What got you going?

[sgmom]

I'm 40+2 today. My mucus plug came out yesterday in a big clump, but I didn't think that was all of it... and I was right. The rest of it came out during a pee break in the middle of the night.

If you've been following my story, then you know how desperate I am for this baby to come out (I've been in a lot of pain for quite some time now and am only able to care for my 20 month daughter, with thanks to chiropractic treatment).

Anyway, if I were to go past my due date, I was hoping for baby to be born on the 24th, as that's the date that both my daughter and I were born. So I REALLY want to get things moving tonight but I don't want to induce in the standard ways (castor oil, etc).

Exercise would be my first choice, but I'm not exactly sure what I should be doing to get that head putting more pressure on the cervix. I've also read a lot about nipple stimulation being very effective, but it can cause contractions to be more painful, and less effective.

Does anyone have any specific tricks that they used to get things moving along? So far, I've been mostly sitting/rocking on the ball, and pacing my backyard. The pressure between my legs (and in my butt) is almost unbearable though, so I can only do things in moderation.

Suggestions?

[jess152]

Exciting! Maybe spending some time in a squat position (to open the pelvis) or on hands and knees (to be sure baby presents with crown of head first) would be a good idea. Avoid the recliner or any similar position that could make baby turn sunny side up.

Good luck!

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

Nipple stimulation really worked for me...my 3yo was still nursing and that helped alot. However.....have you checked your own cervix? Getting to know it and how it feels....so when things start moving you know right away by the feel of your cervix! Visioning your cervix opening also works.....relaxing...do something fun....going out to your favorite restaurant...or park...something to get your mind busy!

[sgmom]

My daughter just fell asleep watching tv and my husband is outside building a playhouse, so I think I'm going to sneak into the bathroom on my hands and knees and wash the floor. It's a small bathroom, so I might continue on to clean the whole thing, but I want to be careful not to overdo it (both physically, and with use of cleaner chemicals).

Mamato: I haven't checked in a couple of days, but the last time I checked it was missing in action. My midwife (at last weeks check) said that it feels like it's back and to the right, but her fingers were too short to actually reach it. But she also said that the baby's head was VERY, VERY low. Much lower than my daughters was before I started pushing (I pushed for 5.5 hours before they gave me a c-section). Hopefully that means something.

Baby is LOA, but over the last week or two, he will flip to ROA if I lay on my right side (then back to LOA if I flip back to my left). I have a fetoscope and have practiced a lot of belly mapping, and from what I can tell he's been staying to the left since this morning, although there's so much movement that it can sometimes be hard to tell. His foot kicking my right side is a pretty good sign of him staying put though!

Legs wide open (and everything else crossed) that he comes out tomorrow!! Or after midnight would be nice.

[MNHall]

Nipple stimiulation totally worked for my friend.

And for me, my mucus plug mostly came out on a Tuesday, then more on Thursday, I went into labor on Saturday. We were at a parade, we had to park far, far, far away. So, DH, DS, and I had to unpack all of our junk and haul it across town, well, with DS in the stroller, then hike back. So, it was a long, long walk, pushing a heavy, full stroller. Anyway, that's when I felt my first contractions. We came home, but DS to bed, then had sex. An hour later, labor started, and 5 hours later, I was pushing!

Sending that little one some come on out vibes!!!