If anyone else tells me to have a curry and a shag I may kill them

[stowsettler]

I know, they mean well - but it's not as if I'm unlikely to have tried them is it?!

I had a second sweep today, but things not looking promising: only 1cm dilated, cervix still 2cm long and baby at -3 station. These things are NOT going to work yet!!!

Sorry. Had to get it off my chest.

i had cream cakes they worked

Don't be sorry. I'm due today and already ready to bite the head off the next person who asks if I've had it yet.
I WOULD SAY.

I know how you feel - I was 9 days overdue and had the same suggestions every. Bloody. Day. From my sister. Along with "have a nice long walk". I HAVE SPD, A LONG WALK IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! And pineapple. DS is 18 months old now and I still get wound up thinking about it!

Oh God yes, the brisk walk! I have 2 dogs, I've been walking briskly for 10.5 years, the dogs haven't stopped needing their exercise just because I'm heavily pregnant!
Sorry to hear about your SPD mind, hope it all cleared up after your DS's arrival!

It's all fine now thanks, actually wasn't too bad (unless I overdid things) until 2 weeks before DS was born, when I could barely walk.

Hope your little one makes an appearance soon!

Ha. I got told to walk up and down stairs. We lived on the 4th floor, with no lift. I could hardly avoid it.

Melon and cinnamon were the other tips. I got through a whole tin of cinnamon in my last 2 weeks of pregnancy.

Hope things kick off for you soon.

I went 11 days overdue with DD and heard all the fabulous tips and tricks and not a single one worked...

What happened the night before I went into labour may have contributed though but I wouldn't recommend trying it out...a car came flying round the corner of the one way street we were driving along they were going the wrong way being chased by police and both cars missed ours by about an inch! I absolutely shit myself and was shaking for about an hour afterwards! My waters broke the following morning...

Possibly a coincidence but a fright of some sort may help...

Ooh and "nearly there now!". Thanks - because I haven't been watching the days tick down for the last 39wks...

Bit like being told to 'have a ginger biscuit' when you're in first tri: if they worked nobody would ever have morning sickness would they??!

sex did work for DD1, but she'd stopped growing and agreed with the consultant it was time to leave.

She was due to be induced the next morning

Don't have a curry! It inhibited my pushing with DD1 as I was scared I would do a big poo!

I hear you. 3 days overdue. My partner wont have sex with me!! I have never been so unattractive. Can't eat F@@@ing curry as i have heartburn so bad I threw up blood. Can barely walk cause of SPD.
Why won't my baby come? (sits sobbing)

My tactic now is to totally ignore the fact that the baby is due soon. So I am refusing to check I have everything I need in my hospital bag, I am not creating the group on my phone of people I want to text, and I am making lots of plans for the next few weeks. I am also not putting down a protective cover on our bed and spent earlier this week browsing through the maternity clothes section in my local department store...

I reckon my reverse psychology will definitely have an effect.

I'm reading all the 'tips' and seriously considering trying them all. That's how much I want to evict the passenger

I was told the pineapple thing by someone today. Apparently you need to eat at least 7, preferably including core and leaves. Yum.

Nothing works. Trust me. If it happens, it's because it was going to anyway.

I was very overdue with DD. I tried sex, walking, laughably tried running, washing the floor, washing the windows, pineapple, clary sage, hot bath, midwife recommended a small gin (!), nipple stimulation, bouncing on a ball, massage, reflexology, super hot curry, driving fast over humps, raspberry leaf tea, watching a weepy film and blowing up balloons. I tried them all. A lot. And had three sweeps.

The only thing that worked was a surgeon & a scalpel!

I won't tell anyone my EDD for that exact reason. I'm just vaguely saying umm September when people ask. I was ready to commit murder last time at a week overdue :)

I always think if any of these 'tips' actually worked, they'd have you doing them on the NHS instead of the horrible medical inductions? My mil was adamant I had to drink castor oil last time. I patiently explained that, while that might get my bowel moving, the baby wasn't in my bowel so thanks all the same :)

Have a glass of wine. The baby is fully-baked at this point. It won't bring on labour but it might cheer you up!

I was told about the pineapple thing, so having tried the other things, tried that. Unbeknown to me, I had developed a sensitivity to pineapple during pregnancy and ended up with a swollen tongue covered in red raw patches! Great! That really added to my attractiveness at 9 months pregnant!

From all the stories I've heard, booking an induction is a good way of making sure your baby arrives the day before!

OOOh I feel your pain. I had this with DS1- two weeks overdue in a very hot August - nightmare.

I had 2 horrible sweeps from a very nervous 12 yr old doctor, and tried most of the above. Nothing worked, sorry.

I had started looking longingly/desperately at can openers when I begged for an induction. He came out in the end... hang in there! I agree a glass of wine can only do you good at this stage. Good luck.

curiousgeorge I wholeheartedly agree, nothing works! I am 39+3 with DC3. my 2 previous DC induced at 42wks and 41+12. I tried everything. 3 sweeps with a v favourable cervix made not a jot of difference. This time I have not packed my hospital bag, and am making plans for next week (half term). I have resigned myself to being induced again and that way will be pleasantly surprised if I go into labour without intervention! I will not be eating pineapple or curry, or having sex (god forbid), instead I plan to eat biscuits and cake and try and chill out.

perhaps I am just not designed to go into labour naturally, watch this space

Ooooh it's good to hear it's not just me, and I agree, nothing will work if it's not time. Induction is booked for 25th so obviously I'll go into labour about 11pm on the 24th! Curiousgeorgie, I did some running when out with the mutts today! That did nothing too, except bring on my indigestion...