ways to bring on labor

Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:59 pm

So I'm noticing that a lot of us are feeling very ready to get these babies out, haha. Thought I'd start a thread for ways to naturally induce labor, so for you mamas that have already had babies: how did you get them moving?! And for anyone: what tactics (silly or serious) have you heard for starting labor?

I figure best case scenario we'll learn something, and even if not we'll get a laugh which it sounds like a lot of us swollen, exhausted, afflicted mamas could really use right now.

Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:19 pm

Here's what I've been trying and what I've heard......not that any of it has worked for me yet!

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Evening Primrose Oil
Sex
Pineapple
Spicy Food
Walking
Many positioning exercises
Castor Oil (Not tried yet)

Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:57 pm

(just want to clarify that Rasp Leaf Tea and EPO will not bring on labor, they are to make you body do what it would naturally do, in its normal timing, more efficiently- at least that has been my understanding)

My doctor told me today that the yoga ball will help but my husbands balls are better.... his exact words!!! I wasn't expecting it so of course I was shocked, but he said sex is the most effective way he has seen so of course my husband struted out of that office ready to "do his job" hahahahahahaha.

.

Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:06 pm

Hey guys!! I'm a ftm, but my baby came early.... so i'll just throw some things out there that i was doing... cant guarantee any of them were deal breakers though

Walking a ton.. in fact i would make up excuses to leave the house and run an errand walking
Red Rasberry Leaf Tea (Courtney is def right though....but im just throwin it out there)
Lots of water after a kinda high bp scare
Last time i had sex was two weeks before baby came
I love spicy food and craved it the whole pregnancy, so maybe that helped?? I ate pho the night before contractions started getting regular
Also, there are a ton of herbs out there that various cultures swear by to get uterine contractions going. I cannot attest to any's effectiveness personally. But i know the mainstream two are the black and blue cohoshes if anyone digs that.

Lastly, I would say that I took care of a few things that had been worrying me about our homebirth, and when i got some solutions, i felt like it was just another "green light" for the whole process. So maybe take care of any unfinished business that is holding you back from labor physically or mentally??

Brittany

Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:19 am

nipple stimulation-
pinch and rub nipples for a few mins then stop for a few before beginning again-brings on strong BH's and can get real contractions going if your close-i tried it with #2 and it gave me really strong BH's but never pushed things to actually get going

sex-
semen has a softening effect on the cervix and sex and/or orgasm can cause good BH's

walking/squats/bouncing on a ball-
heard it can help widen hips to bring baby down and/or bring on contractions, never had any luck with walking, it always just left me tired and sore. I've even shoveled my entire driveway days before going into labor with 3 of my kids and it did nothing but exhaust me.

Raspberry leaf tea/capsules-
heard alot of women(including my niece) swear that if you take it when you are within a week of your edd it will help get labor started. never tried it

castor oil-
mostly heard it gives you the runs which can bring on contractions-know alot of girls who have tried it..unseccessfully and say they will never do it again.

pineapple and/or spicy foods
heard eating a bunch helps bring on labor-never heard of it actually working for anyone tho

make plans-schedule an induction
seriously, it seems like everyone i know finally gives up and makes plans for going out or schedules an induction and then goes into labor the night before LOL

David & Monica 8-28-00

Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:54 am

I was craving pineapple last week while I was at our training. Luckily the hotel served it on their fruit tray at every meal and I ate a ton of if not knowing. It didn't help at all. Actually, I had less contractions during the week of training then I'd been having before it.

Other than that I don't have any that you ladies didn't already name, except Black Cohosh? But, I don't know what it's supposed to do. I haven't looked into it.

Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:06 am

I found that once labor has started, that is when the walking helps a lot! I am not sure that there is really anything that will 'bring on' labor... I cleaned the ditch along our property when I was 5 days from due with my son and nothing. I also heard that rasp tea is good for efficiency and belly dancing as well. Not only that, but belly dance helps the lower back strengthen too.