Encouraging labour to Start-Any ideas??

[Nicolawi]

Hi Everyone

My first baby is due on Saturday. I know with first babies the majority of pregnancys go overdue and she'll come when she is good and ready, but already im impatient and want her here now and was wondering if any of you have any tried and tested top tips you would recommend for naturally starting labour?

Ive been told about currys, pineapples, long walks and sex, but just wondering if any of these old wives tales are true?

Thanks

[4getmenot]

I think when its ready to come out it will come out basically. Ask redcrx. But its still early days babies look so much cuter that are born late theyre not all wrinkly :-)

[sunflower68]

Hi Nicolawi I feel for you. My first arrived on his due day, second a day late. Both times I did some vigorous jumping around on the due day. Sorry but a bonk was out of the question!!!!!!!!

[johnlambert]

Lots and lots of cod liver oil, however as 4get has said you are best advised to let nature take it's course, the baby will come when ready
Good luck

[Nicolawi]

A bonk is DEFINETELY out of the question...tried it already and just ended up in fits of giggles!

Maybe i should get my trampette out of the shed then...?

[Katie~77]

My first baby arrived on the day she was due, so you never know your luck.x

[saxy_jag]

When my youngest was overdue, the midwife told me that "a good way of getting it out is to use the same method as you did to get it in there," ie. sex.

It didn't work, but it was fun trying.

[redcrx]

i finally gave birth at 42+3 After 3 days of being prodded and poked by doctors trying to start my labour.

baby will come when ready but a few tips / old wives tales are:

sex (hormone in sperm same as that artificial hormone used in hospital to kick start labour)

curries - to get your bowels moving, be warned though as can cause baby to poo in waters

Cod liver oil - same as above NOT advised at all

Long walks - gravity and movement

crawling on all fours to encourage babys head to put pressure on cervix

Pineapple - would need to eat 7 pineapples to digest enough active ingredient

Raspberry leaf tea - can strengthen cervix in readiness of labour but also trigger contractions

Nipple massage - stimulates the uterus into contracting but may take a while.

[Nicolawi]

Does cod liver oil actually work john? Ive heard the theory behind that is it gives you the runs really bad, which in turn the strain triggers contractions?? Sounds a bit ominous....

[Nicolawi]

Thanks Red!

I think what it all boils down to is pure chance probably..even so ive been drinking my oh so delicious rasberry leaf tea for a week now, eaten four pineapples, lots of currys, had sex (not trying that one again!) and been for lots of walks. Trampette is coming out of the garage shortly for a bit of a bounce and then i might get the carpet mousse out and crawl around scrubbing my living room rug......

If that doesnt do anything im turning my phone off and hibernating until she comes...cant stand much more of people asking and still now having any news...its mind torture!!

[johnlambert]

Try having sex 'doggy style', it makes penetration easier

[amonty1144]

I tried everything to get my son to arrive, he was 2 weeks late. None of it worked, not even going for a ride in the old landrover. He even resisted 2 scrapes of the membrane
What finally got it started was bending over to put my trainers on, maybe you could try that.
Good luck, babies come when they are ready

[Meg888]

I was already in hospital, due to early water rupture at 33 wks; i was told baby would be early, but not be earlier than 34 wks due to injection to stave off labour. Sure as life, the day before 34wks I wandered the entire hospital, every corridor (as I wasnt allowed outside) all day and all night (till bedtime!)- labour started within a couple of hours going to bed & 24 hrs later had a tiny little 4 pounder - but she was right as rain!!

[tigwig]

You will wish that your labour hadn't started once it does trust me! Only joking I went for a long walk and instead of my usual waddle I walked through the aches and pains of my huge bump and inner thighs and forced myself to walk at quite a brisk rate that I would normally do before pregnancy and afterwards I was exhausted but did go into labour the very next day!

[gina32]

as my mam used to say, the apple wont drop until its ripe!

[sunflower68]

Ooh Nicola the images you are giving me are making me giggle too.!!!! Keep us updated; that rasperry tea is vile.

[Nicolawi]

Thanks for you advice everyone...gonna go for a nice long walk now (to the chippy of course!-need a worthwhile reward at the end of it!)and a have back and brisk fast walk back and see if that jiggles her out.....

will keep you posted!

oooh and if anyone else has any other top tips put them on here please!the more advice the better!
x

[lil-mummy]

i am 37 weeks myself and have been told that castor oil works, my sister try it and within 3 days she was in labour just from drinking it, i am purchasing it myself and going to see how it works, let me know how you go with it.

[lil-mummy]

hi there again, with my first daughter i tried having sex and going 4 wheel driving and it seemed to have worked, i went 3 weeks early, i did the driving 48 hours before and sex 24 hours, but something worked any way