Tell me your best tips to start labour?

[AlmondFrangipani]

I'm booked to be induced just before 40 weeks but want to try everything to go into labour naturally before then. What worked for you??

A day in the calendar when I REALLY did not want to give birth on. Out of the possible 5 weeks of "term" DS arrived slap bang in the middle of Xmas day.

Plan something for Saturday that you really want to do, or would be most put out about if its as interrupted and let the law of sod work it's magic!

Thanks Lady! My DH has tickets to go to Lords to watch the Ashes. Originally I wasn't sure he should go but actually I think your Sod's law theory may work there...only probs is that we live 3 hours away!!

I ate a whole fresh pineapple every day for 3 days in a row. At the end of day 3 I went into labour at 38+6. My mouth was sore though.

If you can manage it, walk walk walk.

Raspberry leaf tea is supposed to be great too. I got through gallons of the stuff, along with raw pineapples, curries and lots of nookie.

Not sure which worked, or in fact was worst...

All the best with it though!

I've read somewhere that they're doing a study in Israel (I think) with women eating 4-5 dates a day and having positive results. I've just bought myself a massive bag from the £1 shop.

Accupuncture worked for me. The woman doing it said she didn't want to alarm me but some ladies went into labour 3 hours after seeing her. 3 hours to the minute my contractions started. Also was going to be induced and desperate to avoid it. Good luck!

According to Dr Christian Whats-his-face sex is good. I've heard that the stuff they give ladies to induce them is very similar in chemical make-up as sperm - worth a try x

Jessen .... Dr Christian Jessen!

I ate tonnes of raw pineapple, every morning for 3 days I diced up 2 pineapples into a Tupperware box to eat throughout the day. Gave birth at 39+2 but can't look at pineapples now, even pineapple juice makes me ill!

Brill...I have got Raspberry leaf tea on order and extra reflexology sessions booked (been having this all the way through so thought best to stick with this than switch to acupuncture). Pineapple is on the next shopping list and extra dog walks!!

I, and all my friends, swear by sex. A nice way to bookend the pregnancy. Orally ingested sperm is meant to be best! Worked for me on the night before my induction. (Sorry, tmi!!). I had been for a sweep that day but my cervix was clamped shut. Did the deed and started contracting the next morning. Was 1-2cm when they examined me that afternoon so avoided induction. Just feeding my 18.5 wo daughter now. Good luck. Xx

raspberry leaf doesn't bring on labour, it more tones the uterus into a shorter pushing stage.

Orally ingested semen is supposed to work as well as said above.. but i'm pretty sure a man made that up.. apparently it makes a really decent face mask for the skin as well.

Sex can work as prodding the cervix can make the brain produce the hormone to start of labour.. but only if the body is ready to do that... there's something in semen that can have the same effect (didn't they used to use horse semen in the pessary to start you off (or do they still do it?)

Personally, I used a sex aid to prod my cervix which had the desired effect.

Not sure how advisable this is but I went on our trampoline. My friend came over when she was 38 weeks and went on DS1s trampoline. She went into labour that night. So when I got to 38 weeks I decided I was ready and had a little jump (I do stress that it wasn't a full on bouncing session!). My waters broke the next day.

DS1 was delighted as I hadn't been on the trampoline with him for nearly 9 months so he got to bounce with me again!