Any tips to bring on labour?

[Twinkle]

I'm 35w + 4d today and saw the ob today.
Apparently due to my history, they don't want to induce me and will book an elective C if I don't go into labour before 38weeks...so...

Any tips to encourage labour?
I know I'm clutching at staws here and my body will do it only if ready.
Angie. :confused:

[Rainbowbrite]

If you can handle it, maybe try squats. I swear it helped bring my labour on :)

Goodluck, hope it happens for you real soon

RB

[JanetF]

38 weeks??? That's risking a premature baby :( If your baby isn't ready to come, no amount of trying will make it happen, and that goes for induction with drugs too. Labour is largely started by chemicals in the baby's brain that show it's ready to breathe. If you've had a previous c-sec it's still safer for you to birth vaginally and safer for you and your baby if that happens when it's meant to. Trust me, babies come out but only when they're cooked and that can be up to 42 weeks or even longer quite safely. You don't have to consent to a c-sec if you don't want it. You just say no thanks. Your Ob is obliged to follow your wishes because you employ them. The likelihood of you going into spontaneous labour before 38 weeks is ludicrously low so your Ob is basically planning surgery for you regardless of what you want. Not okay. You're the boss.
Any help I can offer just PM me. You don't have to do anything you don't feel in your heart is right for you.

[Twinkle]

My heart is telling me I don't want to risk uterine rupture or a hysterectomy.
They type of C I had previously puts me at high risk.
As long as bub is healthy and I am ok, I don't mind having a C and I'm not afraid of going into labour naturally a couple of weeks early.
Thanks anyway Janet but I'm happy to consent to a C if that is what my ob team decides is the best option for myself and my baby.
Angie.

[poshBecks]

Trust me, babies come out but only when they're cooked and that can be up to 42 weeks or even longer quite safely. You don't have to consent to a c-sec if you don't want it. You just say no thanks. Your Ob is obliged to follow your wishes because you employ them. The likelihood of you going into spontaneous labour before 38 weeks is ludicrously low so your Ob is basically planning surgery for you regardless of what you want. Not okay. You're the boss.
.
I have to say who made you her doctor? Obviously Angie's Doctor knows what he/she is talking about!!

[poshBecks]

:D as for methods of bringing on labour, maybe try rasberry leaf? Good luck angie!!

[Manxie]

Angie

My bub was eight days over and was going to be induced on day 11 if things hadnt got moving! I tried everything sex, pineapple that damm rasberry leaf tea, clary sage. I had accupuncture and went for a big walk afterwards, within an hour my contractions had started...I do think things were headed in that direction anyway though!

Just a thought, best of luck :D

[Taddy]

I have to say who made you her doctor? Obviously Angie's Doctor knows what he/she is talking about!!


Hey Becky

I have to agree with you and considering my sister had her baby 2.5wks early and it wasn't classified as a premature baby. Maybe you should get your facts straight Janet!!!

[Rainbowbrite]

My daughter was born right on 38 weeks, no induction, just spontaneous labour. She was not considered premmie at all.

Goodluck
RB

[Twinkle]

Thanks for the support everyone.
I posted that first post sort of cluching at straws as I would like to see what Labour is like but my absolute priority is that this baby is ok and that I am still around and whole to be her Mum.

My Sister is a Natropath and has made up a herbal mix used to tone the uterus, I don't think it would bring on labour but hopefully it will help to strengthen my uterus if I do have labour and a vaginal birth.

I have a 5 yr old dd who was born at 27w +5d after my membranes rupturing early at 25 weeks, so I am aware of the dangers of entering the world prematurely.
Thank the universe Layla is now a normal (very cheeky) child (no ongoing problems).
But the fact that she had to be born early by C means that the incision has a higher likelyhood of not being strong enough to withstand labour.
The incision will be higher up on my uterus now and most likely a V shape rather than a horizontal incision.
These 2 factors mean that my uterus is weakened and at a higher risk of rupture.
The obs team are willing for me to have a trial labour though.

Also with regard to "standing up" to Dr.s/medical staff, I'm not at all shy in that way as I am 'one of them' :eek:

A baby born before 37 weeks is considered prem but then term bubs can have problems at birth too.
If I went into labour now (35w+5) I wouldn't be worried, after a 28 week bub this baby seems huge and I know most of her development has taken place by now.

Angie.

[leabdea]

Hi Angie,

Glad Layla is doing great! I can only imagine what you have been through with her being born so early - I had some preterm labour at 26 weeks with my first (who is now 7 yr old ) and having the paediatrician describe what all the possible problems could be while they were in the process of stopping the contractions was scarey enough.

Anyway, I was wondering if you have heard about taking evening primrose oil. Here is a link to some info about it. It helps to soften the cervix.

==> http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/natinduc.html#Ripening

Hope this helps.

[terri]

If you can handle it, maybe try squats. I swear it helped bring my labour on :)

Goodluck, hope it happens for you real soon

RB

Just curious as to what squats are? :confused: lol im dying to try n bring this labour of my own on lol

gd luk angie :)

Terri

[Rainbowbrite]

Squatting down. Stand up, with legs slightly appart and bend at the knees then return to standing. I used to do them in a pool as part of therapy for pelvic pain.

Goodluck, hope it helps :)

RB

[jonesso]

As Manxie said...

Raspberry leaf tea (3-5 cups per day) - actually really helps to tone your uterus and makes it all pop back into place quicker post-birth; sex!; fresh pineapple; long walks. I also had acupuncture and acupressure - the latter is great pain relief for labour too!

Good luck.

[Mummabear]

I was 8 days overdue so nothing I used worked!!! :D

But I do think that the evening primrose oil capsules inserted into the vagina helped me as I was 3cm dialated and had not felt a thing. Whether this would have happened anyway who's to know. But I'll probably try it again next time.

Good luck!

[Angelmist♥]

I have also tried the Evening Primrose Oil not vaginally though just taking a few tablets a day and I was nearly 5cm's dilated on Thursday, with no pain or labour 'symptoms'. I found this website that may help, lots of different natural forms of induction. Just scroll up!




http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/natinduc.html#Nipple

[GIZMOE]

Hello,

I think you should just be patient. If you and the baby are healthy with no complicactions then Your baby will come when he or she is ready. We keep forgetting that birth is a natural event and bring it on unnaturally can cause you more pain and interference. Try taking it easy and rest , the more your body relaxes the better it will perform. Remember there is no time limit !!!!!! that's just a medical philosophy.

[leabdea]

I agree that in the vast majority of cases babies come when they are ready. And we can try lots of things but they won't really do anything if our body isn't ready.

I find it interesting that the '40 weeks' rule used to calculate our Estimated Due Date was made famous in the 1800's (by F.C. Naegele) and studies have since shown that the average length of normal gestation is actually longer.

So for a first time mum, the average length of gestation is 41 weeks and 1 day.

==> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2342739

Naegele's rule was just an estimate to allow women and families to do some basic planning to have things ready for when the baby arrived. Lately, though, the actual date is used quite literally. Which is weird to me since it's not even the most current average.

If someone suggests that you are 'overdue' before you are 41 weeks then it seems they are behind the times and haven't taken notice of the Harvard study.

When you have been eating a healthy, well balanced diet with lots of protein throughout your pregnancy and have been doing some regular exercise, then you can be confident to let nature take it's course....and for some reassurance get your baby's heart tones listened to often.

Some great ways to naturally stay more comfortable during late pregnancy are swimming, pelvic rocking on all fours, eating smaller meals more frequently, sleeping with lots of pillows arranged around your body, pregnancy massage, chiropractic adjustments.....there are so many more things, I might start a new thread just on this topic to get everyone's suggestions.

The thing that tends to make it difficult for us to go into labour is stress, which is unfortunately what is created by our medical team getting antsy at our '40 week' mark.

Hope you pregnant mamas have a lovely birth day!