How can I kick the labor process into gear???
I’m 38 weeks preg and have a lot of back pain and am ready to have this baby. Please give me some safe remedies for starting this process that have worked for you. I know I should wait blah blah blah…so please save all that. Thanks!
Castor oil.
Honestly, nothing really works. The baby’s body, sends a signal to your brain that tells you to go into labor, and you have no control over that.
Castor oil is absolutely not recommended by any doctor or midwife. It will make you very sick and give you horrible stomach cramps, but will not send you into labor. Sex doesn’t work either, otherwise you wouldnt be allowed to have sex at all while pregnant or else you would have a premature baby. Walking is good for bringing the baby’s head down, and in labor it can help speed things along, but again, it wont bring labor on. Just hang in there, remember when you get pregnant you are signing up for up to 42 weeks of being pregnant. It will be over soon.
well i’m not there yet- a few weeks behind ya, but i’ve heard that walking helps alot. also, stimlulation to your nipples can cause contractions- as can an orgasm.
Walking and more walking. Sex also tends to work as the “white stuff” has a natural labor inducer. Try talking to your doctor. They have a few tricks like thinning the lineing that will work. But ultimately your baby will come when he/she is ready. Try to relax.
Walk. With my son I was miserable I had him at the very end of July and it was so hot. So I walked around Wal-Mart like everyday. Try going to the park since it isn’t so hot and have a nice little walk.
Actually i started trying to kick mine into gear right around this time, too. As you have probably heard walking and sex are good…but other then that eat a lot of spicey food. That through me into labor really fast.
When I would get about that far along in my pregnancy’s my husband and I would have a lot of sex and it would put me in to labor every time we have 3 boys and all my labors were brought on by sex. I swear by it
I did a deep clean on my entire house! I cleaned EVERYTHING from top to bottom. I was in labor 10 hours later. It was either that or the scare of being induced again that worked but something did it cause I was in the doctors that day before the cleaning and he said it would be at least another two to three days before I would go and if I hadnt in that time we would induce.
Just be careful of the chemicals you use. Dont make yourself sick and dont lift more then your doctor okays. Good luck!
honestly nothing but time, unless your doctor is willing to strip your membrane.
I was told that when my breast started to leak at 20 weeks not to push on them… it can cause contractions. So maybe that could get ya going. Also try a massage… but I’ve yet to be in labor… I have 17 weeks to go. So I have no idea if this will work.
Best of luck!
I will giv you some info..about natural labor stimulators after you have read this:
Having an induction or trying to start labor befoe you or your baby is readt will put you at A HIGHER RISK OF CESAREN SECTION!!!
Unless it is medically necessary to have a child early induction is not the safest route to go. Average first pregnancies are 41 weeks 1 day & pregnancies with prior births average 40 weeks 3 days… It is optimal to be patient and wait until your body & baby are ready. Intervention usually leads to more intervening, and having an induction can put you at a higher risk of having a cesarean section, something that despite being the most common surgery in the U.S. carries many, many risks.
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Some safe ways to try to bring on labor at home are:
Walking. And especially up & down stairs sideways. This helps the baby navigate the pelvic bones and allows the baby to put pressure on your cervix aiding in dilation.
Squatting is also good, both before labor & during. Before labor you can do squats to strengthen your legs for long periods of squatting during labor as well as stretching the joints & muscles associated with squatting. It also helps the baby put pressure on the cervix. And during labor it can open your pelvis up to 33% more, allowing more room for the baby to squeeze out!
I have heard good things about red raspberry tea (drink it chilled, hot it is gross!) It is said to strengthen your uterus, thus causing your contractions to be more efficient.
Sex or more specifically semen and orgasm are said to help you to release more of the natural labor-inducing hormone Oxytocin. And Sperm/semen contain prostaglandins another substance that is synthetically produced and used to aid in dilation!
Nipple stimulation is also another way to get your body to produce Oxytocin, as well as help to toughen up your nipples for the task of breast feeding that lay ahead!
I hope this was helpful, a great book about labor & birth is:
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
I recommend it to all expectant parents!
CASTOR OIL IS A LAXATIVE AND HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN TOO BE SAFE OR EFFECTIVE> IN FACT BECAUSE IT CAN CROSS THE PLACENTA IT CAN CAUSE YOUR BABY TO PASS MECONIUM (POOP!)WHILE STILL INSIDE, PUTTING THE BABY IN RISK OF A SERIOUS INFECTION, OR OTHER SERIOUS COMPIICATIONS!
I am also 38 weeks pregnant and trying to start labor. I have tried sex, squats and spicy food. They all made me start contracting but never lead to labor. Last night I had sex then about 3:00 this morning I was having horrible contractions 7 minutes apart for about 2 hours, I thought it was time I was so excited. …. Then… They just stopped once again. So if you find something that works please let me know!!! I know how you feel. Don’t try Castrol oil I heard it can harm you and the baby.
For those that are saying sex can’t help, they’re wrong. Intercourse can help ripen the cervix and start contractions- I said “can”, as with anything, there is NO guarantees…
Walk, walk, and walk some more…
Castor Oil, seems to be of constant debate on Yahoo questions… it does not, in and of itself start labor, but it’s laxative effect can cause you to have contractions, the same as an enemea can…I said “can” — it doesn’t always work either… and yes, some drs. and midwives DO tell pts to try it.
Nipple stimulation also causes the body to produce oxytocin…which in turn starts contractions, and yes…this does work….
Other then that, that’s all that I know of…
Good luck with your delivery…