What are you doing to prepare for labor?

ho11yday · April 2014

I'm not talking about packing hospital bags, getting someone to watch your other children while you are in L&D, getting a Brazilian, or finishing up your birthing plan (all of which is great). I'm also not talking about trying to get LO to come earlier than full term (39 weeks) or earlier than what doctor would want. Rather, what are you currently (or will be) doing or consuming to help make labor easier for you?

For me, my midwives have suggested consuming 6 dates/day starting at week 36 to reduce the chances of going overdue or needing an induction* and red raspberry leaf tea to help shorten the duration and pain of labor**. (They also said any of the other old wives tales are fine to do as well, but I love dates and RRL tea so it is a no-brainer for me.) DH has also suggested "lots and lots of sex." /cue laughter

So what will you be doing?

*a 2011 study showed that eating 6 dates/day from 36 weeks onward "significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favourable, but non-significant, delivery outcome."

**per a review in 2009, "The efficacy of raspberry leaf is not convincingly documented." Still going to try it anyway.

LoveIsAll25 · April 2014

Honestly nothing. I over analyzed everything with my first pregnancy. This time around I am just going with the flow.

amroke · April 2014

Nothing. Also doing nothing to try to get baby to turn head down. I generally feel like what will be will be and I'm not going to go nuts doing a bunch of stuff that I'm skeptical about.

awc1986 · April 2014

I've been given the go ahead to start the OWTs if I like, but I figured she'll come out when she wants and how she wants to. FTR 37 wks is still considered full term in the uk, so anything from exactly 37 wks is treated as a normal time for birth.

JAM85 · April 2014

I have been having pregnancy tea with RRL for 6 weeks now and changing over to pure RRL 2-3 cups a day on Monday. I also will be doing evening primrose oil vaginally inserted starting at 37 weeks every night. I love dates so I have been having a few a day and at 36 will be trying to get to 6 a day. I also am doing webster to turn my breech baby and help with optimal positioning. And I sit on my yoga ball 4-6 hours a day (work at home a lot) So yeah hopefully she turns and all this isn't for naught!

EmilyGolden1 · April 2014

Dates every night! Can't hurt and they are delish!

SMM1986 · April 2014

Whole lot of nothing here.

ksyknelvr73 · April 2014

Nothing.

haylo33 · April 2014

Praying it comes after 37 weeks but before 41. I'm not holding my breath

Sdufort1216 · April 2014

dates may help baby come on time? never heard that but I'll start eating them too!

jenb_99 · April 2014

I ingested bucketloads of RRL and EPO like they were an actual separate food group in my last few weeks with DS, and I inserted EPO vaginally nightly from week 38 on (FYI, it makes your crotch smell like stale fried chicken). DH and I also had sex as frequently as possible for the last two weeks.

My cervix still never ripened -- even with 2 high doses of Prostin and a double dose of Cytotec. Pitocin contrax still hurt like a bish, and I still ended up having a c-section, which I loved so much I signed up for a repeat even though my OB supports VBAC.

Marcella05 · April 2014

Not a damn thing. Just want to keep my baby in there for a few more weeks. My emergency trip to L&D yesterday was luckily a false alarm, but also made me realize that the BIG day will be a lot bigger than I've been giving it credit for - mentally strengthening myself.

Unknown · April 2014

This content has been removed.

undercoverst · April 2014

Meh. I sit on my birth ball every once and a while. But everything I learned in birth class makes me know my body and baby will do what they should and there is nothing I can do if they don't.

Labor is the one thing I don't worry about.

jjones59 · April 2014

I'll spend time listening to my body, I wasn't prepared with my first---she came at 37 weeks. This time I'm going to try and relax and just enjoy the last few weeks.

MrsT2008 · April 2014

not a thing. But my "birth plan" basically consists of "get to hospital, get epidural" so there isn't much to prepare for.

ETA: And my first labor was really fairly easy. 9ish hours active labor, 4 days before due date, 2-10cm in 5 hours (epi around 5cm), pushed about 20 minutes. I did nothing for that one either.

whitehousem · April 2014

I'm eating a huge bowl of ice cream right now bc I have been having a ton contractions all day... Seriously.

I tried a bunch of stuff with DD and none of it worked. I went in for an induction at which time my water broke before they really got started.

ErikaLynn75 · April 2014

Umm... fisting?

Anyone else?.... No? Just me?

OK then...

MissLadyTay · April 2014

I started evening primrose oil. Will start dates as soon as I can get to Trader Joe's this week. If I want to VBAC I have to go into labor on my own before my due date. So sex, dates, epo, eggplant parm... I'm doing it all.

Junebug060609 · April 2014

I might try the dates (would like to avoid a pitocin induction again and am high risk so no going past EDD). Not going to go crazy with it though. It is what it is...

dakota01 · April 2014

Dates? Hmm never heard that one, but I'm game. I'm not doing the tea- my last labor was a precipitous labor and crazy fast- so I'd rather not have it be quicker!

jschwind22 · April 2014

ErikaLynn75 said:

Umm... fisting? Anyone else?.... No? Just me? OK then...

BAHAHAHA I opened this post JUST to post this and scrolled through and found that you beat me to it. Totes what I've been doing since 3 years ago when I started TTC!

Miles2Go · April 2014

ErikaLynn75 said:
Umm... fisting?

Anyone else?.... No? Just me?

OK then...

I'm so sad you beat me to this perfect reply. It was set up so beautifully.

momthatlifts · April 2014

Nothing

LittleAngel09 · April 2014

Burying my head in the sand and pretending it's not gonna happen

spacepotatoes · April 2014

jschwind22 said:

ErikaLynn75 said:

Umm... fisting? Anyone else?.... No? Just me? OK then...

BAHAHAHA I opened this post JUST to post this and scrolled through and found that you beat me to it. Totes what I've been doing since 3 years ago when I started TTC!

After 3 years of this, a hotdog and a hallway come to mind...

Lild09 · April 2014

I'm doing red raspberry leaf capsules (the tea tastes horrible to me) and dates but that's it. My midwife doesn't really like evening primrose oil bc it can cause huge digestive issues so ok not using that. I don't think any of this will send me into early labour but I just hope to get the benefits from all the minerals and nutrients from it as well as the uterine strengthening benefits from red raspberry leaf

usernewname · April 2014

Hoping for things to go as planned ... preparing for the possibility of things not going to my plan.

But also not worrying about it, as it will happen as its meant to happen.

kat8805 · April 2014

Personally pursuing some oral O's and some skeet to rippen the cervix.

I did nothing last time, except thinking I could finish my last week at work before having DD1. She felt otherwise and I went into labor naturally at 38w1d.

shaunamw · April 2014

Acupuncture, RRL tea and trying to stay strong with squats kegels and stretching. And trying really hard to stay positive and hoping surgeon gives me the go ahead for a natural delivery.

LeeLee86 · April 2014

DH and I are practicing massages and labor positions together nightly. EPO vaginally, coconut oil orally (for constipation) tea, and most importantly creating a healthy view of birth! I'm trying to get in a peaceful place. Really trying to go med free bc I have horrible reactions to all pain Med's (plus I'm a ginger so who knows if they will be affective anyway). Don't care when she comes I'm just excited!

deanna1313 · April 2014

I have no plan. I figure baby will come when he comes. Whether that's before or after due date.

I think the main ingredient in Larabars are dates if you get sick of just plain dates.

sopsongbird · April 2014

spacepotatoes said:

jschwind22 said:

ErikaLynn75 said:

Umm... fisting? Anyone else?.... No? Just me? OK then...

BAHAHAHA I opened this post JUST to post this and scrolled through and found that you beat me to it. Totes what I've been doing since 3 years ago when I started TTC!

After 3 years of this, a hotdog and a hallway come to mind...

Thank you for this...I've had a crappy day today and this def. made me laugh and feel a little better! You ladies are amaze-balls!

sheriot · April 2014

I have been contracting for about four hours. Eating jalapeño chips and planning on a glass of wine later. Hoping she stays put until at least tomorrow...this makes me realize how much I have left to do (moving things to the basement, packing a bag, etc) and how mentally unprepared I am. Eeeek.

Fwiw, I started taking the RRL capsules yesterday and after I had the tea this am, my contractions started.

Bayberry12 · April 2014

I'm trying everything I can think of; walking about a mile a day, dates, epo, red raspberry leaf tea, pineapple, and I'll start acupuncture next week. I don't think these things will make me go into labor, but since I'm having another induction right at 37 weeks or sooner, I'll try anything to make it easier or faster.

Darya10 · April 2014

Lots of squatting !!!! It helps flexibility so when you're in labor you will dilate faster . Also taking evening primerose oil orally and vaginally .
Taking 5w pills to prepare my uterus , and makes labor shorter and drinking lots of red raspberry tea !!!!
I am excited !
My sisters did all that and has very short labors !!!

awc1986 · April 2014

I might walk around naked from the waist down so she doesn't get stuck up there.

lrmrtn · April 2014

Nada. Probably walking a lot the last week. LO will come when he comes. Maybe at 40 weeks I'll reconsider but at that point I'll probably just asked to be induced.

EmilyGolden1 · April 2014

MissLadyTay said:
I started evening primrose oil. Will start dates as soon as I can get to Trader Joe's this week. If I want to VBAC I have to go into labor on my own before my due date. So sex, dates, epo, eggplant parm... I'm doing it all.

Eggplant parm?? I haven't heard this one yet- what is the benefit?

MissLadyTay · April 2014

EmilyGolden1 said:

MissLadyTay said:
I started evening primrose oil. Will start dates as soon as I can get to Trader Joe's this week. If I want to VBAC I have to go into labor on my own before my due date. So sex, dates, epo, eggplant parm... I'm doing it all.

Eggplant parm?? I haven't heard this one yet- what is the benefit?

I have no idea! Just read that eggplant parm can help on Pinterest and googled it. Willing to try anything. I love eggplant parm anyway, which helps.

jessicastanley · April 2014

Taking baths, sitting on my tush, reading a ton of deliciously naughty novels, and trying to keep this baby in for a few more weeks. I stressed myself out with DD and am trying to keep it cool with DS.

Want a personalized experience?

What are you doing to prepare for labor?

Re: What are you doing to prepare for labor?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards