Does nipple stimulation/pumping really help start labor?

daniellelovesjacob · August 2012

I am almost tempted to try it later this week. Anyone heard anything about this?

LeanneOfHonour · August 2012

stimulation hasn't worked for me. not gonna try pumping. too freaky.

phq2011 · August 2012

I don't think it works if your body isn't ready. However, I don't think I could try it either because my nipples have hurt tons this whole pg.

HeartsOnABand · August 2012

Tried hand stimulation for about a week - nothing. Tried pumping 3 different times 15 min per breast - no such luck.

Basically it just means my body isn't ready for labor and baby is comfortable in there. I've read/heard it can jump start labor when you're body and baby are ready or if you are laboring and stall, that it can jump start it.

Never hurts to try! Just some advice - if you're going to try pumping take a hot/warm shower and let the water run on your breasts or get hot towels and let them sit on your breasts before you pump and after. It's kind of painful and for some reason this eased the irritation.

JayandEmm · August 2012

My midwife always has good luck with this "inducing" method used with a membrane sweep. Of course, all of the people that she does this to are over 41 weeks (some over 42 weeks), so their body was pretty much ready but needed a kick start. She did say that sometimes it can take a few days of pumping.

junebride611 · August 2012

From what our lactation consultant at work says, you would have to do the stimulation for multiple hours for it to really be effective. :-/ And at that idea, it went out the window for me.