Suggestions for starting labor??????

Emily - posted on 05/20/2011

Thanks everyone. Im going in Monday night to be induced. Pray that it will be as easy as possible... Thanks for the suggestions.

Kelly - posted on 05/19/2011

I'm sipping some cinnamon tea right now. Just break up a cinnamon stick, add boiling water, and steep! We'll see how that works. At my 39 week appt today, the nurse also stripped my membranes a bit. I plan to make my hubby give me a foot massage later, there are accupressure points in the pinky toe and right behind the bony part of the ankle. Another point you can do yourself is in the webbing between your thumb and index finger.

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/17/2011

Nipple stimulation???? Heard t works, but didn't do much for me, Eric was nursing tons right past my due date with no labor so idk, but it's one f the 'common' natural induction starters.

Emily - posted on 05/17/2011

Lol thanks for the suggestions, but ive talked it over with doctor and my husband. Were doing the induction. Im not being bullied in any way, and believe me, if I was, id do something about it. The doctors at my hospital go above and beyond to make women that they take care of feel appreciated and cared for. And I stay as active as my tired body will let me. I walk for 2 hours a day, of course separated into 30 minute sections, and as i said, sex really doesnt appeal to me right now. Im exhausted all the time. And yea ive read up on castor oil, and its a no go for me. Any other ways besides the OBVIOUS? Besides sex? Besides castor oil, or walking???

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/17/2011

Lol, it's not poison! It's a diarrhetic sold over the counter at pharmacies. Not saying you should use it, but it's not poison :) it is used by some drs and midwives as a safe watt induce naturally. But anyways, not saying you should use it.

Heather - posted on 05/16/2011

I just saw the posts on castor oil STAY AWAY>>>NOT SAFE. the reason why it sometimes works is becasue it is a poison and your body trys to protect your baby by spitting it out as quick as possible before the oil does too much damage to your baby. it is very old school advice and definately not safe. SO just be careful of that one.

Heather - posted on 05/16/2011

Remember you are the boss of your body...your doctor cannot do anything without your permission. It is up to you and do not let yourself be bullied...you will know what is right and what is not for you and your baby. LIsten to yourself. Some babies need to cook a little longer then others. I agree you want to go into labor naturally if you can. A calendar does not dictate gestation so you can say no i am gonna go a bit longer and he needs to respect you! Good luck. (also stay active, sex,. nipple stimulartion, red raspberry tea or suppliments, squats, walking, etc)

Emily - posted on 05/16/2011

Well talked about the induction procedures... I think Im going to do it. I havent even felt a Braxton Hicks contraction, so maybe Im immune to labor pain hehe (I wish). And asked doctor about cohosh, he said NO WAY, so Im not trying that. Thanks anyway. I eat spicy food all the time, so I doubt that will work. And I dont feel like sex anymore. Im exhausted all the time. Accupuncture is for those who can AFFORD it. Not me. And maybe Ill just have to wait until next wednesday, Induction day. My baby will be here soon enough. Thanks everyone.

Helen - posted on 05/15/2011

try black cohosh its been used for hundreds of yars my midwife told its safe as long a you dink it as a tea and never more than two days and best of all i did not get the poops its made of racemosa root i was worried about taken it because it has 60% ethyl alcohol in it but thats hy you need to dink it in a tea so it burns off you can take it twice a day 1.o ml in a cup of water

√v^√v^√♥ - posted on 05/15/2011

I was screwed into inducing. I didn't want it to happen like that either but I also didn't have a choice because I went to almost 42 weeks (stubborn, trying to wait) I want you to know that it is your choice, don't let doctors pressure you. So if you want to wait 1 more week you can. The day they induced labor I actually started to go into labor on my own a little so I wonder if we had waited a day or two if I would have...... it just bites :( no more naturalists anymore

They say sex helps. Walking too. Other than that, not much.

Jen - posted on 05/15/2011

Sex! lol I made my husband have sex with me to get labor started and it worked, but it stalled and I needed petocin anyway. :( My friend said there's some sort of cookie you can bake. Try google searching induction cookie recipe.

Kelly - posted on 05/13/2011

Just because they "want" to schedule an induction, doesn't mean you have to. It's your body, you get to decide! I was induced with my first, and fortunately did push him out myself. He was 9 lbs 2 oz. My little womb lover this time is already around 8-8 1/2 lbs, and very comfy. I'll be 39 weeks on Sunday, but my doctor won't schedule one until it's "medically necessary", around here, thats 41-42 weeks. By then, I'll be happy to do it, but hope things occur naturally all the same.

I've heard so many ways to start labor, but none worked for me the last time, or seem to be encouraging anything this time. Sex as often as possible, pineapple, curry, spicy food, and of course the dreaded castor oil (which even if there weren't dangerous consequences possible, I'd never do, just because that's yucky). I've heard giving yourself an enema can start things moving, but really, nothings going to start until your little one is ready. I hope you get to set your own pace and that everything goes smoothly! Good luck!!

Mindy - posted on 05/13/2011

Go and get a pregnancy message and get them to hit your pressure points or you could look up online how to do your own pressure points and do lots of walking.. Good luck

Amy - posted on 05/13/2011

Stick to your guns and say, no medical reason for induction, it's not happening. There is NO reason to induce "just cause". It's more like an estimated due month.

On other notes. I would never ever do castor oil. Labor is enough without having diarrhea and having your guts feel awful. And....it's not guaranteed to work. You could just end up miserable and pooping yourself. Red raspberry leaf tea, acupressure and relaxing are the best for getting it going naturally. only side effect of red raspberry leaf tea is....strengthening your uterus to make childbirth easier. lol. Much nicer than pooping like crazy.

google acupressure and labor induction. I agree with Corrie about not doing castor oil. I just wouldn't. But...also, don't let them induce you. Your body knows what it is doing and your little one will come out on its own time. They went by ultrasound with my first, induced because "i was at my due date" and....emergency c section and gee......she looks like she was born a couple weeks early. guess ultrasound machine was wrong. Your body is actually smarter than machines. go figure. :) you'll do wonderfully. Just relax and let your little one know you're looking out for the best and whenever baby is ready, will sure get here.

Corrie - posted on 05/13/2011

Thats IS the reason laura, nausia, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, uterus cramps that cause muscle damage and stress the baby.... I know someone who took the 'Reccomended' dose and was vomiting and crapping so hard she didn't even know her waters had broken!!!
It's just too risky :( Plus, no one wants to suffer MORE! That's the point of getting baby out right?

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/13/2011

Where did you hear castor oil was dangerous? We looked all around the Internet and found many sites that said it was ok. Some risk of getting dehydrated with the diarrhea, but I just made sure to drink a big cup of water after every bm......it doesn't cross to the placenta so it can't hurt the baby...

Corrie - posted on 05/13/2011

It is supposed to work best!!! I've done it 3 times in 5 days....
Isn't working for me.
And now i have Hemorrhoids so i'd just rather NOT cause more pain down there than is entirely necessary...
Never had them before now and it sucks.

Bri - posted on 05/13/2011

Going to be blunt SEX SEX AND MORE SEX! My MD doctor says it "stirs up trouble and can get things a going."

Corrie - posted on 05/13/2011

Don't you DARE take Castor oil. It is DANGEROUS.
Silly women who have taken it!!!! even if you've been fine, it wasn't a good risk....
NOTHING has worked for me this time.
I'm 2 overdue now, lost my mucus plug last week, when i had a phall (very hot curry), the point of which is to irritate the bowels so they contract more and release, which is what the bodydoes to naturally expel everything before baby comes out. So Chilli, spicy in general... things that may cause you IBS on a normal occasion.... BUT NOT CASTOR!! ARGH! lol./#
Pinapple is supposed to contain an inducing hormone but you'd have to eat three or so fresh ones....
Raspberry tea strengthens uterine passages but unless you drink it regularly and often it doesn;t have much effect.
With SEX, Sperm contains another hormone to help, as orgasms simulate contractions and penetrative sex stimulates the membranes.
As laura said, unless there has been a complication they shouldn't induce you until 42 weeks. You can ask for a sweep at 41.
Good luck though :)
I've been moving house (so painting, packing, lifting, bending, squatting, cleaning.....) and walking everywhere.
The walking and light excersize help baby to move down, and strengthen your muscles so do them anyway. :)
lvoe love!

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/13/2011

What worked for me was a mixture in one day of squatts, lunges, bouncing in place, pelvic rocks, 5orgasms:), sex, and castor oil. Honestly I think it was mostly the castor oil and the orgasms. But I also had the day before my membranes stripped and had homeopathic pills to help start labor. So I also was 9 days overdue and I had lost my mucous plug so I'm sure it's a mixture of alot of factors. And honestly the baby won't come out before it's ready so all this likely wouldn't have done anything if she wasn't already about to come!
Try talking to your dr about waiting longer for an induction, after all up to 42 weeks is considered safe and you can have non stress tests to make sure baby and placenta are working well.
Good luck!

AMANDA - posted on 05/12/2011

ive heard lots of things and been trying a bunch of them but so far nothing has actually worked to put me in labor.. :( but heres a list of things i've heard work for some people...

evening primrose oil, castor oil, sex, walking, squatts, pineapple or pineapple juice, spicy food, curry, stretching, pressure points, accupuncture are a few ive heard of ppl having success with...