Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

Original poster

Threat of induction, what can I do to start labour

15 replies

mum26plus · 06/02/2007 00:31

After being threatened with a c-section for having a breech baby, it's now turned right way round but due to having diabetes they are threatening me with an induction. I had an induction with DS3 and found the whole ordeal traumatising and said never again. Last time my cervix was nowhere near ready and it took them 6 hours to establish labour, very painful as they had to keep turning up the drip till I felt like I was in the ring with Mike Tyson. Horrible unexplained pains and the after effects of the drugs made me feel so sick I couldn't/didn't want to hold my new baby. I was wondering if after trying walking, curries, sex, reflexology, acupuncture etc. if there was any other medical interventions I could try like a sweep, that might keep them happy and give me some sxtra time.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

chocolatebirdy · 06/02/2007 00:39

Fajitas! Worked for me!!

fortyplus · 06/02/2007 00:40

I don't think anything is 100% reliable.
What's the thinking these days re: epidurals? I had one with ds1 (now 13) and it was bliss - couldn't feel a thing - didn't have any problems at all. I was told to make a conscious effort to keep shifting my position - a lot of the associated back probs are caused by remaining in the same position for so long.
Might have all changed now though.
Good luck, anyhow

pussinslippers · 06/02/2007 10:40

I fell down stairs -- that did it for DS1! Wouldn't recommend it though.

Lizzylou · 06/02/2007 10:42

Sex, pineapple and curry worked for me with DS2, I also walked a lot, up hill

Bubbaloo · 06/02/2007 10:43

Bouncing on a gym ball worked for me-good luck.

Lizzylou · 06/02/2007 10:45

OOh yes, birthing ball and raspberry leaf tea tried here...
Have no idea if it all worked but DS2 was 2 days early and I went 6days over with DS1 (and did none of these things)

lulumama · 06/02/2007 18:36

tips for natural help to induce labour and ripen the cervix

you could ask for a sweep, which will buy you time, and monitoring of the baby and placenta...

Heathcliffscathy · 06/02/2007 18:38

I'll say it before and I'll say it again....if at all possible, have an orgasm...or three.

jmjm · 06/02/2007 19:59

I went 8 days overdue and was getting desperate (induction looming). I rubbed some clarey sage oil over my bump at 12.00 as I went to bed. Contractions started at 12.35. It could just be coincedence but I would certainly give it another go if I was well overdue again. Be careful though as I understand it is quite a strong oil and you shouldn't use it unless you are well overdue. I also had a very quick and strong labour with no real introduction i.e straight into strong contractions every 5 mins and I do wonder whether that was why? It did the job in 5 hours but was quite intense - but them maybe that is normal, I've only done it once.

Anyway, maybe look at clary sage oil but do a bit of research first.

Original poster

mum26plus · 07/02/2007 07:50

Thanks everyone for your tips. No you're right pussinslippers I might give that one a miss, my luck I'll just break an arm an have to sit in A&E for hours on end in agony . Lizzylou I'm on the curry tonight, nasal cleansing, eye running HOT HOT curry but I couldn't face the sex and the pineapple is out due to the diabetes but am already taking raspberry leaf tablets. I hate to sound really dense but how does one bouce on the birth ball, I have one but not sure how to use it . If I can't face the sex I can try for the orgasm at least if I can stay awake longer than the kids can. Thanks jmjm I was wondering what to do with the clary sage, I'd heard about it but wasn't sure whether to rub it on or use it in the burner but I rummaged around in my oils and found a tiny bit so hopefully it will be enough to do the bump. Thanks lulumama I've seen you reccomend sweeps to other people and am hoping if it gets that far that the drs will be happy to do that and give me some extra time along with monitoring the baby.

OP posts:

viclb76 · 07/02/2007 09:56

birth ball-just sit on the the ball with legs apart and bounce gently,also you could try rotating your hips
This is great for opening up the pelvis allowing baby more room to get into the right position for birth and bring head down.
Try not to sit back in a chair as this can promote the opposite.
Even if it doesn't send you into labour,I would still recommend using the ball as it won't do you any harm and encouraging baby's position now will hopefully shorten labour.
good luck

lulumama · 07/02/2007 12:32

i don;t recommend sweeps per se...but they are , IMO, a good way to put off a full medical induction and to find out what your cervix is doing !

muppetisacat · 07/02/2007 15:57

Nipple stimulation!!
Really worked 2 times for me. Won't use it on this one yet as he's still breech and not due for 4 weeks - but there are some rules you have to obey i believe...
Such as...
only stimulate ONE side at a time and for no longer than 5 mins. Then STOP and see what happens.
Don't do it if you are already in established labour as the hormone will make your uterus contract too much.
The levels of hormones it releases has been found in cases to equal that of over dose/misuse of pitocin (the synthetic hormone they give you to induce labour).
All I can say is that it really really worked for me - so much so that I'd use the method with caution!!!

Original poster

mum26plus · 08/02/2007 01:35

Thanks viclb76, I've wondered what I was meant to do. As it's my 7th I'm not hoping for too short a labour, last one was an hour from start to finish and I live just over an hour away from hospital . As the HOT curry, the clary sage rub, the foot massage and the raspberry leaf capsules didn't work last night I guess I'll be trying sex and nipple stimulation tonight . Lulumama can you tell me why iyo you don't reccommend sweeps and thanks for the link I finally found the site and am preparing to try more of their tips.

OP posts:

lulumama · 08/02/2007 18:50

because they don;t always work...they will work if you would have gone into labour within 24 - 8 hours...so for many women, they have one, have a show, some pains, then nothing, for a few days or more which can be disheartening, also, there is a small chance of the membranes being ruptured which means induction has to being within 96 hours if labour does not follow

BUT- it can be a good way to delay full induction and to find out if your cervix is ripening for labour

hth !

Flip