What are you doing to prepare for labor?

sopsongbird · April 2014

I'll be induced early due to hypothyroidism, GD, and the fact that he's still 2 weeks ahead in growth. I will be doing what @jessicastanley is doing...sitting on my butt, reading trashy novels, and playing Xbox. :-)

*Spelling is hard yo*

Sdufort1216 · April 2014

I'm eating 6 dates a day. old wives tale apparently it makes labor shorter and supposed to make you have baby on time lol I bet it's crap but I'm willing to give it a whirl

Lizmullen · April 2014

I read that cuddling releases oxytocin so I have convinced DH we are just going to cuddle. Muahahahahaha

spacepotatoes · April 2014

Sdufort1216 said:

I'm eating 6 dates a day. old wives tale apparently it makes labor shorter and supposed to make you have baby on time lol I bet it's crap but I'm willing to give it a whirl

Not such an old wives tale! Many of us are giving it a try. I figure, won't hurt, good chance it'll help, why not?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280989

chillypenguin · April 2014

spacepotatoes said:

Sdufort1216 said:

I'm eating 6 dates a day. old wives tale apparently it makes labor shorter and supposed to make you have baby on time lol I bet it's crap but I'm willing to give it a whirl

Not such an old wives tale! Many of us are giving it a try. I figure, won't hurt, good chance it'll help, why not?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280989

I decided to try this because I was going to be induced at 39 weeks and I was scared of being induced with no progress and ending up with a c-section. I started at 36w2d. At my appt on Thursday (36w6d) I was 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. My water broke Sunday morning (37w2d) and I was 5 cm when I got to the hospital. They gave me pitocin since I wasn't contracting enough on my own and I went from 5cm-10 cm in about an hour. So maybe it worked, maybe it was a coincidence, but I did eat 6 dates a day before delivery. I wasn't expecting it so early though!

IBackBevo · April 2014

The dates thing is not completely an OWT. A study (albeit, a very small study) has found that it had beneficial effects. And even if it doesn't help, it certainly doesn't hurt. I was planning on doing the 6 dates a day starting soon, but I purchased some and they taste pretty nasty. I am going to try dressing them up, though...maybe making date bars or wrapping them in bacon and stuffing them with cheese.

Probably not going to do RRLT because I read somewhere it can raise BP. It was only in one place and I can't find anything else to back it up, though, so I might ask my OB.

In the trying to get labor going category:

I have heard sex is good because semen has some effect on the cervix and oxytocin can increase contractions.

I also read a medical study where nipple stimulation (i.e. with a breast pump) worked when done for like a week or more, but the amount of stimulation the study participants did was insane. I think it was an hour or two a day spread out over several pumping sessions. Of course, I guess it isn't any different than pumping, but I think that might make your nipples a little raw.

Roufi · April 2014

My POA is complete denial. I'm ok with staying in limbo right now. The one real contraction (ie not BH) that I've had scared the holy shit out of me, the thought that it was go time...skeery

springbeduk2 · April 2014

spacepotatoes said:

Sdufort1216 said:

I'm eating 6 dates a day. old wives tale apparently it makes labor shorter and supposed to make you have baby on time lol I bet it's crap but I'm willing to give it a whirl

Not such an old wives tale! Many of us are giving it a try. I figure, won't hurt, good chance it'll help, why not?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280989

Thanks for sharing that article (abstract)!

I wish I didn't find dates so disgusting ... maybe ground/chopped up and mixed with something else? Anyone have recipies/ideas?

hfooter · April 2014

springbeduk2 said:

spacepotatoes said:

Sdufort1216 said:

I'm eating 6 dates a day. old wives tale apparently it makes labor shorter and supposed to make you have baby on time lol I bet it's crap but I'm willing to give it a whirl

Not such an old wives tale! Many of us are giving it a try. I figure, won't hurt, good chance it'll help, why not?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280989

Thanks for sharing that article (abstract)!

I wish I didn't find dates so disgusting ... maybe ground/chopped up and mixed with something else? Anyone have recipies/ideas?

You should be able to find a bunch on Pinterest. I don't mind them and can eat them plain so I haven't had a need to look for ideas.

spacepotatoes · April 2014

springbeduk2 said:

spacepotatoes said:

Sdufort1216 said:

I'm eating 6 dates a day. old wives tale apparently it makes labor shorter and supposed to make you have baby on time lol I bet it's crap but I'm willing to give it a whirl

Not such an old wives tale! Many of us are giving it a try. I figure, won't hurt, good chance it'll help, why not?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280989

Thanks for sharing that article (abstract)!
I wish I didn't find dates so disgusting ... maybe ground/chopped up and mixed with something else? Anyone have recipies/ideas?

These are a couple that I've saved but haven't tried yet:
https://www.justgetoffyourbuttandbake.com/2014/03/04/matrimonial-bars-tweaking/ (date squares)
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/banana-and-walnut-smoothie.html

Sdufort1216 · April 2014

omg awsome!! I had to go to 4 a day cuz my bathroom breaks were getting outrageous lol it's great to see It may help!

Sdufort1216 · April 2014

slice them in the middle put peanut butter inside and roll in coconut.... delicious

sisterjanet · April 2014

I'm trying harder to go for a walk most days, since the midwives suggested regular exercise would help with my goal to not have pain meds. Thank goodness it's finally spring.

JACKIE_RS88 · April 2014

Doing Webster because I already have scoliosis so proper alignment are a big deal for me. He's already head down so that's not an issue but actually getting into the right spot and an easier way out are high on the list for me.

I still have tea from last time I can start drinking and some RRL pills.I won't do EPO until after 39 weeks. Last time it might of been coincidence but I put it in one night and started contractions the next morning - but it might of also been the spicy food or just baby was ready. I'm not risking it until 39 weeks this time...I'm in no hurry right now!

Anyone starting on the fenugreek now for breastfeeding?

usernewname · April 2014

Anyone drinking the RRL tea and taking EPO? My MW recommended it today so I have some in my fridge to start drinking tomorrow. Just curious to see who else is taking it.