Help being on labour

[Oneandabean]

Has anyone got any success stories of how they brought on labour. I’ve been taking raspberry leaf and 6 dates a day from 34 weeks, in the last few days tried sex, clary sage baths and on bump, bouncing on the ball like a mad woman and even laughing so much I thought my waters were going to burst. So far nothing. Babies head hasn’t engaged, no plug, nothing at all. I’m not even after immediate labour, just something to show it’ll happen soon would be lovely. Was induced with my first so really want to avoid it this time but just isn’t happening.

So what if anything worked for you?

Probably not what you want to hear, but labour will happen when it happens. Also if this is your first and the head is not engaged yet then it's not going to be imminent.

Try squatting right down as far as you can go as if you need to pee on the floor, worked for me, instantly felt baby move into position 👍

Not my first baby but don’t want to get induced again.

I heard squatting helps but as baby is also back to back apparently squatting isn’t recommended. I’ve been lucky with a reasonably easy pregnancy but now it seems like baby’s going to be a little monster.

Try eating pineapple.

Steak. Believe of not within 24 hours of eating a steak Ide had all 3 of mine! Might just be coincidence but it's one hell of one.

Pineapple doesn’t work, you’d need a truck load of it to make a difference 😕

Oddly enough I had steak last night, was lovely but still not even a twinge. Little monkey just isn’t for budging at all.
Just a glimmer of Hope would do at this point 😂

Well it worked for me 🤷‍♀️

@DamnShesaSexyChick the amount of the enzyme in pineapple is so small that you’d need something like 8 whole pineapples. It’s more likely that it worked for the same reason hot curry’s and castor oil can work, it irritates the bowel which can then irritate the uterus. Don’t want to go down that route though.

Apparently nipple stimulation is proven to help. Also, having an orgasm. It induces the hormones your body uses when in labour, so.. if you can reach... have a bit of 'me time'.

A sweep

Is it safe to bring on labour in subsequent pregnancies when head isn't engaged? I only ask because my friend was told her ds' head hadn't engaged so they wouldn't induce and when she went into labour they had a doctor present when they broke her water, in case the cord came down. No idea why they seemed so worried for her if it's not a general concern.

How far along are you? You can try some hypnobirthing tracks you can download - fear release, baby come out. Sometimes it can be a psychological blockage or worry that delays labour.

Relaxation, light touch massage from partner? Spinning babies website. Sounds weird but looking at photos that made me feel cosy and safe; chalets in the snow, Christmas scenes.

@RosesforMama I’ve just been told the head may not engage until I’m in labour as it’s my second so I don’t think it’s a problem. I think some people are at risk if the cord is sitting low or they have a low lying placenta.

If you havnt heard of ot google curb walking for labour apparently it helps engage baby really well. I was 5 days overdue and had no signs of labour like sweet fa lol! Then i had a hot curry, felt strange while I ate couldnt really stomach it so i went to bed early around 9. 1.40am ish that morning i woke up contractions barely a minute apart. By time i got to.hospital i was 7cm and baby was born at 10 to 6. Btw i barely ate the curry so wasnt that but i literally had zero signs and baby came without being induced.

Nothing helps start it except for induction.
Once it has started though... SEX gives it a real kick lol

The only thing that has a small amount of evidence is nipple stimulation and that is still slightly sketchy.
I started the day before my waters broke but it's probably a complete coincidence
Her head wasn't engaged at my 38 week midwife appointment a few days before I gave birth and my bump never dropped

I’ve been climbing the walls, tried everything and still waiting - 39 weeks today. Had so many early labour signs for the past 2 weeks but still nothing 😬 now I feel like I’m not even due soon because there’s nothing happening 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m onto a really spicy Chinese tonight to see if it’ll work - didn’t last week 😭 bump has dropped and can feel baby’s head is either extremely low down or engaged. Got midwife on Monday but hoping I’ll have had baby by then 😂 let me know if you find a magic cure 😂

The hormones that are required for labour are the same as those for orgasm. If you are stressing about it not happening soon enough you aren't going to be in the right state of mind for those hormones.

Dc1 I put in 7x8ft fence posts (dug 7x2ft deep holes, mixed 7 bags of postcrete and manoeuvred 7 4x4 fence posts around the allotment).
Dc2 I went to a ceilidh.

With both I had an overwhelming feeling that they would just come when they came for a couple of days before (probably a hormonal surge).

You don't have to accept induction or sweeps if offered. Like any medical procedure you can decline them and "no" or "that's not what I want" is perfectly adequate as an explanation.