Inducing Labor via Intercourse Question:

[october]

I realize that there's no surefire way to 'induce labor' besides the medicinal route, but I have a question about trying to use sex. Is orgasm, by itself, enough to encourage labor, or do you really need the prostaglandins in the semen for it to 'work'? Also, is it having something inside of you stimulating your cervix in addition to the semen?

Just wondering if orgasm without intercourse does anything for us, including ripening the cervix? Sorry if TMI! I'm sincerely interested in what you guys might have to say.

Thank yoU!

[MaerynPearl]

neither case worked for me... with or without the semen.

what finally worked was just relaxing... when you relax (like REALLY relax, arent trying to bring on labor at all...) and the baby is ready to come, it will usually happen on its own quite quickly (that labor was 5 hours long)

I had tried sex, castor oil (ewww), eggplant parmesan, nipple stimulation/pumping, some things my gramma suggested that I cant think of now, walking, walking, walking, walking, walking up stairs....and although the day I went into labor with her was after a bunch of walking... I think what actually triggered it was me laying down, defeated... and deciding to just let her come when she wanted to because it OBVIOUSLY wouldnt be before her due date. I started getting contractions about 2 hours later and she was born almost a week before her due date.

I DID try relaxing before then... but I was always relaxing with the hope of it bringing on labor... which is NOT really relaxing.

And obviously you cant just give up with the hope that it will bring on labor because thats not really giving up...


so uh... good luck! baby cant be in there forever!

[womenswisdom]

Well, they do two different things. The prostaglandin in the semem helps ripen the cervix and can cause contractions as well. The mother's orgasm releases oxytocin, which can also trigger contractions. I think either one would be good but both would be better

[Katri'smama]

Here's what I found off the internet...

Sex to Induce Labor

Semen contains prostaglandins. Prostaglandins cause the cervix to "ripen", or soften and prepare to open. While it is debatable whether there are enough prostaglandins in semen to have any real effect, it is not a terrible way to keep hope alive and while away the last weeks of your pregnancy. Another great side effect is the fact that orgasms produce oxytocin, the hormone that causes contractions. So, between the two, there is a pretty good case for the cure for pregnancy.

(Pretty much exactly what womenswisdom just said )


As far as my babies went... For one pregnancy my water broke while nursing my toddler, and for another I walked and walked and walked, nipple stimulation, sex, you name it we tried it and nothing happened... Slept all night and guess what!
Morning came with contractions If nothing else I think you ripen and get your body ready so be prepared because after doing all these techniques and trying to induce, when labor does start it will probably be fast cause you'll be sooooo ready!

Good luck and early congrats to you!

[bella99]

Labor started for me about 20 minutes after sex, with orgasm and semen

A half hour after that, my water broke, and about 9 hours after that, I met my daughter.

Nothing works unless your body is ready, but you can be sure that I'll be trying it again the second time around.

[organicmom3]

Since even medical science doesn't REALLY know exactly what brings on labor, it's really all a mystery and most of those natural tales out there on how to bring on labor are really just that....tales...
but there is some science in the prostoglandin theory(seman) because it does have an effect on the cervix....not a guarentee to bring on immediate labor, but does appear to help the process .

[Lolagirl]

Does anyone know if it's ok to try sex to get labor going if one's cervix has already started to dilate? I'm keen to try just about anything once I get a little closer to my due date but I haven't been able to find any good information about this so far.

I'm also GBS+, so that's another reason I'm a bit concerned about this.

Any thoughts?

[GoBecGo]

I read somewhere that the prostaglandins are more useful ingested than put against the cervix. Never tried that with XP, definitely might with DH! lol

Lolagirl do you have a MW you like you can check with? AFAIK so long as the membranes are intact GBS isn't an issue and sex with the cervix open will be just as good if not better than with it shut, unless it's like 4cm open with the bag of waters bulging through in which case you might want to be careful.

[october]

Thanks you guys, that's pretty helpful! SIGH I hope she's gettin ready to come out soon. If anything, all the intercourse in an attempt to go into labor is probably a good thing anyway, considering it will be a WHILE before we do that again.

[rootzdawta]

Moved from I'm Pregnant

[loveneverfails]

For me, sex did throw me into labor. HOWEVER, I was 17 and my husband was 18 and we had been separated for almost 4 1/2 months straight. So, teenage sex drive with a long separation beforehand.

I think it's not just a question of prostaglandin plus oxytocin, but also a question of dosage. So, ideally I think you'd want to do sex twice within a 2 hour period with at least one orgasm for mom. Just one "dose" of prostaglandins really isn't enough to get me into labor, but two will generally give me some cervical change even if I don't get full on labor. And some dilation beats no dilation!

[Catherine12]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

what finally worked was just relaxing... when you relax (like REALLY relax, arent trying to bring on labor at all...) and the baby is ready to come, it will usually happen on its own quite quickly (that labor was 5 hours long)

: I agree with this. I went 11 days past my due date with my third baby... I tried all sorts of things (including sex) to encourage labor. Bumpy roads, spicy food - I even did aerobics (Disco Sweat with Richard Simmons!)

On the day labor started I was pretty tired (from prodromal labor interrupting my sleep). Dh gave me a relaxing massage (back and round ligament) and I settled down for a nap, not hoping for anything but sleep.

Less than two hours later dd was born!

[Lolagirl]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo

I read somewhere that the prostaglandins are more useful ingested than put against the cervix. Never tried that with XP, definitely might with DH! lol

Lolagirl do you have a MW you like you can check with? AFAIK so long as the membranes are intact GBS isn't an issue and sex with the cervix open will be just as good if not better than with it shut, unless it's like 4cm open with the bag of waters bulging through in which case you might want to be careful.

Thanks!

I have an OB who is generally pretty open minded and easy to talk to, yet for some reason I'm feeling pretty bashful about asking him this question in particular. I started dilating pretty early last time around and I ended up walking around at 3cm dilated for over a month before I finally had my twins. I guess I'm assuming that the same thing will likely happen this time around as well, but who knows?!

[GoBecGo]

Originally Posted by loveneverfails

For me, sex did throw me into labor. HOWEVER, I was 17 and my husband was 18 and we had been separated for almost 4 1/2 months straight. So, teenage sex drive with a long separation beforehand.

I think it's not just a question of prostaglandin plus oxytocin, but also a question of dosage. So, ideally I think you'd want to do sex twice within a 2 hour period with at least one orgasm for mom. Just one "dose" of prostaglandins really isn't enough to get me into labor, but two will generally give me some cervical change even if I don't get full on labor. And some dilation beats no dilation!

LOL, not sure how old you both are now, but my DH is 37 and after 2 hours recovery, the second "dose" would be pretty minute!

[yummama]

sex sped up my labor for sure...contractions were mild and several minutes apart...we had sex and 20 minutes later it picked up BIG time...

[DeChRi]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo

LOL, not sure how old you both are now, but my DH is 37 and after 2 hours recovery, the second "dose" would be pretty minute!

LOL, my thoughts exactly. We could get it done, but we would need a sitter vs a PBS video.

[porcelina]

I was just reading about this from Penny Simkin's book the Birth Partner. She suggests that sex with organism and semen is the best bet, for the reasons mentioned above (oxytocin from mom's orgasm, prostaglandins from man's semen). She says to do everything you can to really enjoy it and try to make it as pleasurable as possible (recognizing that may be hard with the discomfort of pregnancy). She says that masturbation may also help, as a second best option.

[Kelly1101]

I'm all about sex to induce labor.


Because even if it doesn't help start labor, at least you still get to have sex.


As far as whether or not it will work, it's like most induction methods: only going to work if the body is ready and just needs that "push." But even beyond the medical benefit of sperm and orgasm on your cervix, it can also make sure you are moving and active, which can help with bringing on labor, and it can help to relax you and calm you, clearing out any mental blocks that may be preventing your body from letting itself go into labor. It's a win-win all around.

[mamabadger]

Based on things I have read from Marilyn Moran and Ina May Gaskin, along with things my midwife told me, I think sex helps in a number of possible ways, and you can get the advantage of one effect or many depending on what kind of activity you engage in. Sex might involve

• nipple stimulation
• semen/prostaglandins ripening cervix
• orgasm stimulating contractions
• release of oxytocin
• release of beneficial hormones from making out, massage, or any affectionate contact
• relaxation
• physical stimulation of cervix
• altered state of mind conducive to letting labour start

Ina May mentioned in Spiritual Midwifery that just hugging and kissing seemed to help shorten and ease labour, and Marilyn Moran was an advocate of sexual activity in early prodromal labour. I suspect it would also be helpful before labour has begun.

[thixle]

Originally Posted by Lolagirl

Does anyone know if it's ok to try sex to get labor going if one's cervix has already started to dilate? I'm keen to try just about anything once I get a little closer to my due date but I haven't been able to find any good information about this so far.

I'm also GBS+, so that's another reason I'm a bit concerned about this.

Any thoughts?

Dilated cervix is fine, as long as your bag of waters is intact For GBS+ there is a "washing" protocol you can do with a soap called Hibeclens... You'd have to do a search here, it's been a while since i did it, but I got rid of it