Ideas for natural induction

[mp30]

A little background first - I've been having contractions for a couple of weeks now and the last couple of days I've been having them in the evening and during the night about 10 minutes apart only to disappear when i wake up. They wake me up a couple of times a night, otherwise they're just uncomfortable. These last couple of days they have felt as pressure down below along with the tightening. I'm a VBAC and my due date was Feb 12, almost 2 weeks ago. I think that due date is wrong, it's likely more like the 19 or so. At this point I'm just wondering when this will happen and what I can do to 'speed' things along safely. The docs are going based on the 12th due date and my last appt she wasn't pressuring to induce. She did suggest breaking the water though, because I'm so close. She doesn't think i'll make it to my monday's appt, but I have a feeling I will. Things are going so slow and off and on. I went into labour the first time but she was breech and auto c-section, but labour was definite. Now it's like, am I or am i not? At my last appt I was almost 2 cm and 60% and baby seemed lower than -2 station to her (he was at -2 the previous week, 1 cm and 50%). So I think I'm ready to try something at least before I talk to her about breaking the water. Any advice?

[Neth Naneth]

My Great Grandmother swore by cod liver oil by my MIL said she tried that and it made her sick. :

My sister was in the same boat (supposedly 2 weeks overdue - midwife claimed when the baby came out she seem right on the nose of 40 week though) and she took an evening to herself and visualized her birth, how she wanted it. Pictured it happening - she remained very focused - and that next night she woke up from contractions and had her dd the next afternoon. :

I am sending you lots of labor vibes right now. Good luck sweetie.

[L J]

I was 10 days past my due date, based on my O day, and I ate a whole fresh pineapple plus part of a second, and went into labor a couple hours later. I hadn't been having any contractions at all that day, so I really think the pineapple helped things along. My lips and tongue were a little worse for the wear, but it was the safest form of natural induction I could try! Good luck, and sending you lots of easy labor vibes!

[CrunchyBikerMama]

oh, can i relate to you! i'm 40 wks 5 days and i'm so miserable. everything hurts and i can hardly move. i've had all kinds of tightening and pressure for a month now. 2 weeks ago i was 1 cm, 50% effaced and baby's head was at 0 station. i really thought he'd arrive by now but he has other ideas.

i induced my labor with ds1 at 40 wks 3 days using castor oil (2 tbsp in orange juice) and it was disgusting but it worked like a charm. i went into labor 4 hours later and delivered him 4 hrs after that. well, i tried the castor oil routine yesterday and all it got me was a night of painful contractions 5 minutes apart that petered out around 4 am this morning. i've also been taking evening primrose oil orally and vaginally. it contains prostaglandins which is supposed to ripen the cervix. and of course dh has been helping out, you know, with the old fashioned natural way to induce labor. this little guy just doesn't want to budge. i've heard of pineapple, so maybe will try that tomorrow. although nothing's worked for me, maybe one of these will work for you. i wish you lots of luck. let's hope we both go into labor SOON!!!

[mp30]

Pineapple! I didn't even know. I ate one whole one at a time with dd and she was born 2 days before my due date. I happen to have one at home and will try that. I'll try cod liver oil too, but it sounds gross. But anything to get things going. I'm beyond uncomfortable and my pelvis is killing me. I'm walking with my legs 2 feet apart.

[brentropy]

I can vouch for the castor oil - it worked with a vengeance I'm not convinced that I would recommend it though, since it caused 5 hours of awful cramps and diarrhea before actual labor set in. I was only one week away from my due date, but I had terrible swelling and was getting desperate.

I did the 50/50 castor oil and orange juice.

Good luck!

[momto l&a]

I did castor oil and loved it. Though I am not sure it started labor.

[sarahn4639]

sex (with orgasm for you and depositing of sperm at cervix for him ), go for a walk or rest depending on what you feel you need, accupressure (really like these!), maybe some hands and knees or bottom up positions to assure good position of baby (sometimes this on and off labor can be trying to get babe in better position for birth), i've also heard the pineapple thing, I do think castrol oil can work but don't recommend it because it can make for a difficult/crampy labor and diahrrea! Oaky, that's all I come up with right now...definately have sex and if you are well rested and feel up for going into labor quickly, start the accupressure, if not get a good night of sleep and have sex again in the AM and do accupressure then. Best of luck!! Let us know how it goes!

[A&A]

Sex

[fuller2]

I don't know if I consider it entirely 'natural' anymore, but acupuncture worked with a vengeance for me. I had 2 treatments, though, rather than the recommended one (pressure from insecure, inexperienced midwife), and that turned out to WAY overdo it--like getting a double dose of Pitocin.

It certainly worked, at least! (The provider I used said that women often start going into labor before they've left her office...)

[Tuwamare]

I went to a chiropractor who was trained in the Webster technique... it is supposed to turn breech babies, but I thought it would just align my pelvis so baby had a clear shot out of there. Had the appt on a Friday... went into labor Saturday night. Baby was born Sunday morning. Whether or not it helped start labor, I sure felt better... I could walk easier and I felt my energy flow to be much better.

[MoonWillow]

I've been doing evening primrose oil, accupressure and I had my membranes stripped 3 days ago (shhhh) :
So far though, no action!