Effectiveness of EPO and other such things

Zilelabelle

Ok, so it may have already been done, but here goes:

 In my last 5 or 6 weeks before labor, I tried various things to help make it easier/happen quicker such as raspberry leaf tea - not effective at all, EPO - I labored quickly and dilated from 4cm to 10cm in a really short time, but had some minor tearing. I started getting acupuncture at 37 weeks as recced by my MW, but didn't deliver until I was 10 days past due, though as soon as I switched acupuncturists I went into labor almost immediately. As for sex, DH and I were at it like bunnies the last 2 weeks, so it's hard to tell if it was effective or not.

How effective we're the methods you guys tried? I'm interested in what seemed the most helpful overall so I can drop the unhelpful stuff like drinking buckets of tea and focus on what really seems to work the next time I do this.

mylittlesunshine

I delivered DD1 4 weeks early...didn't do anything obviously.

With DD2 I walked like crazy. I even walked with one foot on a curb and the other on the street. Bounced on an exercise ball.

At my weekly appointment at 38 weeks my OB stripped my membranes and we scheduled an induction for the following week. Must have been me scheduling an induction because the day before I was going to be induced my water broke.

stepper1725

Although I'm sure this was just a coincidence, I ate spicy Mexican food the evening I went into labor. I was 4 days past due. I also walked a lot and had sex.

GracieBlue

EPO, RRLT, walking, birthing ball - I used or did all of them religiously but none seemed to have an effect.  DD did not descend and labor never progressed.  I will still try next time but I have my doubts

strawberrytree

I went into labour at 38 weeks when my water broke. I drank a ton of red raspberry leaf tea starting at about 34 weeks and took evening primrose oil capsules starting at 36 weeks. When I went into the hospital I was only 3cms dilated but 100% effaced and I am giving the credit for that to the EPO. I still have half a jar left so will definitely be taking them with my next pregnancy as well, as well as the RRLT. 

thatoneredhead

I was walking like a mad woman (day and night) that just made my contrax stupid strong but didnt do much.

I was doing the pump which seemed to regulate the contrax really well. On a side note, my nurses freaked the eff out when they heard I did that. My LC backed me up and told them to get off my back when they were blaming my BFing not working on that. Stupid /sigh

I didnt dialate well even on pitocin, so I wonder if these would have been alot more effective if my body went faster. 

gatsbygirl

Nothing worked for me. I used my birthing ball night and day for my last trimester, drank raspberry leaf tea, walked most days during my last month and we tried sex (unsuccessfully, I might add) a few times during my last couple of weeks. In the end, I was induced at 6 days overdue. Even after 15 hours of pitocin, nothing worked. Finally, my doctor broke my water and I got the epi. I went from 1.5 cm to 10 in 3 hours and pushed for 10 minutes. Personally, after having two babies at 41 weeks, I'm convinced baby will come when baby's ready and not before.

Heartcease

Walking and eating spicy food did nothing.  I had finally resigned myself to being induced the night my water broke, so apparently giving up works

notfrancie

Not sure if y'all remember my endless complaining, but I was 10 days overdue and had to be induced.  I tried...

- EPO (oral and suppository) for the last 2 weeks

- Raspberry leaf tea (for the whole last month, 3 cups a day)

- 2X daily walks

- daily DTD w/ DH

- DTD 3X in 90 minutes on my due date (doula said this would work) 

- bouncing on a birth ball

- insanely spicy food and fresh basil

- glass of red wine 

- acupuncture to induce labor (three times in one week) 

- stripping membranes (twice)

- breaking my water 

- endless b*tching and whining to you gals 

and none of it worked.   Besides Pitocin.  That nasty stuff worked right away.  If I ever get into a street fight of comic book/bad guy proportions Pitocin would be my Kryptonite.  

 

JessieCupcake

Oh notfrancie, I remember. I was right there with you in desperation. lol

I tried so many things:

Scrubbing the floors

Going up and down stairs

Eating hot sauce

Walking a ton

Eating pineapple

Eating spicy food

DTD w/ H

Bouncing on the edge of the bed (I didn't have a birth ball :P)

Eating pancakes and drinking coffee (my MIL swears by it)

Going on hands and knees and swaying my hips (H found this online)

Dancing naked under the full moon.. ok not really but I did hope the full moon would work!

Needless to say, I went into labor on my own 5 days after my due date. I have no clue what worked and what didn't so I guess I'm no help.

 

thatoneredhead

notfrancie:

- endless b*tching and whining to you gals  

 

 ::thumbs up:: I so wish this one worked

snicksnack

Personally I think none of it works unless you are ready to go and in that case it is a fluke when it does "work" LOL.  I tried sex, walking and with this pregnancy acupuncture none of it worked induced both times lol