What brought on or helped your labour the most?

[glasshalffull0]

I know most of us can't say for sure, but is there anything you did towards the end of your pregnancy that you are convinced made you start labour or made labour more productive?

Book a fancy lunch! First day of my maternity leave, about to leave for a swanky lunch and my waters broke! So much for a few days relaxing!

I'm convinced eating a few dates daily in the last few weeks helped. It didn't speed up the start but I had an easyish 4 hour labour. I'd read they help by thinning the cervix, getting it ready, and when I had a vaginal exam in labour, I was told I have a very thin cervix although just 3cm dilated. I progressed quickly from then.

Harvesting colostrum! Handy to have on standby too.

Sex, an inconvenient day, baby being ready. In no particular order.

Sex.
Vacuuming.
*not at the same time...

Sex. Woke up a few hours later having contractions.

I was hoping most of you wouldn't say sex! We haven't done it since our baby was conceived last October! My partner is too creeped out by it so I think this is definitely off the list for us

Long walk and a soak in the tub. I went for a walk to our local shops (so about 45 mins to an hour round trip) and then had a soak in the bath. Baby who was previously showing no signs of moving (induction had been booked) came within 6 hours!!!

Being 8 days overdue 😜

Sorry that's not helpful .. however, unpopular opinion, baby will simply come when they are ready. We tried sex, curry, walking, stairs... I did have a sweep 4 days before my waters broke so maybe that had a slow effect... However mostly, I think he just came when he was ready. It is so frustrating at those final stages. I tried to make the most of the headspace and having my body to myself (well, kind of, you know what I mean) for a few days longer which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't. I also picked a point in the bearish future by which he would DEFINITELY be there and focused on what we'd be doing then etc. It'll be here before you know it 💕

Colostrum harvesting for me. AFAIK "nipple stimulation" is the only clinically proven one. The rest are just suggestions. I could be wrong though!

Frenzied cleaning, especially hoovering.

Walked and walked and walked some more. 10k steps then contractions began that night with baby 1.

Took eldest to the park furthest away at 40+4 with baby2, walked and walked and walked! Contractions overnight and baby2 arrived before breakfast.

A light jog!

I was being induced but nothing was happening and they encouraged me to walk lots. I was walking round and round in the corridors when I heard the most blood curdling scream by a woman already in labour and thought "nope, not listening to that", got a bit scared and almost ran back to my room. It all started quite quickly after that!

Sex. Lots of it. Worked twice for me

Having a sweep

I did absolutely everything to kick start labour. Sex at least once a day, long walks, spicy food (hellish for the reflux), bouncing on the birthing ball, colostrum harvesting. Literally everything. She came 9 days late, I think they just come when they come. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Both times went on a walk the day before.

Dosnt have to be full on. I got off that was enough to bring mine on.

Carrying my 3 year old around on my shoulders. Obvs not an option the first time!

Both of mine came the day after we'd had sex, not any kind of sexy sex, I was so fed up I literally just wanted a quickie to see if it would work and it appears it did!

First time sex, even though I didn't want it but straight after I had the show.

Second time the sweep.

Sex and colostrum harvesting - I'd be harvesting for 5 days and was so annoyed labour hadn't started so we had a quickie - 7 hours later labour started 🤣

I finished a stressful project off at work and had an isolated contraction five minutes later; went to aqua aerobics the next day and that properly kicked things off. This was at 38w exactly. Stress level dropping + the only exercise I could do = early baby arrival!

I was told years ago masturbation. I was only 21 at the time and couldn't stop cringing when the midwife said it. But she said when you orgasm your body releases oxytocin which is the hormone that starts labour. How true it is I don't know but I mean you could try it. I have 4 kids and still had to be induced every time so not a proven link for me.

Colostrum harvesting for my first and a sweep for my second. Both came on their due dates. I'm currently 38 weeks with my third and hoovering every day