Ways to naturally induce labour?

[Stargazer87]

I'm approaching my due date with no sign of baby getting ready to make an appearance...I'm keen to avoid an induction at all costs. Does anyone have any recommendations for natural ways to induce labour or are they all old wives tales? 🙄

Sex and a membrane sweep worked for me!

I went for a long walk including one hill, came home and waters went

Maybe I'll try a walk today, I just find it so painful at the moment! 😩

Following. I’m due today and really want to avoid another induction.

This was on QI last night. Sandi T said the only proven method is nipple stimulation, near due date, which would make some kind of sense. Somehow fool the body there is already a baby suckling, and it hasn''t got the ability to argue, it just gets on and ejects presumably what to a body must be the leftover twin.

She debunked all other methods, such as walks, sex, and curry, which turn out to be coincidence not causation.

SIL is a midwife .... all methods are myths ... baby will only come when it’s ready. Once labour has started, sex (sperm) hurries things along, but you’re in labour anyway already.

I was thinking that they might all be myths but was hoping for a secret solution! 🤣

No one can force you to be induced op. They can advise and suggest but the can't make you do anything you don't want. My trust will offer a sweep from 40 weeks and refer to MAFU at 41 weeks and monitor on a possibly daily basis after that. I'd suggest reading up on the options and deciding what you'd like to happen but be willing to change your mind if it becomes a medical necessity. Ive always had consultant care as I'm an older mum. 46 when last baby arrived. I now have 3 daughters 9,4 and 4 months. First two were induced at 42 weeks, after failed sweeps and were both water births. Dd3 was born in lockdown at 41+1. Spontaneous labour starting less than 2 hours after my last midwife check, baby arrived less than 80 mins after first twinge and a good 90 mins before my appointment with MAFU to discuss induction 🤣.
It's good to be fully informed, but if things are suggested that you aren't comfortable with ask why and what happens if we dont or how long can we wait. Follow the advice but don't be railroaded into something just because of your age or the time of day etc.
Hope this helps you,
Best wishes op, go for a pool if you can!

Go for walk. Come home, scrub a floor have a curry then sex.

@Mysa74 Thanks for your reply, my aim is to have an intervention free water birth at a midwife led birth centre as I'm low risk and have had a trouble free pregnancy so far...my big concern was that being induced might take me down a different path...

I’ve heard of people using a breast pump to stimulate labour as a previous poster commented above was confirmed on QI. Also eating 6 dates a day in the final stages softens the cervix.

I had the same worry OP... Fingers crossed you'll be as lucky as I was
How are you doing?

@Mysa74 I'm still waiting...my due date is tomorrow and I worry that she's not going to make an appearance any time soon! 🙈

Exciting! Anytime in the next two weeks then I'll be thinking of you...
Keep taking to bump, apparently baby decides when to come out and triggers your body... Maybe you can persuade them out with promises of Christmas lights, lol
Induction for me was boring, especially the first time. I'd been told lots of horror stories (funny how people like to do that, especially to first time mums) but it truly was the most tedious 4 days of my life, the 6 hours of labour after (3+ in a pool) were a relief... Do you have a birth plan? It's good to waft around both to show them when you don't feel able to talk and to reinforce what you want. Also comes in handy as a fan! Good luck!