I am 39 weeks 5 days pregnant with my third child have had contractions on and off for two weeks one lot actually went to hospital with but they keep stopping any advice on keeping the contractions going have tried walking but finding i am to tired to keep going

Ora - posted on 01/27/2009

the nipple stimulation can worked because your breast are preparing to breast feed regardless if you are going to breast feed or not; so your hormone to make milk are stimulated that way, hence contractions could get more intense. If you are going to breast feed try not to get induced; depending on the reaction to the medication you could delay your milk from coming in for a day or more.

Tara - posted on 01/27/2009

I did the nipple stimulation a few times a day for a week, it worked! I went in a week early. I also ate a ceasar salad, which apparently the nurse told me garlic would help, so I think it may have been a combination of the two. Good luck!!

Jackie - posted on 01/27/2009

Ask your doctor if you can take evening primrose oil caplets. You take them vaginally to soften the cervix and that should help you get started dilating. They're over the counter and pretty cheap. It's a lot less painful than trying to have sex at this stage but it is supposed to do the same thing.

Tamara - posted on 01/27/2009

my doctor recommended Evening Primrose Oil and Raspberry loose leaf tea.....and yes you can take them both.  Idid and went to the hospital the next day, and stayed there!  Good luck!

Jody - posted on 01/27/2009

I have some questions before giving advice. First off, have you effaced or have you dilated at all? Has your water broken already?

If you've started dilation, the safest thing to do is walk. To help alleviate the contraction pains, get on all 4's and tilt your pelvis forward some, or rock as someone suggested, allowing everything to hang. It'll take the stress off your legs and especially your back. This is also an excellent time to stretch to help muscular pain and do a perineal massage (with mineral oil) to help with the stretching of the vagina and perineum when true labor does come and you're ready to deliver.

If you have not dilated or are barely effaced, many doctors do recommend having sex. It helped with my friend and I have heard it recommended many times. Somehow, the thought of my baby traveling down in fluid mixed with sperm was a bit gross to me LOL

If your water has broken already, make sure that you still have enough amniotic fluid in the sac because low amniotic fluid (which some years ago would be described as a "dry birth") I have heard that it is horribly painful. You still have some amniotic fluid being produced even if you are leaking. Years ago, you used to have to deliver within 24 hours of membrane rupture, but nowadays you don't. Things have changed a lot, but it is important there's still amniotic fluid being produced as well and fetal monitoring for the heartbeat as the amount of amniotic fluid can affect that and the umbilical cord. It is very rare, I must add, to have no amniotic fluid at all, because you still produce amniotic fluid even if the water has broken.

Good luck-my daughter I am hoping makes it as far as 35 weeks after all her complications! Please let us know what you have!
I know when I was ready, I had my hubby take me on a dirt road that was bumpy. Don't know what Dr's think of it now, but it sure worked for me and all my sisters! LOL

Adrienne - posted on 01/27/2009

I had the same thing and my ob refused to induce. I ended up almost 2 weeks late. But yeah supposedly sex works but you have to do it almost every hour. And you have to stimulate your nipples off and on for a day or too. Anyways, if anything bothers you make sure you bring it up to the ob.

Chrissie - posted on 01/27/2009

Hi, get induced! Its easier than waiting around for the labout to totally kick in especially if you've had enough!

Mary Ann - posted on 01/27/2009

I had "Braxton-Hicks" contractions from 36 weeks until I was enduced. Everynight it started at 7PM and lasted until 11PM. Couldn't walk thru them. They stopped me in my tracks; came every 3-5 minutes. This happened with baby #3 & baby #4. When I went in for my last visit at about 39 weeks, the MD decided to induce me. With both baby #3 & baby #4 the OB nurses stated that when the baby was born he looked like he was a month old. Maybe our bodies know something that we don't. Chin-up..it is tiring but it is OK. If you should have a feeling of dread, go to the doctor immediately. I am so glad that I was induced. If you want to have your baby, go grocery shopping..the check that you have to write should send you into labor.

Taryn - posted on 01/27/2009

If anything is going to work Castor oil will. It's nasty stuff but will totally put you into labor if your body is ready. I did it with both my kids 2 weeks before my due date and it worked like a charm:)

Mandy - posted on 01/27/2009

Sounds silly but play with your nipples. Sorry for being so blunt but it works.

Kathy - posted on 01/27/2009

As others have said sex or nipple stimulation help. Also there are pressure points in your ankles and feet so perhaps a strong foot massage might help (I went into labour a few hours later). If you can get your doctor to strip your membranes, it can speed things along. I wouldn't recommend going the castor oil route unless you really don't mind spending time in the bathroom.

Take a nice rest (while you can) and keep walking if nothing else. Good luck!

Sylvie - posted on 01/27/2009

I know this might sound alttle bad but my doctor said that having sex would help get things along,although i was in labour for 48 hours.They thought my water broke all the way turns out it didnt!And the baby wouldnt go down all the way and she got stuck so they had to give me a amergency c section.so make sure that they check you for sure to see if your water broke or not!

Averil - posted on 01/27/2009

as i've only had 1 baby, i'm not all experience on getting labour/contractions 2 progress. i had a curry from a chinese 4 my tea & later that night i went in2 labour. before that i had the show 5 days before & i went for walks round my village & the super markets 2 try and get things going. i'm sure it was the curry so its worth a try oh & i heard sex is meant 2 be the best way! good luck & hope everything goes ok x

Mandy - posted on 01/27/2009

Don't know what part of the country you are in but have your hubby take you for a little motorcycle spin and of course even if it doesn't sound enjoyabe have sex. We have 5 children and all of them were over due with contractions off and on for 2 weeks before even our twins were over due but htese two things might help but just remember you can't be pregnant forever and no matter what you do       do not take Caster oil you will regret it!!!!!!

Lisa - posted on 01/27/2009

When I was trying to bring on labor I read to get on my hands and knees and gently rock back and forth. Well I did and my water broke half hour after and my son was born less than an hour after that. Good luck hope you have a quick delivery :o)

Andrea - posted on 01/27/2009

my doctor told me sex, she said that there is actaully something in seimen that soften the cervix.  But....argh who wants to have sex when your 9 mos pregnant.

Heather - posted on 01/27/2009

This may sound really weird but they say nipple stimulation releases some kind of chemical that makes you have contractions. I tried several different things and i can't say for sure what worked but something made them stronger and it put me in labor. i also tried sex but it is a certain position that matters. I dont know if you what me to tell you if so just let me know. Good luck and I prayer for you and your family for a health baby and delivery.

Michelle - posted on 01/27/2009

that happened to me for months with both babies...i dont nthink there is much u can do..i think ur body is just prepping itself...the real ones are very different and u will know the difference

Suzanne - posted on 01/27/2009

My sister knocked herself into labor by drinking some castor oil.  She said the consistency was gross and it gave her diarrhea, but the intestinal cramping from diarrhea put her into labor.  I guess it depends on how desperate you are to have your baby.  I was 11 days over due with my first child (41 1/2 wks), so I know how you feel.   I had to be induced, but not with pitocin--they just put a cytotec (prostaglandin) pill in my cervix and it knocked me into labor.  He weighed in at 10 pounds, 4 ounces. 

Kirsten - posted on 01/27/2009

I had a similar thing happen with my first.  I had contractions on and off for several days.  I kept trying to get them to kick into high gear.  I've heard walking or excercise, spicy food, squats and sex will help.  On the up side when I did go into real labor I was only in labor for 4 hours.  Good luck with the delivery.