Herbs and activities to encourage labor - Page 6 « Back to Group Discussions

[Jaimee]

LOL, Ash... I think it's a pretty quick read with a few posts that include my research findings.    But basically the only two things shown to actually shorten gestation are nipple stim (for 1-3 hours per day) and membrane sweeps.

[dashley111]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

LOL, Ash... I think it's a pretty quick read with a few posts that include my research findings.    But basically the only two things shown to actually shorten gestation are nipple stim (for 1-3 hours per day) and membrane sweeps.

1 to 3 hours a day?!  Who has time for that? 

I just gave up before I even started

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by dashley111 

1 to 3 hours a day?!  Who has time for that? 

I just gave up before I even started

That's what I said!
 

[meesh933]

Originally Posted by dashley111 

1 to 3 hours a day?!  Who has time for that? 

I just gave up before I even started

I don't think I could even stand that. I'm down to nursing DS for like, 30 seconds at a time, because it's so irritating. He definitely doesn't even nurse an hour total in 24 hours. The thought of that much nipple stimulation makes we want to cry.

[birdhappy85]

I'm all energized and working hard to bring on labor today. DH and I just went for a long walk with lots of hills included. It felt so nice to get sunshine! --even though it's super cold outside. I probably looked so stupid briskly waddling around with my belly hanging out of a jacket that isn't even CLOSE to zipping up anymore while wearing a scarf and gloves to keep the rest of me warm. Oh man did I ever feel the baby bearing down, whew! I'm going to bounce on my exercise ball, do pelvic rocks on the floor, and walk up and down our basement stairs extra today. We're going out shopping, too, so hopefully any extra activity will help. I'm going to use my breast pump when we get back home to see if that brings on anything. Come on, baby! Come to Mama!

[TalkToMeNow]

I'm going to chime in with my totally unscientific advice. With this baby and with dd2, I went into labor on a day I basically sat around doing nothing all day. With dd2, I sent dd1 to spend the day with a friend and spent the time watching movies and napping. With this guy, I seriously slept almost the entire day. Both times, water broke in the evening. So if anyone gets tired of walking, nipple stimulation, etc, give being lazy a try! Maybe it's the secret, unstudied way to get labor going! Lol!!


Good luck, everyone! Looking forward to seeing more babies!

[jbk21]

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

I'm going to chime in with my totally unscientific advice. With this baby and with dd2, I went into labor on a day I basically sat around doing nothing all day. With dd2, I sent dd1 to spend the day with a friend and spent the time watching movies and napping. With this guy, I seriously slept almost the entire day. Both times, water broke in the evening. So if anyone gets tired of walking, nipple stimulation, etc, give being lazy a try! Maybe it's the secret, unstudied way to get labor going! Lol!!
Good luck, everyone! Looking forward to seeing more babies!

I like this idea!

[birdhappy85]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

I'm going to chime in with my totally unscientific advice. With this baby and with dd2, I went into labor on a day I basically sat around doing nothing all day. With dd2, I sent dd1 to spend the day with a friend and spent the time watching movies and napping. With this guy, I seriously slept almost the entire day. Both times, water broke in the evening. So if anyone gets tired of walking, nipple stimulation, etc, give being lazy a try! Maybe it's the secret, unstudied way to get labor going! Lol!!
Good luck, everyone! Looking forward to seeing more babies!

I wish this would work for me! I tell DH that relaxing is clearly not bringing on labor for me like so many people say it does. I've spent most of the past 4 weeks basically doing nothing in my days besides cleaning dishes, cooking, and grocery shopping once a week. I've become a hermit late in pregnancy. It sounds horrible but I now spend most of my days lying on the couch watching TV, using the laptop, and taking naps throughout the day. Yes, my life is going to change dramatically once I have a child in it to occupy my time! lol. IF SHE'LL EVER COME!

[meesh933]

Originally Posted by birdhappy85 

Quote:

I wish this would work for me! I tell DH that relaxing is clearly not bringing on labor for me like so many people say it does. I've spent most of the past 4 weeks basically doing nothing in my days besides cleaning dishes, cooking, and grocery shopping once a week. I've become a hermit late in pregnancy. It sounds horrible but I now spend most of my days lying on the couch watching TV, using the laptop, and taking naps throughout the day. Yes, my life is going to change dramatically once I have a child in it to occupy my time! lol. IF SHE'LL EVER COME!

This was me my first pregnancy! I graduated college at 26 weeks pregnant, and who's going to hire a teacher who won't even be there a whole semester, right? So iI stayed home. It was AWESOME. Enjoy it. Being 9 months pregnant and chasing two small kids is exhausting. I'd love to be laying on the sofa waiting on baby to decide to come....

[dashley111]

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

I'm going to chime in with my totally unscientific advice. With this baby and with dd2, I went into labor on a day I basically sat around doing nothing all day. With dd2, I sent dd1 to spend the day with a friend and spent the time watching movies and napping. With this guy, I seriously slept almost the entire day. Both times, water broke in the evening. So if anyone gets tired of walking, nipple stimulation, etc, give being lazy a try! Maybe it's the secret, unstudied way to get labor going! Lol!!
Good luck, everyone! Looking forward to seeing more babies!

If this worked for me I would have gone into labor long ago   I have done next to nothing for almost 2 weeks.  I have no energy.  I spend way too much time on the computer and the couch.

[mleh99]

Doesn't work for me either.  I've been doing absolutely nothing by laying around since Wednesday.  I am so bored!

[birdhappy85]

Oh my goodness, who else here has tried the breast pump nipple stimulation method to encourage labor? I tried it a few days ago one breast at a time for just 10 minutes each and didn't have any activity until hours later just a few contractions. Nothing special. But wow, tonight was a completely different experience... I just did 20 minutes straight with both breasts at the same time and had 5 strong contractions in that time alone. I'm still having contractions but stopped timing them. I've got to run out to the store with DH but will definitely resume timing things after that. What surprised me more is that midway through the pumping I had a serious surge of emotion overtake me and started tearing up. Now I'm all weepy for no reason. Anybody else experience that before? The pumping must've released a ton of hormones, whew.

[Jaimee]

Joanie, I tried it with my last pregnancy and got a few contractions while doing it and nothing different afterward.  So I gave up.  I think for a lot of women it's more helpful as something to try to keep things going once they've started, but again, for me, it feels like way too much work.  Of course, I've never gone late, so I may not have a lot of room to talk! 

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

Okay, ladies, those of you doing squats, what is your routine?  Do you do more like lunges or squats with your feet separated, like yoga squats?  I realize that I was doing my prenatal yoga video at least occasionally with my last pregnancy and have done NOTHING with this one.  Sigh...

Well, I got out my fusion pilates video and refreshed my memory regarding squats.  Using a dowel (or other object with a long handle) for support, spread legs wider than hips, pretend to sit in a chair, toes forward, pull belly in, push tailbone down, and breathe.  Use the dowel to come back up or sit down on a chair.  Repeat.  I'm trying to do several sets throughout the day.

I also started black cohosh twice a day and quite the magnesium.  Since then I have noticed more frequent and stronger contractions, but still not as many as I had with ds by this point.  Wondering if this baby plans to go later or if my body just plans to jump into action suddenly one day with less prep.
 

[Jaimee]

Acupressure points to induce labor: http://www.yogatic.com/yoga-video/yoga-video-for-birth/

[KaliShanti]

Jaimee, how much cohash do you take?

I am taking 6 pills per day of Dr Christopher's Birth Prep and doing EPO orally and vaginally at night. But that's it. And no progress. I thought baby had dropped but I think he went back up. And my cervix feels unchanged since weeks ago. 2cm, thick, posterior, baby floating. I am only 39 weeks 1 day but kinda bummed because last pregnancy baby was 0-+1 station, cervix 50% effaced, 4-5cm at 40 weeks.  I had lots of prelabor. Then I went on to have my daughter in 2 hrs 45 mins.

I want that birth again!

I DID take castor oil last time a few times during 39th and 40th week though... maybe that caused the contractions that changed my cervix. Hmmmm.. well maybe I'll try it at 40 weeks. I don't want to have the baby until after this weekend anyway.

[Jaimee]

Kali, I have just black cohosh tincture that I'm taking sublingually- 10 drops twice a day.  I'm not sure how I feel about blue cohosh... my mw agrees that black is the more effective labor inducer.  I feel similar to you as well... last check I was still just 3cm dilated and expected to have made more progress.  I think that I'm probably farther along now since I've been having more frequent contractions, but not sure.  I just have to keep telling myself that with 2+ pregnancies effacement, engagement, dilation, etc. all tends to happen very quickly when things get going.   I'm 39w3d today and will be getting a sweep on Saturday if no baby by then.

[KaliShanti]

I won't be doing a sweep or anything like that, but I just hope to get more "work" out of the way before labor!