Natural Labor Stimulation? Question? WWYD?

[meagansroses]

OKay, I'm aprehesive. I bought an herbal supplement that is supposed to natually induce labor. Can I say I am totally done with being pregnant : I know I have about 2 weeks to go until my due date. But ds was born at 38 weeks and now it is just getting to be too much. My hips hurt, my vulva hurts, my boobs hurt, my back/sciatic nerve hurt, lots of bh contractions, lots of diarhrea (sorry tmi), and I can't do it anymore. SOOOOO, my question is....would you go ahead and take the supplement? Or let your body wait and go on its own? I'm not very patient: can you tell! Tell me what you think Meagan

[becoming]

I'd take it! And I'd also like to know what the supplement is.

[Jen H.]

I guess if you are feeling desperate you might as well go ahead and try it. If your body isn't ready, it likely won't work. But try not to get your hopes up too much that it will be the "magic ticket" to labour, as it may not work. Do you know what's in it, from a safety standpoint? I'd be concerned about castor oil or cohoshes without consulting your midwife or doc, that's all...

Do let us know if you try it, and what happens!

[AutumnLeaves5]

My inclination would be to run it by my MW and then try it (with their blessing). I brought up EPO to them last Fri. and they said for me to go ahead and take one capsule at night & put one in at night...nothing so far. But I have an appt. tomorrow so we'll see. I am 39 weeks + 1 day. My first was born at just 36 weeks so this is new territory for me. I just spoke with my doula and she was saying other good foods to help encourage labor are fresh basil and balsamic vinegar. So I am going to make a tomato mozzarella salad for lunch with basil and balsamic vinagrette! Also she mentioned real licorice...so I'll try that too.

What's the name of the herbal supplement?

[luckydog]

Well, FWIW and you can take it or leave it, of course, but here's not only what I would do, it's what I AM doing.

Without any medical reason, I'd wait. Some uterine toning and cervix ripening is one thing, but I'd stay away from anything resembling actual labor induction.

I know it's incredibly uncomfortable at the end - I'm not very tall and very short waisted, so the physical discomforts at the end really do mount up. BUT, they are physical discomforts, not health concerns. I try to spin this problem in my own mind as part of the magic pregnancy works on me to prepare me for labor. If I was comfortable right up until the end, I know I'm more likely have more labor fears. As it is, I'm pretty much CRAVING the onset of labor at the end. And the more time that passes, the more I want it.

The other problem is the mindphuck. If I DID try to induce early and it didn't work, I would be even MORE frustrated and impatient.

And, statistically, those herbs aren't likely to work. If the cervix isn't ready anyhow, your odds of a successful vaginal birth even with a hardcore PIT induction are less than 50%.

My .02! Good luck and more mama.

[manitobamama]

I'd be more apt to dtd and try some nipple stimulation. Go for a walk and connect with babe. Unless you are ready I don't think it will bring anything on.
I had a friend years ago that took something (forget what) and went into labor 24 hours of hard labor and then labor stopped. Babe was born a week later so she had all that to go through again!
I know it's hard to be patient but prehaps that is the lesson!
Oh and for sure run it by your mw or doc before you take it.

[meagansroses]

Originally Posted by becoming

I'd take it! And I'd also like to know what the supplement is.

I got it from a mama on diaperswappers--it is currently in the mail so I can't read exactly what is on the bottle but here is the quote from her post

"a 3/4 full bottle of Motherstar Natural Birth herbal supplament..
contains all organic herbs...extracts of blue and black cohosh, beth and spikenard roots, red rasberry, partridge berry, alfalfa, speriment and lobelia leaves.

helps soften and ripen cirvex...I have taken this w/ all my pregnancys...this bottle was bought new the hight before I went into labor...i'd say it works well"

I will probably call my midwife when it comes to go over the ingredients with her and get a "go ahead". Thanks for all the input. I will let you know what happens!

[beanbean]

FWIW, I'm taking Dr. Christopher's Prenatal (it's a 5 wk formula). I def. notice more Braxton Hicks so I think it's helpful for toning and preparing the uterus.

I have no idea if it has any effect on labor -- I took it during my last pregnancy, but also had my membranes swept, and I only had a 2.5 hour labor (compared to 36 hours for my first).

My FP recommended it last time when I hit 40 wks. I didn't tell her that I'd been taking it for 3 wks already!

[VeganHeathen]

I'm 40 weeks, and my midwife told me I could hook up my breast pump and start contractions. I'm surprised she said that because that seems like an intense thing to be doing unmonitored. She said you can get pretty strong contractions using a breast pump. Needless to say, I'm going to wait it out, but maybe you could try...?

[ahdoula]

I have tried my breast pump for 20 min at a time. I have tried 3x I think. I can't say I got any strong contractions, and nothing that fell into a pattern. I got a few braxton hicks, that was it. Though all my efforts are failing, even though I am feeling pretty "ripe" so I am starting to think that when it comes down to it, if you aren't ready, you just aren't ready! I think a lot of these at home methods are effective for labor that starts and stops or need encouraging. I doubt their ability to just get it going on a whim. I would say cohash and castor oil would be the exceptions, but of course how many stories have we heard of those not working either!