What can you do to induce labor on your own?

Justina - posted on 05/01/2009

I know how it feels to want that baby to come! I was two weeks past my due date. But come she did-on her own time. She was 8 lbs 4 oz and so full and healthy. She needed to be in for that extra time. She was alert right from the get go. I wouldn't want it any other way. Good luck!!!!

Stephanie - posted on 05/01/2009

I only took the castor oil cuz I was hoping for a 4/4/4 birthday, I ended up having him at 11:42 on 4/3/4!!!

Stephanie - posted on 05/01/2009

I tried castor oil and nearly didn't make it to the hospital. Very scary. I suggest waiting as many other people do. I used less than a teaspoon and went for a walk. An hour or so later I had one big contraction and then felt like I needed to push. It was my third, but he had to stay in the hospital on monitors for two days longer than normal. They said delivering him so fast didn't clear out his lungs well and also thought the natural hole in the heart didn't close up right away like it was supposed to.

Jenintha - posted on 05/01/2009

I took Castor oil around noon and was in labor by 6 pm that night. I waited til my due date to take it though. Good luck! :)

Marta - posted on 05/01/2009

Take walks, I was always told to keep yourself moving. I went into labor while I was out and about.

Dawn - posted on 05/01/2009

My doctor told me sex! but its not just for him, make she you fully enjoy yourself too. He told me there is something in the sperm that naturally thins you out to start your labor. I tried it and it worked for me!

Deborah - posted on 05/01/2009

i drank a teaspoon of castor oil, it was nasty, it was like swollowing vaseline, then i went on a walk! but it worked i was having contractions an hour later and i had my son 12 hours later!

Victoria - posted on 05/01/2009

Raspberry leaf tea and pineapples did the trick for me!

Rhonda - posted on 05/01/2009

When I had my second daughter, the doctor induced labor by breaking my water. Things weren't progressing the way they should so the nurse said to try nipple stimulation. Within 30 minutes, labor was much stronger.

Glendeen - posted on 05/01/2009

So you know I gave birth six days before my due date.

Glendeen - posted on 05/01/2009

I heard walking steps helps and I lived in an eleven story building at the top floor and I walked all the way to the top .. two mornings later my water broke :) Was it the stairs or was it always going to happen that way I dunno lol ...

Tee - posted on 05/01/2009

Sit on a yoga ball and bounce a little and roll back and forth. I did this 2 hours before my water broke. It works. It sounds odd but it works!

Misty - posted on 05/01/2009

prime rose oil you can find it at walmart in the health and beauty section, you can take them by mouth or vaginally.. i did it both ways and mixed mineral oil in a glass of orange juice and vanilla ice cream(be ware you will need to be close too a bathroom)when using mineral or castor oil - my doctor had me use 2 or 3 tablespoons in with that cocktail to drink...good luck

Nikki - posted on 05/01/2009

another thing not mentioned at all is maybe a visit to a chiropractor, as i have heard this works by aligning your back and hips correctly it assists the baby to move into the right position. And yoga worked for my first! relaxation and visualisation! "i am a strong birthing woman, My cervix is soft and opening like a flower" etc..or similar

Lori Jim - posted on 05/01/2009

A friend of mine suggested a trick he and his wife used, I don't know if it really worked or not because I had walked about 2 miles that day also, but my husband did it and I went into labor. There is a pressure point in the arch of your foot -- if you press and rub that spot you can feel it in your stomach. Do this for a little while and it may work for you.

Amanda - posted on 05/01/2009

Try bowling. It's awkward, but it worked for me, I was 1 week over due. I went bowling, and my water broke that night.

Michelle - posted on 05/01/2009

Wouldn't recommend early at all...I agree with those who say wait on the baby unless medically necessary to induce early. Had one of my six only ONE week early due to dr.'s recommendations and he had serious life threatening complications with repercussions lasting for his WHOLE LIFE!!! Every baby develops at their own pace. Hang on to that baby til' 40 weeks if you can! : )

Heather - posted on 05/01/2009

All of those are great ideas but if your body isn't ready then you have to wait on it. The success depends on your body, what the gestational age and if you are dilated any to begin with.

Saffron - posted on 05/01/2009

RASPBERRY LEAF TEA ~ RASPBERRY LEAF TEA ~ RASPBERRY LEAF TEA

I cant recommend this enogh, used with both of mine (after 36 weeks though) and 4 days later out him came !!!!! And it's herbal either in teabag form which i found tasted better cold with ice - i craved ice or in tablet form which is as big as a horse but i took it at night

Hope this helps

Mel - posted on 05/01/2009

i havent heard of it either sorry

Lee-Anne - posted on 05/01/2009

any one ive never herd of it befor

Mel - posted on 05/01/2009

you werent asking me where you Lee-Anne?

Lee-Anne - posted on 05/01/2009

what is cohosh?

Mel - posted on 05/01/2009

ooo not castor oil bad! all it does is make you very sick. not that ive tried it but know people that have. i had mine at just on 39 weeks after a day of housework. the red wine sounds like a good idea lol although it would have to be white for me. with my next im going to try the same thing at about 38 weeks. dont really want to go full term the baby would be too big and i will only do natural deliveries.

Lee-Anne - posted on 04/30/2009

walking dose help but i couldnt stop cleaning the night i went in to labour with my last 5 so all i can so is try to stay on your feet or try a nice hotish shower that heled me with my 1st and when you finnally do go into labour having a hotish shower allso helped me with allot of the labour pains hope that helps and good luck on the new one

Cheryl - posted on 04/30/2009

Castor oil can dehydrate you and you seriously won't appreciate diarrhea while pushing. Sex works quite well, if you can do it without laughing.

Jessica - posted on 04/30/2009

I would recommend having sex as long as it's comfortable for you. I had sex 5 hours before my water broke. My son was born 4 weeks early.

Brenda - posted on 04/30/2009

Wait for the baby to let you know it wants to come! Babies will come when they are good and ready and there really is nothing you can do. Walking makes you feel like you are doing something if it makes you feel better. Just take time and enjoy your pregnancy. When the baby arrives, there are there FOREVER! Be careful what you wish for (LOL) & Good Luck!!

Ashley - posted on 04/30/2009

Quoting Tina:

I know of a few but don't know the side effects of them all. Castor oil is one but that can also give you false labor pains but if you do that and walk it should get you on your way. Another is blue cohosh and that worked for me with my 4th pregnancy and you can get that at any herbal store. The foot message is one also. Sex is very effective as the sperm has the hormone they use to induce you. Good luck.
Tina

CASTOR OIL! I know how you feel, by the 38th week I was so done, and so were my ankles...they couldn't hold anymore water. My doctor stripped my membranes at my 38th week visit and suggested castor oil the next day if I didn't feel any action. I took a tablespoon of castor oil at 11:30am and my water broke at 2pm. I had my daughter that night at 11:04pm. Just a tablespoon and make sure you are near a bathroom because you will have to go to the bathroom frequently within the following 2 hours. I heard sex can work, but my husband couldn't have sex with me once I started to show...he was too afraid he was going to "poke" the baby in the head, despite my efforts in explaining how there was no way that could happen. Anyway, good luck!

Talia - posted on 04/30/2009

as alot of woman have already said, sex definetly works. Another good idea is stretching your cervix. I had my midwife do it but i'm sure if you hava a doc they can do it to. There is no medication and it's not induction. They manually stretch your cervix and that's what did me in. I went into labour 3 hours after I had it done :)

Christianne - posted on 04/30/2009

if you are about due it may be helpful to walk. and have sex often. that will definately help. There is a pressure point used in shiatsu a form of massage therapy/ bodywork that may also help induce labor. I know I am a LMT. The other suggestions worked for me as well. Congrats!

Tina - posted on 04/30/2009

I know of a few but don't know the side effects of them all. Castor oil is one but that can also give you false labor pains but if you do that and walk it should get you on your way. Another is blue cohosh and that worked for me with my 4th pregnancy and you can get that at any herbal store. The foot message is one also. Sex is very effective as the sperm has the hormone they use to induce you. Good luck.
Tina

Tara - posted on 04/30/2009

I had my baby a couple months ago, and sex worked for us! I'm sure the guys won't mind helping u out...lol

Chantel - posted on 04/30/2009

Is there a medical reason you "need" to force your baby to come before he/she is ready?



Any type of induction, non medical or medical, herbs, oils or medication, any type of induction is forcing the baby to come before he/she is ready and is inherently risky.



The risks of any form of induction are prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome, prolonged labor, maternal exhaustion, infection, fetal distress, augmentation, surgical birth, hospitalization, postpartum infection, postpartum hemorrhage. Depending on the item used, there are physical risks to both mother and baby that should be considered to be fully informed.



With that said, if you truly feel or need to force your baby to come early, sex, orgasm, nipple stimulation, hydration, relaxation and membrane sweeping (done by your medical care provider) are generally the safest and most productive ways to increase oxytocin and prostaglandin production and get the cervix to mature and uterus to contract.



Aside from releasing your membranes (which should never, ever, ever be done artificially without a birth attendant present) there is no sure way to create an environment that forces birth, except for surgically removing the baby.



Induction methods of any kind increase your risk of surgical birth 1/4 to 1/2, even "natural" methods.



In most cases, induction is considered either because the mother is being pressured to comply with a date and time (such as "you have to have your baby by ABC) or because she is tired of being pregnant.

In the first instance, normal pregnancy length is 38-42 weeks, which is actually 38-43 weeks LMP the way your provider has calculated it, so there is plenty of time and you can refuse any and all suggested interventions including medical induction, however it is up to you to be informed and make the best choice for you and your baby. "Big baby" is often a reason for induction, however post 38-39 weeks your baby is as big as your baby is going to be at birth with 8ounces. So if your doctor suspects a 9lb baby at 38 weeks, then you will have a 9lb baby at 40 weeks and a 9lb baby at 42 weeks, give or take 8ounces. Of course ultrasound estimations of weight are incorrect by a pound! So that estimated baby could only be 8lbs.

The second reason is usually on the heals of discomfort related to early labor. Most women who feel like they can't be pregnant any more are between 38 and 40 weeks and in general will naturally go into labor within the next 10-14 days.



So, I wonder, can you wait 2 more weeks to allow for your baby to choose when he/she is ready?



However, if there is a medical reason for you to be induced and you are trying to provide a more gentle environment by self inducing I would caution that even "natural" methods of induction carry a risk and if you are your baby's health is in question a hospital induction is the safest method. You can absolutely have a gentle mother/baby friendly induction in the hospital IF you are informed and advocate for yourself and IF your provider is supportive of your needs and wants. Those are two if's that are completely up to you.



Good luck!!!!

Jennifer - posted on 04/30/2009

They say to take a long walk, clean house, and have sex. I walked myself to death and you could have eaten off my floors the house was so clean! Unfortunately I had to be induced. Stimulating your nipples works for some people.

Ettie - posted on 04/30/2009

sex. sorry but it might not be what youre up for but it can work.

Lacey - posted on 04/30/2009

Massage therapy, i've heard that there's a certain spot on your ankles that a professional therapist can rub and it will start labor. It should be ok'd by your doctor though. Castor oil might work too, you can ask you dr how much you should take, i've heard that one is quite effective. Good luck!

Catherine - posted on 04/30/2009

my 2nd birth came on very quickly after a long walk followed by 2 glasses of red wine !!! x

Jenell - posted on 04/30/2009

One of my friends tried the npple stimulation and it worked. Had ur significant other rub them 4 a while!!!! I'm sure they wont mind. LOL