38 weeks, any safe ways of encouraging labour?

[Tumbleweeds24]

Currently 38 weeks and have very painful SPD, I'm almost housebound these past few weeks and haven't slept through the night in almost a fortnight. I'm so exhausted, hurting and desperate.

I've heard of castor oil but reluctant to take any risks there as I've heard it can be dangerous.

Currently drinking alot of pineapple juice. Sex hasn't helped. Don't own a birthing ball.

Has anybody managed to bring on labour safely at this stage?

Seeing midwife tomorrow going to ask for a sweep but not sure whether she will give me the OK for one

37 weeks, same situation. Can't get comfortable, can barely walk so housebound. There has been research to show that when the baby is ready it releases certain proteins or hormones that trigger labour - which means there's nothing you can do to make it happen faster. You can prevent it from happening if you get too stressed out though! I'm trying to relax because I don't want stress and anxiety hormones to delay or block labour.

I'm afraid pineapple juice won't help- the enzyme in it is killed by heat/ pasteurisation. You need to eat about 7/8 pineapples to get enough bromelain to potentially affect the cervix.

Maybe switch to eating fresh pineapple? Although I ate a whole one (large) 2/3 days ago and all it did was make my mouth sore :(

Have sex, whatever, but babies do not budge till they want to unless you go for forced induction or a c-section. I'd focus on 3 weeks from now and make as many nice plans as possible for the next 3 weeks. Reflexology session, a massage, lunch somewhere comfy with friends, daytime naps, get a good box set going etc.

People will tell you that this and that started their labour but it wouldn't have started if baby wasn't planning on it anyway.

Don't take caster oil, it isn't safe and might make the baby poo inside of you.

Clary sage in oil burner. Or made up as
Massage oil (Neals Yard is good for this)

Get hand expressing

Nipple stimulation

Although I’ve been hand expressing since 32weeks and still pregnant.
I’m am 39/40 with DS2 and suffering with SPD really bad also. I’m forcing myself to do things (nursery run every morning) but in absolute agony. So tired aswell as wale every 1-2hrsnin pain or needing a wee and then takes forever to fall asleep because of the pain.

Can you stimulate your own nipples and how do you do it? Do you just rub them? 😳

Doubtful your midwife will give you a sweep without a consultants say so. Guidelines is normally 40 or 41 weeks unless a consultant has said otherwise.

Hand expressing, clary sage, dates (there is actual evidence for this!) all worth a try.

thingy try hand expressing as a way of nipple stimulation

Moxibustion is also worth a try if you can find someone local to you!

Nipple stimulation - hand express and sex are the only naturally proved methods I think.

Caster oil does work but I wouldn’t recommend it. I have 3 friends who did it in the end and all of them ended up with waters breaking within a few hours of taking it but contractions not coming on so ended with either the drip or c section.

Sorry I haven’t read full thread just had 2 minutes to say I had awful spd and also sickness too. I discussed this with the midwife who almost refused to let me see consultant because it was pointless, but when I did see the consultant they agreed to induce me at 37 weeks because of how much pain I was in and how difficult labour would be if an intervention was needed. Always worth asking. Good luck

Sex is proven to work or so my mw told me. Prostaglandins or something?

But tbh it'll come when it's ready

My sleeping is absolutely shot to bits I just want it to be over. All I do is lay in bed trying to sleep or sit on the couch. Walking around is so painful I've become a hermit lol

I've tried sex but the problem is I don't find it enjoyable at the minute given my size so I've got a bit of an aversion to it

I won't be trying castor oil unless I go very far over, so like past 41, as I've read about the risks and don't want to take any chances

I'm going to plead with the midwife tomorrow to refer me for a sweep.

Very reassuring that a PP got the go ahead to be induced at 37 weeks. I would bite their hand off right now

Intrigued by clary sage not heard of that before

Try raspberry leaf tea :) xx

Is that something I can buy from most common supermarkets? X

Raspberry leaf tea isnpointless unless you start early, somewhere between 28-32weeks the evidence suggests. And dates need to be started at 36weeks and quite a lot per day.
Clary sage is known to cause uterine stimulation. Put a couple of drops on the bath, run it in to your feet with another oil. Don’t use it neat. However, these things only work if your body is ready. Sweeps are 30% effective when your body is ready... and it’s quite early days still.