Help to start dilation/labor

Krista - posted on 12/03/2009

Good to hear, Jessica! My due date is dec 26 so it feels like much more of a guessing game this time for sure! lol. Even our other children have their bday guesses in.

Jessica - posted on 12/02/2009

Thanks guys! Im not really trying to get him to be born before hes really ready but I want to do what I can to "encourage" him to come into the world, lol! Besides, it would really suck for Hayden to have his bday on Christmas day- although my husband and I have already decided to let him celebrate his "half" bday in June with my husbands bday (his is 03JUN) Im playing this all by ear and not stressing too much about it though. Thanks!!!!

Kimberly - posted on 12/02/2009

Krista, that is such good advice. With my firstborn, I got really impatient as well. When my former ob/gyn suggestion an induction ON my due date because she thought the baby was getting big (my hubs is 6'6") I jumped at it. Then ended up having a c-section I desperately did not want. So, Jessica, despite the list I typed out to you earlier, I think Krista's advice here is golden. :) We'll be thinking of you!

Krista - posted on 12/02/2009

Having been in your position a few years ago I understand your feelings. My first son was born 5 days after my last final in april 2004 (religion 251, yes, I was praying and luckily had the final moved up 8 days or I wouldn't have been there lol)

If this is your first baby I think you should be fine to get past the 8th but I do want to encourage you! As uncomfortable as you may be, sometimes it is best to wait for baby to choose.

I know a few moms who worked really hard to get there babies to come when they wanted and ended up with traumatic deliveries, some ending in c-section, because baby wasn't ready or their bodies weren't really ready either.

Christmas could be carefree for you! or could be joyfully tired with sleepless nights =)

2 things that really do work, and I HIGHLY SUGGEST TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR FIRST
1- acupressure
2- acupuncture

please remember that there could be adverse side effects to these treatments such as shortened labour and or increased increased labour pains. They may also affect baby raising babys heart rate thus increasing your risk of c-section.

The best thing you can do when you're done your final is RELAX. Think and participate in relaxing activities and envision baby moving down the birth canal in a peaceful manner. Sometimes stress can 'make' you hold on to baby longer.

Good luck with your final and with baby!

Kimberly - posted on 12/02/2009

These are all old wives tales and so unproven, but here's some I've heard:

1. Drink raspberry leaf tea (4 to 5 cups a day)

2. Go for long walks

3. Squat down several times a day and try to relax all your muscles. This is supposed to encourage the baby to move down in the birth canal.

4. Sit on a yoga ball frequently throughout the day. (Does the same as #3)

5. Bumpy car rides (this one sounds silly to me, but I've heard it so often it must go on the list.) :)

6. Primrose oil. (Don't know what to do with this one...rub it somewhere? Drink it? Maybe you'll have to Google that...)

7. Sex (This is tmi, but there is apparently a hormone or "chemical" or something in semen that helps to ripen the cervix. It's not the actual act of sex that is supposed to ripen you for labor, but the effects of the semen on your cervix. Sorry to be so frank...)

8. My mother in law told me this weekend that she heard turkey can induce labor. I do know a LOT of people with Thanksgiving-time birthdays...so maybe there is some truth to that. But you might want to cook up a turkey breast or two and eat lots of turkey over the next couple weeks and see what that does... :)



That's all I can think of for now. Good luck to you! :)