Did anything in particular make you go into labour?

[Aug122020]

Hey!

I’m 37 weeks today and I finally feel like I’m on the home stretch 😂 I’ve had weeks of horrible PGP/SPD, been back and forth to hospital due to swelling, dizziness and visual disturbances (thankfully all seems ok I think my body is just done with pregnancy!)

When is it deemed safe to start trying to encourage labour? And can anyone recommend anything? Did anything seem to start you off?

The only things I’ve heard of are the lush bath bomb and sex but I’m so massive and uncomfortable due to the SPD that I don’t know if that is an option (sorry DP 😂).

I know they’re probably mostly a load of rubbish but as long as it is safe I don’t mind giving anything a go, even if just to pass time in my last few weeks of pregnancy! I looked forward to being on maternity leave so much but now that I am, I’m finding it a little boring as DH is at work all day 😬

My mum said she ate a hot curry and went into labour with me! Anyone got any experiences? Or did it just happen totally randomly?

Would love to hear everyone’s stories!

No idea. But I would be keen to know! 😍

Just let it happen naturally. Your body and baby know when they're ready.

Dc1 - a sweep
Dc2 - a sweep
Dc3 - having my waters broken

It would have been nice to start naturally with one but wasn't to be! All were overdue.

Bouncing and rotating my hips on a birthing ball is what I attribute it to. I literally sat on nothing else from 37 weeks and gave birth at 39, despite a family history of going up until 42.

I'd avoid the bomb though- bits get everywhere and you don't need an infection.

sex

Time! Sorry, an unpopular option I know but it's true. Your baby will come when your body is ready.

I tried curry, walks, pineapple, breast pumping, stretch and sweep and sex (which was not good being so big)
Nothing started it but most of those are fun things to try.

Contractions started day after my due date and she came 2 days later.

Yoga! 2 hours after a class my waters broke

Nothing works except time (and induction...sometimes!). All the people who put it down to sex/curry/a big walk etc have no idea whether they would have gone into labour naturally if they hadn’t done x/y/z.

I was 12 days late and tried every single old
wives tale and still had to be induced. (And it was a lovely birth). I wish I’d just relaxed.

I don't actually think anything non-medical works! But I bounced constantly on my ball from about 37 weeks and I do think that helped DD drop right down and apply plenty of pressure

What's the lush bath bomb?..... so I go and buy it 😂

Exercise, loads of walking and going up and down the stairs.

The only thing that started mine was a shitload of drugs!

I drank raspberry leaf tea lots of it! and i was a week early.

I went into hospital in the evening so they could prepare me for induction the following morning. Contractions started that evening at 11pm, I'd say fear set them off as I was absolutely petrified of induction! I was 40+15

I’ve heard the essential oil clary sage can start labour. I need to get some in as I’ve got 5 weeks to go & would rather go sooner than later

A sweep

I tried everything with my first, sex, raspberry leaf tea, curries the lot and still got induced at 42 weeks. Once I was in hospital I was pretty much stuck on a bed, despite being induced after 24 hours in hospital my contractions kept getting further apart and the midwives said it was probably due to me being inactive for over 24 hours in hospital.

For my 2nd once I was at 40 weeks I started walking a lot, 2 days before I was due to be induced again I went in a long walk and later that day when the very mild contractions started I went for another walk 😁 I eventually went to hospital at 9pm and gave birth at 11pm

Raspberry leaf tea is meant to make your contractions more efficient, not bring on labour. I had loads of that too.

Reflexology! Worked for me.

And if it doesn't work at least you've had a lovely foot massage.

I tried clary sage oil, reflexology, sex, long walks, dates etc.

In the end I went into labour after I had acupuncture and a sweep. I was 41+3.

You might want to google the due date myth, as it's pretty normal to go "overdue". It's a PITA when you're huge and everything hurts though, I know. Just remember what you said: you're on the home stretch.

@elQuintoConyo

I went into hospital in the evening so they could prepare me for induction the following morning. Contractions started that evening at 11pm, I'd say fear set them off as I was absolutely petrified of induction! I was 40+15

40+15?!?! Fucking hell!

Anyone get a medal as big as their head to give to Quinto? 🏆

I heard that David Bowie had died and went into labour about 10 minutes later, I don't think that's going to help you though 😂

I obviously don't know if it's what actually put me in labour, but it did happen twice so possibly. Both times I'd watched something sad and cried hysterically at the TV and went in to labour (#1 waters broke, #2 bloody show and contractions) within 20 minutes of my blubbering. I recommend watching Awakenings with Robert de Niro

Mine's no help either. It was my the shock of my father having a heart attack and being rushed to hospital when I was 39 weeks. He ended up in cardiology department and me in maternity. At least it was quick to get him the news he had a new GD!