Sex as a method of 'induction'

[JulesP]

Don't worry, we're not trying to get baby out before he/she is ready!

I'm 38 1/2 weeks, and for the first time in ages DH and I attempted to have sex around the enormous bump

I know that the prostaglandins in semen can help kickstart labour if everything is ready to go, but how long does this usually take?

After this morning's comedy I had one massive contraction out of the blue mid-morning (4 hours later) and nothing very much since (1 hr or so).

[Mama Poot]

DH and I had sex right up until the night before I went into labor, although I can't say if that's what got everything started. I was going on long walks, drinking RRL tea, swimming, all sorts of other things. I am 37 weeks now, and we're still "at it", but it doesn't seem to have any affect. But hey, its fun!
Any contractions I do have are always immediately after sex- often very powerful ones, but its just one and that's it. Oh well

[G&B'sMama]

I can't say it worked in either of my pregnancies- but its a lot more fun than eating a castor oil omlet

[cottonwood]

Originally Posted by JulesP

I know that the prostaglandins in semen can help kickstart labour

Orgasm (the stronger the better) stimulates the uterus into contracting. I had very intense contractions a couple of times after orgasm. The baby/my body wasn't ready, so it petered out, but I'm sure that it was still helpful in helping prime things.

Also, sex (well, assuming you enjoy it) triggers the release of oxytocin. The more, the better. Personally, I think that PIV sex is overrated as an induction agent. If you have the oxytocin flowing and your body is ready and in a favorable environment, it's going to produce all the hormones it needs for the cervix to soften right up.

[vsmom2two]

stimulation of nipples will help more than sex. telling your body that it's time to feed the baby, maybe? anyways, worked twice with me...

[Belle]

It worked for me. At 38 weeks 4 days.

[doula and mom]

I hate to admit it, but from about 38w5d with #3, I would attack my dh every night... and NOTHING HAPPENED :! Seriously, you all know how difficult it is to muster the energy -- not to mention the ABILITY -- to have sex at 38w5d and EVERY NIGHT AFTER THAT! My husband finally said, "I'm not a machine, you know!"

My water broke on her due date, and still no ctx til I got on the breast pump (8 hours after it broke). She was born the next morning.

[Mama Poot]

Originally Posted by vsmom2two

stimulation of nipples will help more than sex. telling your body that it's time to feed the baby, maybe? anyways, worked twice with me...

YES in fact I have had fairly "regular" contractions begin if I'm laying in bed imagining the new baby laying next to me nursing. I did this constantly when I was pregnant with my first, and I'm doing it again. It also keeps me really calm, and I feel so peaceful imagining myself feeding the baby. :

[katja]

By 39 wks w/both babies we were trying 1 or 2x/day. DD was born 12 days past edd, and ds was born 8 days past edd. In the end, I took castor oil for both of them. I don't think sex works at all. Didn't a study just come out about this?

Here ya go:
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/HealthScout/060707/6070712U.html

[amydidit]

The prostagladins in the semen help prepare the cervix. Orgasm is what will release oxytocin (what pitocin is made to simulate) and help bring on (or increase) contractions, IF your body is ready. Nipple stimulation also release oxytocin which is why the breastpump works so great at helping induce labor, or encouraging contractions to be stronger.

[cottonwood]

Nipple stimulations is unlikely to release oxytocin, though, unless it feels good. I could sit here and twiddle my nipples all day and I doubt it would do anything but make them irritated. You can force the body (i.e. pitocin) but it's hard to fool it.

[storychick]

With #1, waters broke just an hour or so after sex and labor started full-on right away. I attributed it to the sex, especially since I was only 38w1d.

With #2, I was in prodromal labor for a week or more and sex didnt help at all! : I went to the day before my due date with her, and I think what finally kicked me into real labor was the very light screwdriver I had in lieu of a glass of wine the night before. That or my baby or body was waiting for my preferred midwife to come on call.

[bradleybirth2mom]

Research shows that couples who have sex rarely go past their due dates, but it is not a guarantee---ultimately, the baby comes when he wants to and the cards are up in the air. Don't get set on a date that you can't control, but know that it may be sooner than later or vice versa!

Originally Posted by JulesP

Don't worry, we're not trying to get baby out before he/she is ready!

I'm 38 1/2 weeks, and for the first time in ages DH and I attempted to have sex around the enormous bump

I know that the prostaglandins in semen can help kickstart labour if everything is ready to go, but how long does this usually take?

After this morning's comedy I had one massive contraction out of the blue mid-morning (4 hours later) and nothing very much since (1 hr or so).

[joyfilledmomma]

Before dd was born we hadn't had sex for a couple of weeks b/c I was so darn tired, but at the start of my 42nd week my midwife started talking about sending me for a non-stress test. So we went home from that appointment on Fri afternoon and had some fun I knew I was in labor first thing Sat morning and dd was born very very early on Sunday morning...was it the sex??? Maybe although dh thinks I just "willed" the baby to come b/c I didn't want to go to the hospital for any tests

[Ellien C]

Let's see - we did it Sunday morning and I had practice contractions walking around Sam's club that afternoon. The baby was born on Thursday. I was a week past my EDD.

[EmmaJean]

Originally Posted by doula and mom

I hate to admit it, but from about 38w5d with #3, I would attack my dh every night... and NOTHING HAPPENED :! Seriously, you all know how difficult it is to muster the energy -- not to mention the ABILITY -- to have sex at 38w5d and EVERY NIGHT AFTER THAT! My husband finally said, "I'm not a machine, you know!"

My water broke on her due date, and still no ctx til I got on the breast pump (8 hours after it broke). She was born the next morning.

LOL!!! Thanks for the laugh!! "I'm not a machine..."!!

[Phoebe]

I discussed this with my midwife just this week. She was saying that she had heard that it is best to obstain from sex for a couple of weeks before you want to try this "induction" method. Suposedly, if you are very active up until the end, that your body is so used to the semen that it really doesn't do much. But, if you take some "time off" then it seems to work better. She said that she unintentionally did that with her last baby and she went into labor within a couple of hours of sex.
Also, she has attended Mennonite (sp?) women who use this very method and they swear by it. She also said that to her surprise they are VERY active with their husbands...who knew! I suppose there isn't much else to do when the sun goes down. But come time for baby, they take a couple of weeks off from sex and it works for them!

Interesting I thought.