Can using the breast pump get labour going?

sslager

So I'm 40 weeks pregnant with a very big baby. I'm in desprate need to get my baby out! Not only am I tired of pregnancy my doctors want to induce me in a week which I don't want. I heard if you use your breast pump it can stimulate you into labour. Is this true! I'm tempted to give it a shot!

Valeriekay23

Yes, I have. nipple stimulation can bring on labor, HOWEVER I would highly recommend talking this over with your dr.

CatsAreShady

I 100% do not recommend that you try to stimulate labor using a breast pump. Your baby will come when it's time, be patient and leave the pump alone.

PrimRoseMama

sslager said:

So I'm 40 weeks pregnant with a very big baby. I'm in desprate need to get my baby out! Not only am I tired of pregnancy my doctors want to induce me in a week which I don't want. I heard if you use your breast pump it can stimulate you into labour. Is this true! I'm tempted to give it a shot!

Nipple stimulation can produce very sudden, very painful contractions. I would not do it without care from a professional present.

You need to relax. Baby will come when they are ready.

pixieprincss

Nipple stimulation can get things moving, but like PPs have said, it can lead to less-than-pleasant results.  if you feel pressured, it might be helpful to look at some of those feelings so you can relax. Relaxation is a GREAT labor strategy. If it helps to consider:

Big baby--has your provider talked to you about the inaccuracy of measurements? There are stats on this. Anecdotally, I was told that my first was too big for me to birth and he came out under 7 lbs (and yes, I did push him out despite a less-than-pleasant doctor screaming at me that I couldn't do it)

Due date- In my childbirth class, we learned that the average first-time, non-induced mom gives birth at 41 weeks, 3 days.We also learned that European doctors don't use 40 weeks as the standard anyway (there is a whole history of how 40 weeks go started, and it isn't as scientific as one might think)

Informed consent- Your doctor is welcome to talk to you about induction--and the pros and cons--but you have the right to decline if you decide it isn't the right path for you or your baby.

You very well may already know these things, but I wanted to share them just to remind you that you've got this, and what is going on with you sounds very normal. As hard as the end of pregnancy is, the more you can relax about it, the better you will serve your body and baby. Hang in there!

sunnyday016

I definitely would not, just based on the contraction-like feelings nursing baby brings on shortly after birth. It can be pretty intense. I can't imagine how much more intense it would feel before the birth.

Anecdotally, my first baby was born at 41w2d.

ryemo

Lots of good advice here! Be patient and your baby will come. Just because you can give yourself contractions doesn't mean your body will actually birth your baby.

sslager

So I tried using my pump 2x with no luck and because I got a lot of colostrum out I decided to stop just so I don't start producing milk. Got to make sure my babes gets the good stuff

PrimRoseMama

sslager said:

So I tried using my pump 2x with no luck and because I got a lot of colostrum out I decided to stop just so I don't start producing milk. Got to make sure my babes gets the good stuff

Yeah no amount of pumping can make your milk come in prior to birth. It's actually a product of a hormonal chain reaction from birth that causes one to lactate.

I think maybe reading more about the biological process of labor & childbirth would benefit you immensely.

CatsAreShady

sslager said:

So I tried using my pump 2x with no luck and because I got a lot of colostrum out I decided to stop just so I don't start producing milk. Got to make sure my babes gets the good stuff

Wow. That really wasn't the best idea.

jnnfrrose6

I think the best "at home remedy" is a prenatal massage. Supposedly there are pressure points they can hit to "encourage" labor and even if it doesn't work (which I think goes in the eating eggplant parm or walking a lot category), you're still getting a nice massage out of it. I had a massage the night before I woke up in labor. I certainly can't say it's what brought it on, but it was lovely to have being so far along.

ChasityDB

Pumping out colostrum.... OUCH.

sweetmama101226

CatsAreShady said:

sslager said:

So I tried using my pump 2x with no luck and because I got a lot of colostrum out I decided to stop just so I don't start producing milk. Got to make sure my babes gets the good stuff

Wow. That really wasn't the best idea.

WHAT THE?!?!

CatsAreShady

sweetmama101226 said:

CatsAreShady said:

sslager said:

So I tried using my pump 2x with no luck and because I got a lot of colostrum out I decided to stop just so I don't start producing milk. Got to make sure my babes gets the good stuff

Wow. That really wasn't the best idea.

WHAT THE?!?!

Idk. I really don't know. I really don't.

NoSugarCoating

sslager said:

So I tried using my pump 2x with no luck and because I got a lot of colostrum out I decided to stop just so I don't start producing milk. Got to make sure my babes gets the good stuff

I ... You ... but ... 

CatsAreShady

NoSugarCoating said:

sslager said:

So I tried using my pump 2x with no luck and because I got a lot of colostrum out I decided to stop just so I don't start producing milk. Got to make sure my babes gets the good stuff

I ... You ... but ... 

supersarah77

I'm a firm believer that none of these types of techniques will work until your body is ready to go into labor.

cam12345

sslager said:

So I tried using my pump 2x with no luck and because I got a lot of colostrum out I decided to stop just so I don't start producing milk. Got to make sure my babes gets the good stuff

I see your getting a lot flack for this comment but I was actually suggested by the lactation consultant at the hospital to do exactly this in order to bring on labour, just make sure you are storing the colostrum so that baby gets the good stuff is what she said, so it's not as crazy an idea as all you ladies seem to think.