Inducing Labor naturally??

[JLKMneely]

Has anyone ever tried to induce labor from a natural method?

What have you done??

[ColoradoMama]

Sex, walking, nursing, castor oil, black and blue cohosh - all in the same day while having contractions and ............. nothing, zip, zilch, nada!

[essnce629]

I induced my son with my castor oil regimen and I think 7 of my friends and doula clients have used it successfully as well. 100% success rate so far!!!

Here's my castor oil regimen:

Put 1oz (2 tablespoons) of castor oil (CO) in the blender with ice cream and a little bit of milk to make a shake. Drink. Take a long hot shower (this relaxes you). Proceed with 1 hour of nipple/breast stimulation-- apply oil to one breast, massage the area around the nipple/areola in a circular motion for 15 minutes (you don't have to actually touch your nipple), then switch sides. Only massage one breast at a time (15 minutes each side for a total of 1 hour). Wait for contractions.

If after 2 hours, you are having NO contractions at all, take another 1oz of CO in a shake and do another hour of nipple/breast stimulation. Wait for contractions.

If after 2 more hours, you are still having NO contractions, take a final 1oz of CO in a shake and do another hour of nipple/breast stimulation. Wait for contractions. If this doesn't work-- your body truly isn't ready.

Most women will be in labor after the first or second dose (it took me only one dose and I never had any diarrhea, stomach cramping, or nausea). DON'T take more than 3 doses (3oz total). I started drinking my shake at 9pm at night and by 10pm was already having regular contractions. My son was born 9 hours after I finished my shake. I was 38 weeks 3 days.

[Mama Rana]

Someone pointed me to this site. I've tried some of the more gentle things--pineapple, nipple stim, walking, etc.--and nothing yet. But maybe I haven't tried hard enough....

[j_p_i]

Originally Posted by Mama Rana

Someone pointed me to this site. I've tried some of the more gentle things--pineapple, nipple stim, walking, etc.--and nothing yet. But maybe I haven't tried hard enough....

I'm checking out the site you linked, I've been doing EPO but not FIVE inserted per day! I've been doing two orally and one inserted before bed. Huh. I'm not sure if I want to shove 5 up there.

I've also done pineapple, walking, sex, etc... I'll be 40 weeks on Thursday.

[ScootchsMom]

I tired castor oil 2 times. The first time it did nothing, not even cleaning me out. The second time was after 2 days of inconsistent contractions and bloody show, I thought for sure it would work. I took 4 tablespoons (2oz) in a milkshake Sunday afternoon. Within 20 minutes I was in the bathroom, it completely cleaned me out within 2 hours, than contractions started. I had BAD back to back contractions until 2:30 in the morning, than they just stopped and I fell asleep. Woke up yesterday AM with nothing going on, still nothing going on today.

I can't do the cohoshes since I'm a VBAC. I've also been doing a faithful regimen of EPO, pineapple, RRL tea (3 cups a day), and walking.

None of it is going to work if you and baby are not ready. I've come to accept that now :

[Ldavis24]

I have been chugging RRL tea like crazy and at this point all it is doing is making me feel like I have to puke after I have a glass. Also clearing out my bowels pretty awesomely..

I have tried the sex thing, orgasm the other way, nip stimulation, stimulating the pressure points in my ankles and feet, walking a lot, literally a couple of miles. Umm what else, no pineapple since I won't eat it and the juice doesn't really do anything besides taste delicious...

Yeah, I have accepted that those things will only work if your body is actually ready for labor in the first place, DH doesn't accept that and I think would funnel castor oil down my throat if he could get away with it...Not gonna try that though unless I am facing an induction at the hospital.

[Mama Rana]

Originally Posted by ScootchsMom

I tired castor oil 2 times. The first time it did nothing, not even cleaning me out. The second time was after 2 days of inconsistent contractions and bloody show, I thought for sure it would work. I took 4 tablespoons (2oz) in a milkshake Sunday afternoon. Within 20 minutes I was in the bathroom, it completely cleaned me out within 2 hours, than contractions started. I had BAD back to back contractions until 2:30 in the morning, than they just stopped and I fell asleep. Woke up yesterday AM with nothing going on, still nothing going on today.

I can't do the cohoshes since I'm a VBAC. I've also been doing a faithful regimen of EPO, pineapple, RRL tea (3 cups a day), and walking.

None of it is going to work if you and baby are not ready. I've come to accept that now :

My MW don't want me to do castor oil because I'm a VBAC [worried about over-stim of the uterus], but if I get to this weekend without labor, I'll try a small dose anyway. RCS=100% chance of a "ripped" open uterus; castor oil=small increased risk of uterine rupture, yk?

[JLKMneely]

I have read three or four posts about pinneapple, what is that supposed to do??

[j_p_i]

Originally Posted by JLKMneely

I have read three or four posts about pinneapple, what is that supposed to do??

I think it's supposed to help prep the cervix for labor? Maybe soften it to help dilate? I am not entirely sure though. The article Mama Rana posted said it is "reputed to begin labor and ripen the cervix".

I'm eating some right now actually! I don't have internal checks yet, I'll be 40 weeks on Thursday so I have no idea if any of this stuff has been working for me or not. But I like pineapple, and I like feeling proactive

[Mama Rana]

Originally Posted by j_p_i

I think it's supposed to help prep the cervix for labor? Maybe soften it to help dilate? I am not entirely sure though. The article Mama Rana posted said it is "reputed to begin labor and ripen the cervix".

I'm eating some right now actually! I don't have internal checks yet, I'll be 40 weeks on Thursday so I have no idea if any of this stuff has been working for me or not. But I like pineapple, and I like feeling proactive

Yeah, I have no idea. But I have heard it has to be fresh. Someone said frozen was probably ok, as long as it wasn't heat-treated. Something about destroying the enzyme that is said to do whatever it is that it's supposed to do. At $4-5 a pineapple though it's starting to get a little expensive!

[Ldavis24]

I believe (sorry to be too lazy to actually find it) there is an entire thread on here devoted to the pineapple discussion...What I got from it was that the general consensus was that the core of the pineapple had the nutrients that people were looking for. Someone correct me if I am wrong here. You can also get supplements that have the same ingredients as the core if you aren't brave enough to eat it...It appeared that the rest of the pineapple didn't do much although it tastes delicious!

Sorry for not looking it up, I am tired

[j_p_i]

I've been buying it fresh, but already cut up. I do remember that pineapple thread, and that someone mentioned the core of the pineapple having whatever it is you need to help start labor. When I looked it up, various websites said various things, but most seemed to suggest that it was an enzyme found in the regular (yummy) part of the pineapple. Either way, yum! :

[twins+1]

Acupressure and acupuncture as well...

[Asher]

I was doing epo, blue cohosh (homeopathic) and several other natural methods for four weeks and it not only didn't start labor, it didn't do a darn thing for my body, nor did it help things once my water broke.

Honestly, as much as I hated hearing it when overdue, it IS true that if your body isn't ready, nothing natural is going to work. It's just not.

Good luck, mama!

[BabyMae09]

I've tried: sex, walking, blue cohosh, red raspberry leaf tincture, nipple stimulation, acupressure, massage, wow! I've tried a lot. Nothing worked, but some of it did give me contractions/and/or helped the baby settle down closer to my cervix. Contractions help prep the uterus, so I'm at peace with them now

I've heard the sex thing only works if you orgasm, and repeated orgasm is even better. I told DP that yesterday, and he grinned. I'm glad he's up for trying THAT one!!!

Also: we've been massaging my perineum in preparation as well, and I think it's going to help a lot with baby's delivery.

Also: Checking the cervix is easy: have your DP/DH put his fingers in as far as he possibly can, then turn them towards your butt. It should feel to him like he's putting his finger(s) inside the hole of a doughnut. One finger = 1cm dilated. Also, the 'thinner' the 'doughnut' (cervix) the more effaced you are. No more doughnut = 100% effaced!

Hope all that helps