Help me have a spontaneous labour!

[MaverickSnoopy]

I do realise that until baby is actually ready, it's unlikely to come...but to keep me busy and have something to focus on.....

Currently 40+8 with 3rd baby. 1st baby was born spontaneously at 40+10. 2nd baby was born after being induced (waters breaking only) at 40+15.

Had examination yesterday (41 weeks) and am 3cm dilated - cervix is soft and 2cm long and I have -2 spines. MW said my cervix is far back. Exactly the same as how I was at 40 weeks. I believe (but could be wrong) that my bishop score works out to be 7.

Am I right in thinking that my cervix needs to come forwards and thin out more?

Thinking sex (because this is so easy at 41 weeks pregnant) and bouncing on birthing ball are my best bets. Already on the rasp leaf tea and also thinking about various herbal things (clary sage, evening primrose and caster oil) although not too sure on the latter.

I want to avoid induction due to previous bad experience that led to complications. Long story. So I'm keen to encourage baby to come spontaneously! Help understanding where my body is at and what I can do to encourage baby would be good!

Walk lots, bounce on the ball and have sex.

Walking is out - severe pgp and sciatica. Struggle to move at all. But yes sex and ball is where I'm currently at.

My Sister in Law swears by pineapple, so I’d get munching on that :)

Hopefully baby comes soon!!

Nipple stimulation. Seriously I think it brought on my last Labour as I had pains whilst doing it and had baby next morning. Sat in front of TV all night doing it. Must have looked strange.

Everything bar castor oil! So dangerous!

Pineapple wise you need to eat about 6 whole pineapples for it to work though!

Castor oil in a carrier oil- almond or even cooking oils directly onto bump or into bath meant to work

Hot curry

Sex and nipple stimulation. Lots of evidence on 'how it got in will help it get out' x

Not castor oil in a carrier!!!! Stupid brain

CLARY SAGE in a carrier oil/ bath.

😩🤦🏼‍♀️

Did you have a sweep? That worked for me with my third baby. Other two were spontaneous labours, this one needed encouragement. I was doing everything, sex, evening primrose oil, Clary sage, hand expressing. Still went over and got desperate so had a sweep at 3pm, niggling by 7, proper labour at 2am, baby born at 6am

Yes my feeling was to avoid castor oil so good to hear that others think the same. Think the negatives outweigh the positives.

I had a sweep last weekend but it made me bleed so badly I had to spend the weekend in hospital. It didn't work either and neither did the 3 I had when pregnant last time. Consequently when I was offered one yesterday I declined.

I could probably eat 6 pineapples!! Probably not a good idea though.

I think sex and hand expressing might be the way forward. Have bought some more rasp leaf leaf and some evening primrose oil capsules. Has anyone used them before? I've read people have used them as a pessary but I'm unsure as to whether that's a good idea?