry... Come on wee one, more room outside than in. Thanks for sharing x

What does your MW suggest?

I'm not really convinced anything makes much difference. Sending you lots of labour vibes .

None of it works. If it did, no-one would be induced by pessary, ARM or syntocinon drip for being 'overdue'. We'd all have a jalfrezi (and curry would be banned in pregnancy), a long walk (which would otherwise be banned in pregnancy) and a nipple twiddle (which is the only method recommended for further research in NICE guidelines as a possible self-induction method) hey-ho, a baby would come forth.

RLT is meant to tone the uterus and so shorten labour but it's not thought to induce it.

Sex? Prostaglandin is needed in much higher concentration than you'll get from a human deposit, the prostaglandin used in induction is very concentrated indeed.

Sweeps only work if you're going to go into labour anyway.

Babies come naturally when they're ready. For some women that's at 36w, for others it's 42+w. You're not 'overdue' until 42w anyway. Take it easy, enjoy the quiet and remember you can ask for expectant management if you'd rather not be induced just for being post-dates, meaning homebirth can still be on the cards. Dont wear yourself out trying everything under the sun to get baby out. Save your energy for when you're actually in labour

Flisspaps is right! If women took raspberry leaf tea and claim it bought on labour this is coincidental. It does not. It's benefits are to improve quality of contractions once in labour.

yeah what flissflaps said i did it all, the tea, evening primrose on my cerivx, sex, hot food, jumping on a bouncy castle etc etc all 5 of mine were more than 2 wks late and i had to be induced!

you can google acupressure points that can bring on labour. sorry if someone else has suggested this. You can push points on your body with a finger or thumb. also sex is supposed to help - not sure i could have faced that to be honest.

hi apple. The pituitary reflex on the big toe is a good one to work, pulse it or if you can't get to your feet, ask someone to find it. Look for the swirly whirly bit in the middle of your big toe pad. dig in and massage or pulse both sides together, try often over the course of an hour...or if you know of any, get a reflexologist to pay you a visit? Not always a sure bet but I have had a few go very soon after...good luck!

Castle oil I would really avoid as its a laxitive and it makes you dehydrated sick and have the runs sorry if tmi but thought I would be honest! I was stupid enough 2 take this when I was late. Worse thing I ever done yes it started me off but my labour was horrible. If I was you just let baby come when its ready :)

Woops *caster stupid phone

? why would a long walk be banned in late pregnancy. silly

coccyx My point was that if a long walk did bring on labour (it's guaranteed someone will suggest it on one of these threads) then we'd all be warned not to take a long walk during pregnancy in case it brings on labour before term (the same as we're warned not to do X Y or Z in pregnancy just in case it harms us or the baby)

I'm not saying that it is banned or that it should be banned - quite the opposite. There is a reason why we're not told NOT to take long walks, eat curry, have sex, and eat pineapple chunks during pregnancy - because they don't induce labour!

I'm waiting... and waiting.... but agree that the baby comes when it wants and the old wives tales are a nice idea ... if it makes you feel like you are doing something positive! Apparently, the labour ward is especially busy when it is a full moon... 8th Feb, here we come!!!!