Sex helping to start labor?

[Wendy HS]

I have heard that having sex helps possibly go ahead and start labor, or at the least helps the cervix to soften. Is this true? I do know that with both my other kids when they were born we had sex that night and my water broke at 3am both times. I don't know if this is just a coincidence or if it is what helped get things going. I was having no contractions, no signs or anything of labor. I was 36 weeks and 6 days with my DD and 38 weeks and 2 days with my DS. I am now 38 weeks and 2 days with this pregnancy and just ready for it to be over, I've been having some cramping that really doesn't amount to anything except keeping me awake and frustrating me. I know my husband is thrilled that my midwife said sex would help. Me on the other hand, well you know!!!! ha ha

[laughymama]

41 weeks 3 days here. We've been having sex regularly....still pregnant.

I've heard it's worked well for others but obviously it's just not the trick for us.

[bella99]

We had sex right before bed when I was 38w6d. Previously, no signs of real labor, just some BH here and there.

Contractions started 20 minutes later. Water broke 30 minutes after that.

Baby born 9 hours after the first contractions.

Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, but you can bet I am going to give it a try this time around.

[Wendy HS]

Well we decided to go ahead and give it a try and DTD after about 3 days off of no sex. I've since started having contractions. They are different from the ones I was having before. There is a definite tightening in my uterus up front and some cramping in my lower backside. I wouldn't say they are painful as of yet and for sure not consistent, but they've been going on since about 8pm and it is 1am. Kinda wish they would stop if it isn't the real thing as I am having lots of trouble sleeping. I've done the walking around, took a warm bath and tried to sleep all to no avail (they are still coming). Might be early labor, might not. I thought I would come try to sit up at the computer some and see what they do. That is when they were coming the most often and consistent. Will let you know what happens.

[MegBoz]

I believe it's not that the act of sex helps start labor, but that the natural prostaglandins in semen help to thin the cervix to prepare the cervix for labor. So, that means, make sure he doesn't 'finish' elsewhere.

Also, the prostaglandins in semen being swallowed are actually helpful as well. DH found that study. If he hadn't sent a link, I would have assumed he was kidding!

AND - the roof of the mouth also happens to be one of the pressure points that helps stimulate labor - convenient, huh?

All that being said, I believe that it is also like other natural 'induction' techniques such as stripping membranes, nipple stimulation, & other pressure points: it can help to kick things off, but it's not going to do much unless you're on the edge anyway - it's not going to start labor unless you're really about to go into labor on your own.

Sorry I don't have links to back that up, hopefully someone has some research to share.

DH helped me out with prostaglandins both ways & I still went to 41W4D. I can't recall frequency & such, but I'm pretty sure we were active starting at 38W (I hadn't expected to go past 39W, let alone 40W, so I was impatient.) & that is on top of getting a pro massage from someone experienced with prenatal massage, so she worked all the labor-stimulating pressure points she normally avoids in a prenatal massage, tons of walking, spicy food, etc.

As my grandmother said to me then, "The apple will fall from the tree when it is ripe."

[Galatea]

I wish I had the desire. But it is just so uncomfortable in any position.

[laughymama]

Originally Posted by Galatea

I wish I had the desire. But it is just so uncomfortable in any position.

Same here. I also feel absolutely ridiculous. We always end up in giggles because it's just so physically awkward and uncoordinated no matter what positioning we're in.

[Wendy HS]

Well doing the deed didn't make it happen yet. Like I said I did end up contracting (ALL NIGHT!!!, NO SLEEP) and at about 4am they started getting more painful. They had been pretty close together at about 1am, 4 and 5 minutes apart, but just the tightening around my uterus, not really painful. At about 4am I was feeling some pretty good tightening down even lower almost like I could feel it in my cervix, and it was hurting, so I decided to time them a little bit. Wouldn't you know, as soon as I got everything together and started timing I had one more and then they stopped all together!!!! Talk about frustrating!!! I think it may have done some good, but who knows, I haven't had a VE since 37 weeks and the baby was low and she said I was about a 1cm, so I may just have her check me again this Thursday just to see if I went through all that for nothing. I've been up and moving around all day chasing two kids and I've been uncomfortable, but not really any contractions.
I am not really concerned about anything except that at my last visit my midwife said she was going out of town for a week on Friday, so if I don't have this baby by then, I will possibly again be having a baby with a complete stranger, who I know nothing about. I was so in hopes of going before Friday!!!! I choose a midwife to avoid the doctor switch that happened with my other two births and now it looks like there is a good chance that will happen to me again inspite of such careful planning. Trying not to be too upset about it!!!

[nadia105]

It did help with the one of mine that went past his edd. A couple hours after dtd, I was in active labor.

[babyjelly]

Sorry it petered out.
Just a thought...orgasm is also helpful, since having an orgasm means that your uterus is contracting. By all means have your partner help you out with some prostoglandins, but if you are one of the women who have a stronger O when you "do it yourself", try that immediately following the prostoglandin assistance and have fun trying to evict baby before you mw goes on vacation!
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[tessie]

I think sex is like all of the other natural inductions methods in that it's either a coincidence or it might have an effect if you're about to go into labour anyway.

[HeatherB]

Yeah, there's the prostaglandin effect and then there's the oxytocin. For me, it has certainly helped to have a boost of oxytocin when I was already having some mild, early labor. But, like most things, it's most effective when your body and your baby are already ready.

[Wendy HS]

Well I went to see my midwife on Thursday and decided to let her check me just out of curiosity. Not much change. Uterus is still tipped back, 1 cm, I am at a 0 station, but she said that could change as the baby moves. I am also 70% effaced. I guess there is a little progress, but I know none of that means anything anyways. My midwife is officially out of town now, but I did meet the other midwife from another birthing center who will be filling in for her and she seemed super sweet, so I think either way it will be okay. She seems very experienced also. That put my mind at ease. Thanks for all the support, hopefully it won't be too much longer.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Originally Posted by MegBoz

Also, the prostaglandins in semen being swallowed are actually helpful as well. DH found that study.

I bet he did.

For DC, Wende, labor started like your's did...waters breaking a few hours after sex (with no previous signs of labor). I don't know if there is any scientific research on it but it seems like sex 'works' to bring about labor in lots and lots of women.

I'm not the hugest fan of Ina May's writing but a quote from her goes something like, "What gets the baby in helps get the baby out."

[mrsdewees]

I wanted to go into labor with DS so badly (had prodromal labor for DAYS) but I hated the thought of sex when pregnant with him. I went in one day and told my husband, "Ok. We're going to have sex - but I want you to get in and get out." He still jokes that I used him for his sperm (and, no. I did not go into labor. I did start labor the following night though and had my son the night after that)

[Eresh]

With DS I started having regular contractions starting about 1 hour after DTD at 39+1. Had contractions all night for 2 nights and on the 3rd night they didn't stop with morning. I ended up having DS just before midnight on the 4th night. My MW had warned me that DTD could start something but I totally forgot "in the heat of the moment". I've always thought that maybe labor would have been shorter if it had just started on its own.

[happyblessedmama]

didn't work for me at all, x6 babies.