Labor Induction Methods

[lemon200]

I know most people are trying to keep their babies in for as long as possible but I just had my membrane sweep and they are planning on inducing me next week and I would really like to go naturally if I can!

So! Does anyone have any wives tales/tried and true methods that I can try over the next 48 hours?

[nbalkin]

Sex. I had one of my therapists tell me to do jumping jacks, but that aint happening for me. I can't imagine the pain that would create.

[esgrunner]

My sister's tried-and-true method was pizza and sex. Really, we think it was the oregano on the pizza. Or maybe (probably) it was just the sex. But it worked three times. Oregano is supposed to be an herb that helps to induce. And the prostaglandins in semen also, of course. And I mean, come on. Pizza and sex.

For her third kid, my dad happened to see my BIL in the pizza place (the sex part was NOT discussed w/ my parents, but they knew the pizza part) the night before my youngest nephew was born and he told my mom to get ready for a phone call that night or the next morning!

[Deleted]

Walking, and walking one a step higher than the other.

If you get really desperate there is spicy foods and castor oil, I personally would stay away from the castor oil.

[shannonabigail]

I've started a cup or 2 a day of red raspberry leaf tea that I picked up at Babies R Us.

[funhaven]

I am a FTM so really don,t know anything, but my friend took evening primrose oil (orally), it is supposed to help soften your cervix? I dunno..

I am following this thread though because I am curious what others have done

[RandomName]

Walking, sex, massage, pressure points (ankles and bottom of foot - I'd have to google to be sure exactly where), nipple stimulation, spicy foods. I cannot vouch for the efficacy of any of these methods. Yet.

[esgrunner]

Jul 16, 2015 17:15:43 GMT -5 RandomName said:

Walking, sex, massage, pressure points (ankles and bottom of foot - I'd have to google to be sure exactly where), nipple stimulation, spicy foods. I cannot vouch for the efficacy of any of these methods. Yet.

Oh yeah, the pressure points...the nurse that taught our L&D class said there's one on the ankle about an inch or two above your Achilles tendon and the spot on the bottom of your foot between the big toe and the second toe, like where the fleshy spot is between your thumb and index finger (but on your foot).

[abvintage]

As for spicy foods or castor oil, I'd skip those. You really don't want that going on while trying to deliver.

Nipple Stimulation has to be done for an hour at a time 3X a day but it can lead to some pretty heavy contractions so sometimes they don't recommend doing it unmonitored.

Walk, walk, walk.

[queenb]

Jul 16, 2015 16:44:23 GMT -5 shannonabigail said:

I've started a cup or 2 a day of red raspberry leaf tea that I picked up at Babies R Us.

+1 even though from what I understand this can just make labour easier, not so much induce labour. I find the tea yummy though.

[shannonabigail]

Jul 16, 2015 18:14:45 GMT -5 queenb said:

Jul 16, 2015 16:44:23 GMT -5 shannonabigail said:

I've started a cup or 2 a day of red raspberry leaf tea that I picked up at Babies R Us.

+1 even though from what I understand this can just make labour easier, not so much induce labour. I find the tea yummy though.

Easier is exactly what I want!

[Deleted]

Dates (the fruit). I read a scientific study that actual found a significant (statistically) difference between a control group and the group that ate 6-7 dates a day. Sex, walking, bouncing on the ball. I will be starting all of these as soon as I know she is head down.

[Deleted]

Yeah it is a lot. I was thinking of stuffing them with cream cheese and almonds and wrapping them with bacon...I am pretty sure I could eat 6 of those

[Laverne]

Jul 16, 2015 18:14:45 GMT -5 queenb said:

Jul 16, 2015 16:44:23 GMT -5 shannonabigail said:

I've started a cup or 2 a day of red raspberry leaf tea that I picked up at Babies R Us.

+1 even though from what I understand this can just make labour easier, not so much induce labour. I find the tea yummy though.

This makes me feel better, I was just looking for the tea thread because I had picked some up on Tuesday and have only had one cup a day but the BH are getting more frequent/longer so I was scarred I got things kick started too soon, I still have 35 days to go.

[Laverne]

Jul 16, 2015 18:54:23 GMT -5 @mamazbo said:

Dates (the fruit). I read a scientific study that actual found a significant (statistically) difference between a control group and the group that ate 6-7 dates a day. Sex, walking, bouncing on the ball. I will be starting all of these as soon as I know she is head down.

oh gosh I have been eating 3-4 dates a day because I thought they helped control hemorrhaging- not induce labor, I will have to stash those away for a couple of weeks.

[jgesi]

Do dates are one of the main ingredients in Lars bars, which I binge on. I wonder if the will do the trick or if they need to be completely unprocessed

[shortstack]

No idea if it actually works but it's delicious. My SIL made a labor cake when she was pregnant. I've been looking forward to making it this entire pregnancy.
Also +1 to avoiding castor oil- again from my SILs experience

[sunshinelady15]

Egg plant Parm something in it stimulates labor (you have to be due though) my daughters picture is on the wall of the restaurant that put me into labor. True story! Within 24-hours of ingesting, she was born. They even include the recipe here


www.scalinis.com/main-babies.html

Good luck

[kcebeling]

+1 to the acupressure points...

If you can find an acupuncturist that could help too...and may be covered by insurance. Mine acupuncturist friend says it should be booked in tandem with the sweep.

lemon200, I hear you girl. I am nearing 37 weeks and my doc guesstimated that baby is already six and a half pounds. OB and I discussed membrane sweep for my appointment @38/1 and I booked my acupuncture appointment for immediately afterward. I asked hubs if he would do his husbandly duty that night and we would see if that exit strategy would produce an outside baby sometime that week. Cheers for a ruby birthstone!

[funhaven]

Jul 16, 2015 23:39:43 GMT -5 shortstack said:

No idea if it actually works but it's delicious. My SIL made a labor cake when she was pregnant. I've been looking forward to making it this entire pregnancy.
Also +1 to avoiding castor oil- again from my SILs experience

Labor cake? Yes please! Recipe please

[arbe]

Jul 17, 2015 0:53:44 GMT -5 sunshinelady15 said:

Egg plant Parm something in it stimulates labor (you have to be due though) my daughters picture is on the wall of the restaurant that put me into labor. True story! Within 24-hours of ingesting, she was born. They even include the recipe here


www.scalinis.com/main-babies.html

Good luck

I did this the week before DS was due!!  Recipe made so much I ate it for a week straight... went into labor on his due date. 

[2dumbdogs]

Jul 17, 2015 15:28:45 GMT -5 arbe said:

Jul 17, 2015 0:53:44 GMT -5 sunshinelady15 said:

Egg plant Parm something in it stimulates labor (you have to be due though) my daughters picture is on the wall of the restaurant that put me into labor. True story! Within 24-hours of ingesting, she was born. They even include the recipe here


www.scalinis.com/main-babies.html

Good luck

I did this the week before DS was due!!  Recipe made so much I ate it for a week straight... went into labor on his due date. 

Hmmm, very tempted to make this. Do not want to eat eggplant parm for a week, however.

[RedAero]

These threads always make me laugh. I just start picturing women coming to a hospital for labor induction and imagining the looks on their faces when the doc is like, ok! Here's your castor oil and Tabasco sauce, now give me ten jumping jacks and go for a walk. Is your husband on the way? See if you can manage a quickie before the spice kicks in. Oh and tell him the more nipple play, the better. Any questions? Okay! I'll check on you later! Have fun!

[RandomName]

I completely expected RRLT to taste AWFUL! But its actually quite good. Mmmm.

[telos]

I've heard that pineapple induces labor, but that hasn't stopped me from eating large quantities of pineapple throughout this entire pregnancy. In any case, (spicy) General Tso's followed by pineapples and sex sounds pretty darn good, if you ask me.

[jgesi]

I wish wine induced labor. Not that I drink a lot of it at all. I'm just wishing....

[abvintage]

Jul 17, 2015 21:19:04 GMT -5 jgesi said:

I wish wine induced labor. Not that I drink a lot of it at all. I'm just wishing....

[ampaints]

jgesi my wish today was that sleep would induce labor. I needed a nap so bad today, bonus if it helped this baby be ready to be born.

[zonagirl]

I keep hearing bad things about castor oil...but is it weird that it kind of appeals to me? I like the idea of getting all flushed out before I start pushing. I still probably won't do it, my MW didn't recommend it.

[jgesi]

To those of you that have the ability to shop at Sprouts... they have dates covered in coconut flakes, topped with an almond. I know dates don't induce labor, and this is an induction thread, but they are yummmmy! So have the sex and eat the dates.