Natural Inductions for Labor?

[mf_colon]

Hi all,

I am going to hit 40 weeks tomorrow and it looks like I will be going beyond my due date which is fine with me but I was curious as to what natural inductions are available in case baby gets stubborn and does not want to come out? I only ask because at my birthing center once you go beyond 42 weeks you cannot have the baby there, you get transferred to the local hospital and I really do NOT want to have my baby at the hospital!

So what natural inducements are there? I know nothing about them other than walking, sex, some squatting positions I have been trying, etc..

What else do you other mama's rec'd? Thanks!

[mamabear&babybear]

I've heard that rrl tea can help. I have also heard that taking Evening Primrose oil orally and applying it to you cervix can help. Maybe someone else can has more ideas. I think there have been quite few threads on the topic if you wanted to do a search. GL!!

[mom2mimi]

Nipple stimulation worked for me both times. The first time I didn't know any better and was scheduled for induction the next day at 41 wk 5 days. I remembered that I had read in What to Expect (like I said, didn't know better!!!) that nipple stimulation can cause contractions and not to do it. So of course I did it and went into labor that night. I still ended up on pit at the hospital because my contractions weren't "regular" enough for them. Grrrr Well the second time I did the nipple stimulations just a little bit every night for about three nights and ended up having my son on his due date. So it worked for me, but that may be just because baby was ready too.

[yonit]

Probably every method of induction can be found on the midwives archives website here: http://gentlebirth.org/archives/natinduc.html

Unfortunately though it is generally up to baby. No method of induction works extremely well if baby is not ready.

Hopefully you will go very soon and will not have to worry.

One word about squatting -squatting is not an induction method. In fact it closes off the pelvic inlet (the top of the pelvis) and is generally not helpful before labor. It should only be done if you know exactly what position the baby is in, know that the head is engaged and want to keep the baby in that position.

Good luck! Remember - babies always come out.

[umami_mommy]

since you have a midwife you might want to speak to her about she likes her patients to use.

it's perfectly normal for a first time mama to go to 41 or 42 weeks.

[timneh_mom]

I agree with Yonit - no induction (not even the heavy duty hospital ones) will get labor underway if baby isn't ready. Mine was 50 hours long and horrible, and I've known plenty of moms who "didn't progress" and had c-sections!

My son is still nursing and lately I've had some pretty strong BH from that, but so far, no labor!

[heartandhandsdoula]

Borage oil can help to soften the cervix and is a bit stronger than EPO. You can take it orally and vaginally. Good luck!

[poep]

Originally Posted by yonit

One word about squatting -squatting is not an induction method. In fact it closes off the pelvic inlet (the top of the pelvis) and is generally not helpful before labor. It should only be done if you know exactly what position the baby is in, know that the head is engaged and want to keep the baby in that position.

Does the pelvic inlet also close when you sit on a birth ball? I have been sitting on it thinking it could help the baby down (and it feels good). Is this something that could postpone going into labor?

[yonit]

Originally Posted by poep

Does the pelvic inlet also close when you sit on a birth ball? I have been sitting on it thinking it could help the baby down (and it feels good). Is this something that could postpone going into labor?

Poep,

No Birth balls are different than going into a squat. They don't really have any effect on bringing on labor so much, but are a great comfort measure both now and during labor.

[SusannahM]

The birthing ball actually slowed down labor with my first one. But, it didn't feel particularly good, either. So, I think your body will let you know whether it's good or not.

Reflexology got my labor going with the first one. With this latest one, it slowed the contractions down some, though.

[ekblad9]

I've had a lot of irregular but very strong contractions since late last night. m/w oked black cohosh. She said it will either start labor or stop it Either one is fine with me I just need something. I haven't slept all night and there's no one here to help with the kids. We have playdates and bday parties to attend this afternoon. I'm losing it quickly.

[FireflyFan]

Originally Posted by ekblad8

I've had a lot of irregular but very strong contractions since late last night.

Same here, only since Wednesday morning. I'm feeling very frustrated, especially since DH just checked my cervix and found no dilation!! (But then, how did gobs and gobs of mucous plug fall out? That's what I don't get....)

[ekblad9]

I've had a few of these 5 day long start and stop labors. It's so frustrating and exausting. Since dh will be home all weekend I'm hoping to get some good rest. It's so mentally exausting to think "this is it" and then "no it's not" every night.

[beaner&tiegs]

Lots and lots of semen, both vaginally and orally! And ya know, it's the last chance for a little bit to really have sex, so it's a fun way to try to get into labour! With my first, I finally resorted to castor oil as there was talk about hospital inductions within the day or so, and I can't say I necessarily recommend it, but it did work! However, I was probably pretty much ready.

With my first, I went 2 weeks overdue, and for the first week after my due date I remember feeling REALLY restless and impatient, but then settled into and now have VERY positive memories of that last week, leisurely lunches with my mom talking about her pregnancies, my fears, childhoods, etc, long walks along the beach with DH eating frozen yoghurts - once I decided to just relax and enjoy my time, I was really thankful for the extra time! Not so sure I can reach that state with this pregnancy, but I am hoping for a few days of relaxing after we finish setting everything up/cleaning the house! I'm too tired to go into labour right now!

[poep]

Originally Posted by beaner&tiegs

With my first, I went 2 weeks overdue, and for the first week after my due date I remember feeling REALLY restless and impatient, but then settled into and now have VERY positive memories of that last week, leisurely lunches with my mom talking about her pregnancies, my fears, childhoods, etc, long walks along the beach with DH eating frozen yoghurts - once I decided to just relax and enjoy my time, I was really thankful for the extra time! Not so sure I can reach that state with this pregnancy, but I am hoping for a few days of relaxing after we finish setting everything up/cleaning the house! I'm too tired to go into labour right now!

This is really great advice. I go in and out of enjoying my freedom/leisure time to being anxious that nothing seems to be happening at all. I'm not yet in a hurry, but I can see myself getting more stressed out about going over as my due date approaches and I don't feel any changes in my body. I need to keep reminding myself that it is okay to relax and enjoy this time.

[ekblad9]

If I could just be alone I would be like a different person. It's trying to keep up with the kids, their activities, feeding them, grocery shopping, ect. It's just gotten too hard. I'm drowning fast.....: