sex to induce?

[KelliHope]

How does this work exactly? I know the semen is supposed to ripen the cervix, but the actual act of orgasm is supposed to contract the uterus, right? Does this always happen? Like, when you O anytime while pregnant are you supposed to feel your entire uterus contracting? Or does it only happen when your body is pretty much ready to go into labor anyway? Does the contraction happen right during the O (if it was to happen at all) or would it start up later on, prompted by the O but not happening til later? Would I have a better chance of making things happen by Oing several times a day? Or does it really not matter unless labor was about to begin anyway?

thanks!!

[tulipmama]

I get contractions from sex from about 30 weeks on. They always go away after 8 hours though, so I don't worry about it (midwife says it happens). I have read several places that for sex to be truly useful for induction, it needs to be like 3 times in 24 hours. Good luck with that! ;-)

[KelliHope]

Originally Posted by tulipmama

I get contractions from sex from about 30 weeks on. They always go away after 8 hours though, so I don't worry about it (midwife says it happens). I have read several places that for sex to be truly useful for induction, it needs to be like 3 times in 24 hours. Good luck with that! ;-)

yeah, right, good luck getting dh available that often. . .but (TMI maybe?) I thought maybe I could slip away and, well, do it myself a few times a day, if that would help!

[tulipmama]

Ok, I'll trade you TMI for TMI:

When I do it myself I don't get any contractions at all-- it's only from sex with dh. I think it's the combination of all the thrashing about plus the semen. On my own, nothing happens contraction-wise.

[KelliHope]

Originally Posted by tulipmama

Ok, I'll trade you TMI for TMI:

When I do it myself I don't get any contractions at all-- it's only from sex with dh. I think it's the combination of all the thrashing about plus the semen. On my own, nothing happens contraction-wise.

lol good trade thanks for the tip!

[Hallielynn01]

Yeah, the idea is the semen has natural prosteglandins that can help soften or ripen the cervix, and an orgasm causes a natural oxytocin release, I've heard getting the big O during labor can cause you to open up to a cm. But I don't know if that's fact based. All I know is that about 2 hours after good sex, and a nice hard foot rub, labor began with my DD. So maybe it was just the jump start my body needed.

[GoddessJ]

Not in your DDC, but couldn't read and not reply...

My profession is as a sex educator, so this topic is right up my alley.

Yes, Semen helps because of the prostogladins...they help to soften the cervix and help it to relax. Incourse seems to be the best way, but I have also seen research that says that ingesting it is more effective.

Pregnant or not, your Uterus contracts during the O, most of us don't feel it that way. And yes, the O can bring on labor depending on what type of O you are experiencing. Of course mulitiple vaginal/uterine O's are best. Every woman is different, some go into labor during sex and for other's it takes a little while.

Gotta go, but feel free to write me about any other additional questions. This is my favorite topic!

[mom2tatum]

I remember learning in my bradley class last prg that yes all that can start contractions and labor, however, not to confuse this with helping dilation begin. Two different things. Only if things are truly ready to progress with the labor and cervix, will dilation occur as well. Just as many women, usually second time vag or more, will have ripened cervix way before true labor begins along with dilation that continues to progress.

So, the story goes...induction of any kind can only move things along so far. The rest is really up to nature and baby.
I hope that made sense, I am tryting to type fast and get off this darn computer...just wanted to add my thought.