natural (possible) ways to start labor

[Murph12334]

Lets talk about natural ways (mostly old wives tales) of how to start labor. Well, or ways to ripen.

What have you heard of?

Lets see, I've heard of:
Sex and orgasm
Pineapple (heard you have to eat the center part though)
Spicy foods
Cumin tea (sounds horrid!)
RRL tea
Eggplant

I would say this is a step up from all the rest and one I would never do without talking to my ob first due to possible problems and mixed reviews:
Caster oil

[michanders4]

I'll add:

acupuncture/acupressure
walking
nipple stimulation

and I'll add that I've tried almost everything on the list so far and am a firm believer now that this stuff will only work if you are ready anyway. It took me a lot to learn this! I didn't try castor oil since I have learned what I have learned and cannot imagine that this particular thing will be any different. It sounds to me that it just gives you bad diarrhea (sp) which might give give you a few contractions, but if you are not ready they will just peter out.

I hope someone else out there has a success story.

[Murph12334]

yup i too believe nothing will work (well besides a c-sections) until baby is actually ready to come out.

Caster oil scares me. I would be so afraid of going into labor and having diareah while pushing baby out - ewwwww

Oh add EPO to the list as well

[Gnatty]

My DH and I have been joking that *whatever* someone did just before labor they will always think was what started it. ;-)

long walks
nursing
dancing/other active stuff
(I had so many people ask if we were trying to kickstart labor when we were 39 weeks with DS and DH and I went folk dancing! It didn't, I was just really sore the next day!)

[Bexo]

There's no such thing as a natural induction

[Murph12334]

well lets see before I went into labor with my dd I was sitting on my birthing ball either rocking back and forth or rolling my hips in circles.

[Lindsay1234]

I unknowingly ate a whole pineapple (not the center, gross!) and then a few hours later, my water broke with dd1. Cant say that was the exact cause, but Im thinking it might have been!

[wobblykate]

Pineapple has been a staple in my diet lately (because I crave it) and it ain't doing jack.

[mommyofatoz]

I've pretty much tried it all too...including black/blue cohosh, warms baths to relax, imagining thinning and opening, maybe even some others...nothing has worked...trying to patiently wait it out...

[hikingmommy]

Oregano and black licorice

[mamathomas]

Originally Posted by Murph12334

well lets see before I went into labor with my dd I was sitting on my birthing ball either rocking back and forth or rolling my hips in circles.

I have been living on my birthing ball. But, maybe if I drag it outside on Thursday night under the full moon...

[nancy11]

Originally Posted by wobblykate

Pineapple has been a staple in my diet lately (because I crave it) and it ain't doing jack.

poor jack

[fruitful womb]

Originally Posted by hikingmommy

Oregano and black licorice

You're kidding me! Did that really work for you?

[beaner0620]

I've tried everything but Castor Oil and nothing has worked.

RRL
Cumin tea
spicy food
spaghetti (oregano, basil, garlic)
accupressure (had it done by a pro)
membrane sweep (not so natural)
clary sage oil
peppermint oil
birth ball
walking
nipple stimulation (did nothing)
a few homeopathic stuff (cimicifugia sp?, and another one)

[hikingmommy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by hikingmommy View Post
Oregano and black licorice

Originally Posted by fruitful womb

You're kidding me! Did that really work for you?

Nope. I'm still pregnant - 41 weeks today. But, I've read in several places that oregano can help induce labor; that it's actually the "active ingredient" in Italian food and eggplant parm in particular that helps induce labor. I haven't heard as much about black licorice, but I've read that in a couple places and a friend swears by it (but she always goes early and has super-quick labors.)

[ShineliketheSon]

I'll add perenial massage with EPO.

Sometimes I think it can't hurt to do some natural things to help you feel like your doing something to get things going, whether it works or not. It can give you some mental peace...

[catemom]

Mmmmm, I think I'll try the pineapple--what's the worst that could happen?

I tried acupuncture last time and it did nothing for me, but the doula in the hospital used acupressure points and it really revved up my labor (induced with pitocin), so I think it depends on the skill of the practitioner.

I must have walked for miles up and down hills for months last time, and it did nothing to get my labor going.

This time I'm trying: EPO capsules (topically and ingested), sex, hypnobirthing techniques, and visualizing my cervix opening like a rose. I'll let you know if any of it helps!

What about getting one small fully caffeinated latte? Or is that bad for baby?

Mamas with previous c-sections: my midwife said it is NOT SAFE for us to use castor oil to induce labor, so be careful!

[emmaegbert]

Originally Posted by catemom

What about getting one small fully caffeinated latte? Or is that bad for baby?

oh no, bad for the baby??

(just kidding. sort of. I'm not a purist about this one... though coffees are now a strictly very, very unusual treat...)

I'm trying to resist all this. I have a feeling getting going with this, I could just drive myself crazy.

[Azreial]

with 42 & 43wkrs I've tried just about everything including the castor oil and babies come when they're ready. That being said I was looking at natural "encouragement" today and noted the ones I haven't tried that look good

[wobblykate]

Originally Posted by catemom

What about getting one small fully caffeinated latte? Or is that bad for baby?

my mw said to be sure not to drink more than 3 (!) cups of coffee a day! seriously, I rarely have one (like on sun. morning), so I think a latte would be okay, but unlike to jump start labor.