Can you try and prevent going over due date?

[Ang2585]

Probably sounds like a daft question but I was 42 weeks before I was induced with my son. Is there any way I can prevent going over my due date this time?

My midwife told me that a recent study shows that eating 5 dates a day can have an effect. Not sure of the reasoning - keeping you regular maybe? But as DD came at 15 days over and I'm hoping for a home birth this time I'm planning to give it a go!

Oh and lots of walking/bouncing on a birth ball.

Plus sex may help. Although the way I'm feeling at 29 weeks, I'll probably opt for the dates

I am 36 weeks and very anxious I am going to go overdue so as from 38 weeks I will try anything.

Not in my experience.
I tried all the Old wives tales from 38 weeks and DD was born at 40+11.
When I was pregnant with my son I did nothing and he was born at 40+3.
I don't believe that anything works tbh!

I've had two on due date and two early. Not quite sure how, I did drink raspberry leaf tea with all of them though.

I've been recommended Red Raspberry Leaf tablets and also an Evening Primrose tablet inserted nightly into my fanjo to weaken the cervix. Not sure how true they are but will give them a go.

Both mine were early and I dtd just before with both!

Sadly, no. You might be able to encourage them when you are nearly ready, and you can help them be in a good position (hopefully), but you won't magically make a 42 weeker a 38 weeker. Oh, unless you have a section

A few drops of Clary Sage oil in your bath is supposed to help too :0)

Clary sage seemed to work for me! 10 days over both with DS1 and DD, so at 40+2 with DS2 I had a bath with Clary sage and had him the following day. Might all be hocus pocus but doesn't hurt to try! Advice is not to use before 38 weeks as it is meant to be so effective.

Clary sage also worked for me I think, I had a bath with it in and 24 hours later my waters broke. DS was born at 39+4, first baby.

Sadly no. I started my eviction process at 39 weeks (evening primrose oil, raspberry leaf tea, sex, hot curries, lavender oil baths, looooong walks and frantic bouts of housework). Also endured braved 2 sweeps. Nothing. DD was born at 40+13 with the aid of the dreaded induction.

My friend who is a midwife bought me raspberry leaf tablets, said not to take them before term (37 weeks) or if any complications (I'm to phone her for advice at 36 weeks - she lives abroad). She swears they work and I trust her. She is sensible and not generally into anything alternative or with limited evidence, but is convinced these work.

Here is the study mummybare
The other thing I would suggest is to spend quite time getting mentally ready. Have a motherblessing/blessing way, do art work around birth and birthing, get in touch with the less intellectual side of your brain.
This is a beautiful blog about the last days of pregnancy.

I do think raspberry leaf works but not to actually induce you, it's just meant to make your contractions more effective once you are in labour.

Apart from that nothing will work if baby isn't ready unfortunately. I've found it helps this time round to add 2 weeks on to my due date and focus on that as end date. Saves a lot of disappointment when you get to 40 weeks and nothing happens.

Thanks Hazchem - good to know my midwife is well informed! And that blog is great. I would second the advice about mentally prepared. I found the natal hypnotherapy cd helpful in keeping me calm last time so, even though I was more than 2 weeks over, I was actually fine with it.

My experience also bears out your theory, Roseberry, in that I drank gallons of the stuff and was still 2 weeks late, but my labour was fairly efficient - about 8 hours or so. Maybe it's worth buying some in...

My midwife has just told me to start drinking raspberry leaf tea, have lots of sex and nipple stimulation! Have no idea how effective it will be...i'm 38 weeks now. Good luck!

mummybare it also suggests that eating dates after delivering the placenta reduces PPH so maybe our tea and toast (I just got biscuits) will be replaced with dates one day :)