What things did you do to bring on labour & how far along were you?

[Tinks15]

Just wondering if anyone did anything particular to bring on labour & if so how far along were you?

I'm 38 weeks tomorrow & I've had enough. This heat is really getting to me now, im agitated, tired & grumpy all the time . This is second baby.

I begged for a sweep from 37 weeks with my second as I was already 3cm dilated and had been for days. The second one worked and I gave birth at 38 weeks exactly.

Sadly I don't think much else works - have you tried bouncing on a birthing ball? X

Do they usually not like giving sweeps before your due date then?

I haven't got one this time round - not sure if I should get one .

I think they usually don't do them until you're overdue but no harm in asking - might move things on a bit.

May mention it at my next midwife appt. Thanks!

I was 12 days over with my 2nd. Tried absolutely everything. Walked miles, gym or swimming every day, sex, gym ball, raspberry leaf tea etc... Oh and I had 3 sweeps which all showed 2-3cm dilated... still needed to be induced! Sorry you are so uncomfy. There's no harm in trying the usual recommended stuff but I think babies just come when they're ready (or forced)

The day before I went into labour 38+1 I was on my birthing ball all day doing figures of 8. (baby's head was very low anyway) I drank a lot of raspberry tea (6/7 cups?) Nipples stimulation was a big one but research that because it really does work!! I woke up next morning and boosh waters ruptured. I'm currently 37+1 and I'm so gunna be doing the same as I get closer to my due date.

Also, I was inserting a gel capsule of evening primrose oil very close to cervix before bed for about a week before labour too. (already started doing this again)

Good luck hun xx

What type of gel capsule @Hjkillas? The type you normally swallow as a vitamin pill? Do you burst it or leave it in there to dissolve? Thanks!

I was 38 weeks and had sex, then went for a really long walk. e then had friends over for dinner and I made a Vietnamese curry but put too much spice in it. Went in to labour that night.

However it wasn't intentional! Just a whole load of things which happened to occur on the same day!

@nextchpter the ones you can take orally. Got them from Holland and Barrett. Squishy and yellow, I never have pierced any of them they dissolve on their own. I wear a pantiliner to catch any that runs out but if I'm honest it mostly comes out when you go for a wee! Heads up smells a bit funky though lol!

Some people actually take them orally aswell as inserting but I never did last time x

Had sex at 38+5. Waters broke 12 hours later and DD born at 38+6.

Thanks @Hjkillas is it to soften the service to aid stretching when you deliver I'm guessing?

Cervix*!

I'm 40 weeks today and I've tried almost everything: raspberry leaf capsules, sex, walking couple times a day, birthing ball, fresh pineapple, nipple stimulation, spicy food, 2 sweeps so far.... nothing!!
This heat is horrendous when you're this whale like!

@nextchpter yeah, helps with effacement and makes it nice and soft. Mimics prostaglandins I think. I went from 4cm to birth in 2 hours with first baby. Don't know if it was down to this or not but you never know x

With DD we tried sex, sweeps, long walks, bumpy drives - born at 40+15 after induction.

With DS, did sod all. Born at 40+1 spontaneously.

Babies come when they're ready. If anything else actually worked, no-one would be induced.

Nipple stimulation at 38w +6. Gave birth at 39w exactly 12 hours later. If you do it properly you should feel contraction type pains pretty much straight away. Good luck!

I also took raspberry leaf capsules (stronger dosage than the tea) since 36 weeks and I think it was evening primrose capsules.

I don't believe this helped bring labour on, but made my uterus work more efficient during labour (very quick) and helped aid healing. Completely different experience to having my first