birth

Rebecca - posted on 03/13/2009

I would talk to your doctor about it. Tell the doctor your concerns about being induced. I had to be induced and it was a rough labour with the contraction coming one on top of the other. Once I got the epidural it was much better. I have heard long walks work although for me it started mt contraction, they just werent effective contractions. I heard that sex is really effective to help with contractions. Good luck! Just remember even if it is not your first choice, do what is best for the baby. I had to be induced because my water broke accidentally and my daughter was not ready to come out yet. I was told I had 24 hours to deliver her naturally before we both could get infections. If I didnt deliver I had to get a c-section. It was kind of scary but the induction plus the epidural really made it happen. I had my daughter in 22 hours and I cant regret my decision to be induced. I hope that everything works out well for you.

Heather - posted on 03/13/2009

I was induced 6 days after my due date...my little guy did not want to come out on his own.  I wanted to do things naturally, my husband and I even took 8 weeks of birthing classes to prepare us.  But towards the end of my pregnancy (especially when my due date came and went!)  I was anxious to get the ball rolling.  So my hubby and I tried EVERYTHING!  Sex... exercise...eating spicy foods...there was even a restaurant in my area, that made a salad that claimed to be the "Maternity salad"...a dressing that apparently puts woman into labor...(obviously did not work for me!!)  Some things work for some...and some don't...but don't be nervous about being induced...I know it's not natural...and may not be a part of your plan.  But I was induced at 1030 in the morning, and I had my son at 739pm...it speeds things up...and even though I don't have anything to compare it too...I don't think it was much more painful than I anticipated labor being.

Well good luck...hope everything goes smoothly for you  :)

Jennifer - posted on 03/12/2009

At the beginning of my pregnancy, I was dead set on having labour start naturally.  but, as the 3rd trimester rolled on, I began flirting with the idea of an induction more and more.  I really didn't want to be pregnant anymore.  We scheduled to be induced on my due date, which  ended up to be a great thing becuase I would have gone to be overdue.  I loved having an induction and when we have our second child, will probably be induced for that one too becuase i was so happy with it the first time.  ...but this is coming from someone who had a tough pregnancy. 

just a different point of view for you to think about.  if its something you have to do, its not all that bad.  it seems to be one of those issues like epidurals.  some women swear by them, others would rather do it naturally.

Sara - posted on 03/12/2009

i was 10 days over when things happend for me and i tried everything. on the 9th day i chilled out and tried clary sage oil in an oil burner and some rasberry leaf tea. be warned that clary sage oil is very pungent (and expensive) and if you dont like the smell some lavendar in it will help the smell as well as help you to relax too. it helps your uterus to contract and get the ball rolling, took one full day of this to do it for me. 

goodluck xx

Brenda - posted on 03/12/2009

Is there a medical reason?  I was induced due to pre eclampsia with my son, so if it is for that I can see it.  Or if the baby is in danger of being delievered by c section.  Personally, I wanted an induction over c section.

Red Rasperry Zinger tea is suppsed to help though, the red raspberry leaves triggers it.  Walking, sex (semen softens the cervix), but be careful with others and don't combine too many "home remedies" at once.

As far as induction, they usually put a ripening agent against the cervix first, then see if you start labor on your own.  Then, they might break the water.  With mine, at that point they started pitocin.  If you do go in to be induced, just don't be surprised if you need pain meds.  Pitocin doesn't cause more pain but it intensifies labor by making contractions harder, more frequent, and longer.  I'd wanted a natural birth, but after 12 hours of pitocin induced labor I changed my mind real quick.

Mollie - posted on 03/12/2009

CANCEL YOUR INDUCTION.....  if there is a reason for your induction other than it's your due date then you can cancel the induction... and let it occur on its own... but i have to say you may be a week or so past your date if you do it. I have had patients come in on their induction day and their water breaks on its own and they are dilated way more than expected so it is truly if you want to go past your date. good luck.

Marilyn - posted on 03/12/2009

I am also looking at getting the ball rolling, and have talked to my oby-gyn, done some research and come up with the following:



-Castor Oil can cause severe diaherra and dehydration, it is NOT recommended most of the time, as you need to be really hydrated for labour, as dehydration can cause many different problems.

-Sex. what could possibly be bad. :P LOL. It works my causing the cervix to 'ripen', dialate, and efface. And is fine, as long as you haven't been told NOT to have sex, and as long as your water hasn't broken yet.

-Red Leaf Raspberry Tea - some like it hot, others like it iced. Personally I like it Iced with a tonne of sugar and mixed with something else. This works by 'focusing' you uterus, and contractions - even the Braxton Hicks ones. Different people suggest diff amounts, I was told by the doc that it's safe, as it won't cause labour necessarily, but it will get the ball rolling in some women. He also said, to start with 1 cup a day for 2-4 days, then increase to 2 cups, etc, up to 4 a day. I find that after I drink it, my Braxton hicks get stronger, but haven't gone into labour yet - today is also only day three...so who knows.

-Evening Primrose Oil - it's a pill like thing (looks like gel caps by Advil in a lotta ways). Good for nice hair and nails :-). It works the same way sex does....as it has the same hormone/chemical thing in it. Can take up to 2000 mg (4 pills) a day orally. Can also insert into the vagina I am told (have not done that personnaly). This works by softening and ripening the cervix. And like sex, comes with the same precautions...don't use if NOT allowed to have sex, or the waters have broken.



My doctor recommended the Primrose Oil, and Raspberry tea, though so far have only used the Tea...need to get to a pharmamcy for the pills (not prescription though, just in the vitamin section).

We agreed on this method, and it's non-invasive, and will not cause labour to start if you are not ready. But your body, naturally goes through changes in the weeks leading up to labour, which these things will 'speed up a bit" also, the tea DURING labour can help with the contractions being more effective, and therefore shortening the amount of time you are in labour. The tea can also help AFTER labour, as it causes the uterus to contract, therefore, going back to it's normal shape faster. All of this happens naturally anyways.



One of my big reasons for this (I HATE tea, and this one is no exception), is my last labour was 55 hrs, and afterwards I hemmoraged. So I will do just about anything to speed up labour this time, and limit my chances of hemmoraging again. And this is all natural, etc, and my doctor recommends it - even though it's not drugs :-)

Naomi - posted on 03/12/2009

I've heard the reason sex works is because semen has a similar chemical to the prostaglandin gel they often use.. it might even be prostaglandin.. so it softens your cervix to get it ready and get contractions going. Castor Oil thou... it can cause contractions but unless you're really ready to have the baby, they'll be false labour and make you veeeeerrry uncomfortable!

Jennifer - posted on 03/12/2009

This might sound crazy but having sex and walking is what I was told to do when I was in your shoes...if your docotor hasnt stopped you then it would be worth trying that!

Heather - posted on 03/12/2009

I did a lot of walking and ate spicy food.  I ended up going into labor 2 weeks early.  My husband and I went out to chili's one friday night and i had a chicken sandwhich with buffalo sauce on it.  When I was getting ready to watch a movie with my hubby my water just broke...i didn't have any contractions till we got to the hospital.

Jolene - posted on 03/12/2009

Reflexology, acupuncture, sex, squats and power walking. I know some people drink castor oil.

Danielle - posted on 03/12/2009

Go for a deep tissue massage focusing on the trigger points that induce labor. Find a therapist who really knows what they're doing. Have your hubby massage your feet, drink camomile tea and go for long walks. I was induced and it if I could do it again I would do ANYTHING to go the nautral way...Def. talk it over w/ your Doc you don't want to put you or your baby's health at risk.

Chani - posted on 03/12/2009

Blue Cohosh is a natural way to induce labor but you shouldnt try it until you are overdue. You can google it and see if its something you'd wanna try. It worked for me but I was 5 days overdue.  Good luck! Waiting for your baby towards the end sucks! I feel for you!

Barbie - posted on 03/12/2009

Sex did it for me. Membrane sweeping did it for my neighbour. Try long walks too, and squats. It won't happen before it's supposed to happen though. Good luck!

Evelina - posted on 03/12/2009

I was going to be induced, and the day before the induction I went into labor. My doc rec sex, walking, & spicy food. Your obg can do a sweep, & that really works & speeds up the process,



Good luck

Michelle - posted on 03/12/2009

A homemade spicy curry, it did the job for me, my waters broke a week before my due date. Why are you being induced so early?

Jennifer - posted on 03/12/2009

Well first of all is there a medical reason why you are being induced? Sometimes there is a specific reason why there has to be a doctor or a nurse while you're going through labor. My midwife had scheduled me to be induced with my now 4month old because my amniotic fluid was very low and she was concerned over his health. I was freaking out because I didn't want to be induced but I calmed down once I got to the hospital. But instead of putting me on IV Pitocin, they stripped my membranes and labor started 'spontaniously' 6 hours later. So it was a natural labor with just a push to get started.



How are they going to induce you? I had pitocin with my first because early labor was going on for 24 hours and not making any progress on its own.

Jennifer - posted on 03/12/2009

Well first of all is there a medical reason why you are being induced? Sometimes there is a specific reason why there has to be a doctor or a nurse while you're going through labor. My midwife had scheduled me to be induced with my now 4month old because my amniotic fluid was very low and she was concerned over his health. I was freaking out because I didn't want to be induced but I calmed down once I got to the hospital. But instead of putting me on IV Pitocin, they stripped my membranes and labor started 'spontaniously' 6 hours later. So it was a natural labor with just a push to get started.



How are they going to induce you? I had pitocin with my first because early labor was going on for 24 hours and not making any progress on its own.