Ways to bring on labor (safety)

[albert92]

Hi, I'm 38weeks pregnant and I was wondering if anyone has ideas of things I can do to help labour come on or speed it up once it starts, I've heard walking is good but is there anything els?

Labour **

Hoovering! Upped my twinges and got things going!!

There's lots of suggestions that have some scientific basis (sex, nipple stimulation etc) but honestly baby won't come until baby and your body is ready. I know a fair few women who have tried every trick in the book and still ended up overdue and induced!

@zzzzz why ?? It Can cause lots of complications having to be induced I was 10 days over last time and baby was stuck and caused me to swell up ! I would rather it happen sooner than later

How did being past your due date cause you to swell up?

I know pregnancy can cause swelling, I had awful swollen ankles through a hot summer, but what was it about being 40 weeks plus that did that?

I think booking something nice for yourself is a good way to go. You’ll either not be able to go because the baby is coming or you’ll get to go somewhere nice. Win/win. Everything else sounds stressful.

@ChanklyBore because I was over due baby was ready to come out and I was in slow labour for 3 days and none of the Midwife's checked me properly as I went from 7cm down to 4cm as baby was stuck so my insides swelled up, @zzzzz your classed as full term from 37 weeks so it really doesn't matter, you don't need to go over due at all

@zzzzz plus I wasn't asking on opinions of when is the best time to have a baby I was asking for tips to speed up labour or ways to bring it on, I personally don't want to go over due

They now classify 39’weeks as full term as long term studies show its better for babies to be born after 39 weeks . Babies born after 37 weeks but before 39 weeks don’t do so well in the long run (taking other factors into account)

Having said that, walk, nipple stimulation, happy relaxed hormones.
Read up about eating dates too

Not sure there is scientific evidence for anything except time. Most evidence is anecdotal at best and some, like pineapple, would require such large doses to work that it would be almost impossible to get the benefits.

Swelling due to uneven pressure on the cervix is not related to being overdue I don’t think. In that In can happen during labour, regardless of what gestation you go into labour.

Lots of 37/38 week babies have problems with their breathing, far more than 39/40 week babies, I’m afraid to say. Obviously it not an exact science.

Definitely book something nice !

Do you have a physio/exercise ball you can bounce on?
No experience of things working, but I think the usual suggestions include

Pineapple (though he amount you would need makes it unlikely to really be of any benefit)
Curry
Sex
Nipple stimulation
Raspberry leave tea (can be taken from 36 weeks I think)
Walking or staying active

Creating warm relaxed environments to help the oxytocin flow

There seems to be two schools of thought once things start
One to keep really active
The other to retreat in to a cave like, warm and dark environment.

Baths can help to relax and for pain but if too early can slow down labour

@ChanklyBore yes I'm not saying I want to have the baby now I'm just asking because I'm curious obviously I would rather be around the 40 week mark for various reasons, I don't know why everything always goes off topic on here !

@Foodylicious thank you, I'll try some of these xx

Nothing works. If it does then it's a coincidence

They all work if tbe baby is coming anyway .

Have a read up on eating dates too

www.mamanatural.com/dates-during-pregnancy/

It’s not really off topic to mention to someone who is 38 weeks pregnant and trying to bring on labour that many babies are not ready to be born at 38 weeks. Alongside a mention of one of the best ways to bring on labour (book something you are really looking forward to -don’t under estimate this!)

Baby comes when baby's ready. I tried walking, sex, nipple stimulation, spicy food, pineapple, dates, golden seal, birthing ball, raspberry leaf tea, clary sage and accupuncture...baby born at 40+11

I was induced at 37 weeks, unexpectedly, baby was fine I just couldn’t feel the movements, even though they could see he was fine. Midwives told me he would be fine and 37 weeks is absolutely fine for a baby, you just wouldn’t want any earlier if it can be avoided so 38 weeks is absolutely fine and most midwives will tell you the same. Sorry for going off topic just wanted to tell you that midwives would class 38 weeks as term! I however find it hard to think that food or any of the old wives tales to induce labour will work as they spent 5 days in hospital trying to induce me with pessaries and all sorts before they broke my waters and put me on a drip. Babies really will come when ready unless intervention by medical staff. But have lots of fun trying 😜

My sister in law swears by pineapple