39+1 does anything really work to help start labour?!

[GoodVibesOnlyPlease]

Due next Monday with baby no.2, I've got my next midwife appointment booked for 40+1 when I can have a sweep but I really don't want to get there!! Does anything genuinely work to get things moving?!
I've had a lot more cramping this time round, walking is hard work because it's very low considering it's the second one. My first came at 39+5 after waters went at 39+3, went in for induction 24 hours later but things started on their own. I just keep expecting the same to happen this time even though its highly unlikely!!

Teaspoon of castor oil in the morning worked for me, although had to do it 2 days in the row.

Ooof @LK1972 I think you might be a bit braver than me!!

Sex. If you can be bothered

Nothing worked for me, I went to 42+3.

Could be a coincidence, but I wanted to avoid having a sweep so I was bouncing a lot on my gym ball in the evening and I went into labour after a couple of nights of bouncing

@SunnySideUp2020 might have to muster up the energy just to give it a chance 🤦‍♀️ @Vampirethriller definitely not waiting that long!!

Nothing worked for me. I went to 42 weeks too. Hoping not to this time.

And whatever you do, don't eat spicy food you wouldn't usually. You'll just end up stuck to the toilet in pain. And if you did go into labour.... you don't want diaorea on top of that!!!

Trying to get an early night.

I think sex worked for me. Did it at 39+2 and my mucus plug came out straight after! Then did it again at 40 weeks and went into labour a few hours after 😂

No nothing works. People coincidentally do a few things and then go into labour but that's because they're heavily pregnant and due. Thousands of other people do the same things and have no baby that day.

I genuinely ate Jaffa cakes within hours of labour starting both times. I could claim they were the magic bullet but of course they weren't.

In all research, never have people found a link between sex and curry and the other old wives tales and labour. In fact, some research says sex, for example, decreases the chances.

If they had a way which worked, we'd be capitalising on it and not relying on chemical induction. But nothing works.

😂😂😂 I'll definitely bear that in mind @miltonj I've been bouncing on my ball @Pinkflamingofly that's what I was doing last time when my waters went but I have to wait until night time otherwise its a fight over it with my 2 year old!!

These last few days of just waiting are the worst!! I'm trying not to get too impatient!

@GoodVibesOnlyPlease I'm due next Monday too, 6 days left seems like a long time to wait 😩😩 I've not got midwife appointment till 40+3 and I don't really want the sweep, so I've been trying things but nothing is working, I've done the usual hot food, walking, sex this baby is to comfortable ! Having a hot curry tonight so hopefully that works!

Hello! I’m also due on Monday! I had my first at 36 +2 so not use to this waiting around!

I’ve read that eating dates does have some scientific backing…however I’ve been eating them on and off for the past few weeks and well, I’m still pregnant! Perhaps they’re slowly getting my cervix going - who knows!

I’m booked in for a sweep on Monday but hoping I’ll get going before then…fingers crossed for us all!

Nope, it’s super boring but your baby will release a chemical when it’s lungs are fully matured to signal it is ready to be born. This will start a cascade of hormonal activity which will send you into labour.

Synctocin worked for me 🤷‍♀️

For the love of god please do not take castor oil, it is so dangerous.

@boymummys I'm definitely having a sweep if I get to my next appointment, can't do any harm! I've not really done as much this time but I do have a 2 year old to run round after so hoping that is helping! @Hayesdays one of my friends tried every old wives tale going including the dates, she couldn't fully dilate 🙈 I'm definitely not opposed to induction if it comes to it because I am not getting to 42 weeks!! Let's just hope it's a quicker labour if it keeps me hanging around longer than its brother 😂

A tiny bit of hand expressing (in the shower makes it easier) is what worked for me; might work, and at least no negative side effects if it doesn't! Good luck 🤞

Expressing does make me a little bit crampy, will definitely keep going with that @movehimintothesun 🤞🤞

Lady, what's dangerous about castor oil, it just gets your bowels going, similar to spicy food?

The only thing my doctor said has scientific backing is sex as sorry has prostaglandins which can soften the cervix and it’s the same hormone that is released in early labour or when you get a sweep that’s what they are trying to ‘activate’. So sweeps and sex ??

The prostaglandins in semen would be better off taken orally if they were going to work according to the general hypothesis. But all research suggests they don't and, as I said previously, some studies showed sex might decrease the chances of labour. I swear it must have been a man who put about the rumour in the first place...

@LK1972

Lady, what's dangerous about castor oil, it just gets your bowels going, similar to spicy food?

It can cause massive amounts of distress to the unborn baby, and cause baby to poo whilst in the womb. Sudden onset of severe diarrhoea causes contractions when your body simply isn't ready, it violently forces your body into false early labour. Not to mention can cause dehydration.

@LK1972 what does castor oil do, please?