October 2015 Moms

I want to naturally go into labor...

At my last dr appt, the dr was concerned the baby is going to be too big at 40 weeks. He wants to do another sonogram at 37 weeks and check his size again.
He said at that point, if he's too large to wait another 3 weeks, we will discuss c-section or induction.
I don't want either!!! But I also don't want to hold out until the baby is too big to birth vaginally and I have to get a c-section anyway.
So what are your experiences? Is being induced really that bad? What are the chanced I can go unmedicated after being induced?
What are some tried and true ways to naturally induce labor (that I obviously wouldn't do until 37 weeks or later and only if doc says he's getting too big)?
I'm NOT drinking castor oil! And I can't even imagine having sex in another 5 weeks. I'm just about done with all that business now!!

Re: I want to naturally go into labor...

  • I had my first son completely drug free just fine. I was induced with my 2nd and the pitocin made my contractions so strong and unbearable that I couldn't handle them and had to get an epidural. They say sex is a great way to get things happening. If you want to go into labor bad enough you will do it. Also I've read about evening primrose oil helping to ripen the cervix. Worth looking into
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  • Question. What made your doctor concerned about a large baby? Did you have a scan or was it by belly measurements? I'm curious because I'm worried about my baby being huge! I was 9lbs on time but my husband was 9lbs 3 weeks early. I told my OB about his size and timing and she seemed concerned, she said if baby follows in dad's footsteps size wise, she could be 11lbs by your due date. She discussed setting up an ultrasound soon for weight estimate and the possibility of c-section should baby be too big for me.
  • Acupuncture can help induce labor. Thumb sucking and nipple stimulation are also ways to induce labor naturally.
  • I was induced with my first due to being high risk and yes the pintocin makes the contractions stronger and faster but over all I had a wonderful experience!
    I went naturally with my 2nd and the experience was wonderful as well.
    Both has pros and cons. :)
    One of my friends ate 5-6 dates a day about 3 weeks before her due date and was able to go naturally even a little early! I have also heard primrose oil works well....and gentle birth from mountain meadow herbs is great! And helps with recovery as well.
  • There is little that is proven to work without the baby also being ready to be on their way too.
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  • My first son was 9.7 lbs, He ended up with shoulder dystocia, a broken left clavical(collar bone) and neuropathy(nerve) damage to his left side. I'm seeing a high risk OB this time, and he says this baby is definately going to be over 9 lbs just by feeling my belly, I go for an ultrasound next week at 36 weeks to see how large. He said there's no need to choose a c section if I don't want to go that route, I told him how it absolutely freaks me out. He said just because my first had shoulder dystocia and a broken clavical doesn't mean this baby will, he said though where I had complication with a big baby I'm more likely, but doesn't mean it's going to happen. I see him again on the 23rd of this month to discuss more. My first son they estimated to be 7.5-8 lbs max. I'm shooting for another vaginal birth !
  • @pinkj4182 he did a sonogram and based off the measurements he took on the pictures determined that.

    Thanks so much ladies for all of your advice!

    I do have a good doctor and I think he will
    honor my wishes, but I also don't want to be hard-headed about it and let this baby get so big, that it's dangerous to birth him.
  • Baby measured 5lbs 12oz at my sonogram two weeks ago (33 weeks pregnant).  I'm concerned about a big baby too but no one has brought anything up about it.  My doctor did mention the other day at my appt that my cervix is soft and I'm dilated 1cm and I'm now 35 weeks.  She told me there is "no way" I'm making 40 weeks...I think they may have just gotten my due date wrong.  I don't know if she meant I will go naturally or she wants to induce - she didn't say but I see her in two weeks again and then every week thereafter.  Only time will tell!
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  • The reason people say to have sex to induce labor is because of the release of oxytocin. It's the release of the "love hormone" cocktail that sends you into labor and pitocin is just a synthetic version of oxytocin. You can achieve the same effect by having some dates with DH in the last few weeks before labor. Watch a sappy movie, cuddle, take a bath together, etc. Just anything to make you feel extremely loved.
  • Ask your dr to strip your membranes.
  • I'm being monitored for a possible big baby as well because my first was over 9lbs. At my 33 week ultrasound baby was estimated at 4lbs 13oz which I was told was average. I'll be 38 weeks next week and will be having another ultrasound to check on weight again. I've never been induced but I went into labor naturally with my son and I'm hoping for the same this time around and to avoid induction especially because I did not have any complications birthing my first despite his size. I think I'd try to induce naturally (walking, sex, etc.) before opting for induction unless my doctor was adamant there was no other way. I do trust my doctors but I know my body has done it before so I feel pretty confident of be ok if I had another big baby
  • @srhbgr - Yes, sex does cause the release of oxytocin, but not in amounts that induce labor. Sex is recommended because semen contains high levels of prostagladans. The prostaglandin softens and ripens the cervix. It's the same thing as the cervadil or cytotec that is used in an induction. 
  • @srhbgr - Yes, sex does cause the release of oxytocin, but not in amounts that induce labor. Sex is recommended because semen contains high levels of prostagladans. The prostaglandin softens and ripens the cervix. It's the same thing as the cervadil or cytotec that is used in an induction. 
    Yes, I know that sex is much more optimal than cuddling, however since OP specifically said she didn't want to I was just offering up an alternative. But now I can't stop laughing thinking of all of us getting rather desperate and uncomfortable here at the end. I just have this ridiculous image in my head of handing DH a cup and a magazine saying, "Here! Fill this up and cuddle me! We need this baby out!" Actually if I'm honest it was your siggy that made me think of it. LOL!
  • What on earth is stripping your membranes!?
  • Stripping the membranes is when the doctor or midwife uses a gloved finger to gently separate the amniotic sac from the wall of the uterus. This releases hormones that can trigger contractions. I've never had it done but have heard it can be quite painful though.
  • Stripping the membranes is when the doctor or midwife uses a gloved finger to gently separate the amniotic sac from the wall of the uterus. This releases hormones that can trigger contractions. I've never had it done but have heard it can be quite painful though.
    @bucher1s, I just wanted to follow this description of stripping membranes with a personal experience: my OB did it when labor had stalled once with DD, and it felt the same as a cervical check. I think it might depend on what stage you're in during labor or if you aren't close to active labor since I've noticed that some people say that it is much different from a cervical check. I already had a bulging bag of waters and had been in strong labor (which had stalled), so perhaps my case was more conducive to a painless sweep.
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