Natural ways to encourage labour....

Re: Natural ways to encourage labour....

• izzybella member

  May 2010

  Nothing will work unless your body is ready to go into labor.

  That being said, before I went into labor with DS, I was having some watery discharge. My OB said that usually meant the baby would come in 24-48 hours, so I went home, took a walk, ate about a pound of fresh pineapple, and I was in labor 3 hours later. 

  With DD I tried castor oil once and it was the most disgusting thing I could have ever done.

  So my advice to you would be, even though you're anxious and want to be done being pregnant, get as much rest and relaxation as you can. Read books. Go to the movies. Get a pedicure and a massage. Enjoy the ability to get up and out of the house while only worrying about yourself, not how many diapers and bottles you have or when the last time the baby ate was. Do as many things as you can now that will be near impossible with a baby, and enjoy every last minute of the end of your pregnancy  

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• Rachelilly23 member

  May 2010

  DH is making me wait to try anything until the 18th when he gets back from his last short trip. At that point, we will be having sex as much as possible!

  I got a massage yesterday and she showed me where all my pressure points in my feet were that she wasn't permitted to work on. She said she can't do it without a doctor's note when I'm this far along.

  Will never try castor oil!

  I'll be walking a lot too. Hopefully a couple miles a day.

  As for food, I plan on buying some pineapple and eating eggplant parm I have bad heartburn, but anything spicy will be tolerated with some help from Prilosec OTC.

  GL to you!
  

  Logan Jack- 6.1.10 and Emmett Weston- 9.29.12 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• Artemis0685 member

  May 2010

  The only thing I tried when I was pregnant with DD was having sex. Like PP said, it wont work unless your body is ready to go into labor though. I was having sex practically every day for those last couple of weeks and finally 3 days before my EDD I gave birth. I don't think it put me into labor...I think that having so much of it helped me not go past my due date, maybe.

  I would also say to try to relax and enjoy these last few days...but at 38wks PG that's almost impossible. Standing, sitting, laying down is all uncomfortable and you just feel miserable. The only time I felt comfortable was in a bath and of course I couldn't stay in there all day haha.

  Go on walks and try to go swimming! Good luck momma.

  

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• CaitlinJ22 member

  May 2010

  izzybella:

  Nothing will work unless your body is ready to go into labor.

  So my advice to you would be, even though you're anxious and want to be done being pregnant, get as much rest and relaxation as you can. Read books. Go to the movies. Get a pedicure and a massage. Enjoy the ability to get up and out of the house while only worrying about yourself, not how many diapers and bottles you have or when the last time the baby ate was. Do as many things as you can now that will be near impossible with a baby, and enjoy every last minute of the end of your pregnancy  

  ITA

  enjoy the last moments of having LO all to yourself.

  FWIW Sex worked for us...I went into labor 24 hrs later.  

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• MrsBalletStar05 member

  May 2010

  I'm attributing the fact that I'm dilated at all to exercise!  I've been riding a stationary bike 3-4 times a week for 20 minutes, plus going swimming once a week.   I dunno if it'll eventually put me in labor, but I'm thinking it is helping out a bit!
  

  Adrian 7.6.07 - ADHD, Disruptive Behavior Disorder, Learning Disability-NOS
  Cam 6.6.10 - Autism, Global Developmental Delay, Mixed Receptive/Expressive Communication Disorder
  

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• epona3 member

  May 2010

  I have tried:

  1. Sex - but it's not super comfortable and both of us are not super keen on it right now.  We're trying to be team players

  2. Red Raspberry leaf tea - I don't know if I'm drinking enough of it.  I usually have a cup or two a day.  Today I might try pushing it a little more.  I found it in the "health market/organic" section of my grocery store (along with the Mother's Milk tea)

  3. EPO - Haven't been willing to try this yet.  I've heard you're supposed to use it vaginally, and I figure having sex is essentially the same thing (softening the cervix).

  4. Homeopathic source called Caulophyllum - haven't heard of this one...

  5.  Castor Oil - not going to try this!!!  I do not want horrible diarrhea regardless if it puts me into labor or not!

  Other things I'm trying:

  Walking
  Bouncing/Sitting on an exercise ball
  Spicy Food
  Nipple Stimulation (An LC recommended wearing nipple shells for my flat nipples, but cautioned that sometimes it can be labor inducing.  I am definitely wearing them!  I'm also considering trying out my pump at this time...)
  Tailor sitting
  Pelvic tilts (on all fours, rocking your pelvis.  I try to do 25 reps at a time a few times a day)

  Can you tell I'm getting desperate?!?!

  
  

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• LA_sportsgal

  May 2010

  two things that I believe helped bring on DS..one..I cleaned the entire house, including getting on all fours to scrub floors.  I've heard that position helps.  So scrub away!  At least your place will be clean.  Second...I was told by my nurse not to massage my lower back because that could bring on labor.  I had horrible sciatica with DS and thought, what the hell..I'm 39 weeks, I can massage the area now.  I bought one of those mini massagers and after scrubbing the house all day, I massaged my lower back.  I was in labor by 2:30am that night.  Maybe coincidence..however, I wasn't a fingertip dialated or effaced at my appointment 4 days prior. And all this is better than castor oil. Good luck.

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