Do you think anything you did helped induce labour?

[showersandflowers]

I'm 39+2 and ready now. I know ultimately my baby will come when my baby is ready but I'm doing everything I can to start labour. Sex, walks, pumping, spicy food etc. Nothing yet.

Is there anything you did that you think brought on your labour?

Nothing works, it's all stories prompted by someone going into labour after doing a certain thing when they were going to go into labour anyway.

Including sweeps IMO.

I've had 4 who were almost literally dragged out at 42 weeks, so believe me, I've tried

Dh is convinced that our babies came when I was ready. For example, dc2 was due a few days before dc1's first Nativity show. From 39w I was constantly thinking "Please don't come yet. Please don't come yet. I really want to see dc1's show." Even as I was doing all the ' nesting' stuff. I went over 40w, no BHs, no hint of readiness, watched dc1's show, and when I came home I said to my bump "Thanks for letting me watch X's show. You can come now." 3h later I was in labour. Dc2 was born at 41+1.

Nope, nothing really works!

I happened to have curry and pineapple at 40w (meal at a friends) and my contractions started that night. Baby wasn't born till 4 1/2 days later though and I'm convinced the curry got the contractions going but baby waited to come in his own time. So ... From my experience, don't do it! Losing 4 nights of sleep before the biggest physical marathon you'll do is not helpful.

@ShirleyBadass

Nothing works, it's all stories prompted by someone going into labour after doing a certain thing when they were going to go into labour anyway.

Including sweeps IMO.

I've had 4 who were almost literally dragged out at 42 weeks, so believe me, I've tried

Totally agree with this

Colostrum harvesting! Worked for me by accident at 37+5 when my hospital bag was not packed

I would say the sweep helped me but then again I was 41+6 already and it was the last chance before induction was booked for the next day. So as far as I can tell then nothing helps!!

As someone who is 41+1, I honestly don't think anything works naturally. Baby comes when they are ready or dragged out. Not going to lie, it's torture waiting around now but not getting hopes up about starting labour myself!

Ran after a bus I'd left my purse on. Baby came hours later

Acupuncture for me, but we'll never know if baby would have come that day anyway!

Nothing works. I know it's unbearable waiting but your baby will come when they are ready. Try to distract yourself! (I would say I went into labour after a brisk walk but I was 41+5 then!!)

NO and like ShirleyBadass I tried everything. My first baby arrived 12 days after the due date so we had plenty of time to work through the long walks, tins of pineapples, curries etc.
My other 3 babies were similarly late arrivals. Nowadays I’m not sure they would let you go so many days over.
After the first I didn't worry too much about being overdue. . My menstrual cycle has always been well over the more usual 28 days and when I thought about it, it seemed likely that conception would have taken place correspondingly later than the norm. Occasionally midwives commented that I seemed small for dates but nothing was ever picked up on scans and they all arrived safe and well.
Enjoy the time you have left OP - your baby will soon be here.

@Dilbertian

Dh is convinced that our babies came when I was ready. For example, dc2 was due a few days before dc1's first Nativity show. From 39w I was constantly thinking "Please don't come yet. Please don't come yet. I really want to see dc1's show." Even as I was doing all the ' nesting' stuff. I went over 40w, no BHs, no hint of readiness, watched dc1's show, and when I came home I said to my bump "Thanks for letting me watch X's show. You can come now." 3h later I was in labour. Dc2 was born at 41+1.

I agree with this. My due date was Boxing Day. I finished work end of November desperate for her to arrive early. Got to Christmas Eve and thought “well I can relax now don’t want a Christmas baby” went in to labour Christmas morning and eventually have birth on my due date. I’m convinced it was when I finally relaxed my body. I’ve had friends say similar about finishing work and relaxing then going into labour the next day too

My sister spent the day stacking firewood, that did the job!

Pack your bag - for a trip away. Book a nice hotel. Promise dh a few nights of Full Attention..
Then you WILL go into labour.
Ime at 35 weeks.

@isurvived3under2

Acupuncture for me, but we'll never know if baby would have come that day anyway!

Second this. I was 41 weeks had acupuncture in the day and went into labour In the night but at 41 weeks baby could’ve been coming anyway lol

As a bit of advice too, don't spend hours scrubbing floors, hiking miles every day because you need your energy for labour.

One of my biggest shocks when becoming a mother was spending 33 hours in agony and exhausted, falling asleep whilst pushing (with exhaustion), then an emcs and then dh having to leave because of covid restrictions. Then, having to look after my daughter, mainly unsupported, when in any other circumstance after hours of physical exertion and surgery you'd sleep!

Love reading all of these, it's really interesting to hear what people were doing when they went into labour or what they had been trying before to make it happen (either successfully or not!) 39+4 now and getting so impatient but I know I'm not even due yet... I guess I'll keep trying things, just in case but know most likely that it'll be a coincidence if any of these thing actually bring on labour!

I particularly like the one about booking lots of stuff and making lots of plans. 2 birds 1 stone really: combat the mat leave boredom and fate the baby into coming!!!

I tried everything with dd1 and had to be induced. With dd2 I had a sweep at 40+6 and my midwife said she thought it wouldn't be long and to go for a long walk and bounce on my birthing ball. I did both (walked in the rain alone!) and went into labour early next morning.