"natural" labor induction methods... - Page 2

[AbbieB]

I am so jealous of all you moms using sex to try to induce.

That was our plan this time...starting at our due date DH was gonna do his "fatherly duty" and get this baby out ! We were really looking forward to it. (I should explain...we wanted to wait until our midwife was in town before getting going. She was to fly in on our due date and stay in the area on a family vacation until the wee one arrived.)

But 5 nights ago my water broke AND NO CONTRACTIONS YET! : :

With my first birth I tried almost everything to induce (DD was 3 weeks over due). EPO, sex, walking, chiro, acupuncture, acupressure, black and blue cohoshes, other herbal blends, and 3 goes at Castor oil. Nothing really worked. Castor oil had me contracting for something like 6 hours, but not strongly and it petered out once I stopped popping.

I'd say that Castor oil is a bit rough but there is that point in pregnancy when the discomfort or the clock pressure makes it worth it - if it works for you.

DD did have old mec in the water but she was 3 weeks post dates...no doubt about it looking at her. Labor was 51 hours.

[Maple Leaf Mama]

Is it the act of having sex or the semen that gets labor started?
B/c ya know what? My crotch feels like I've been kicked with steel tipped boots. A turkey baster would be a nice option right now if it's just the semen that's needed.

[HeatherB]

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf Mama

Is it the act of having sex or the semen that gets labor started?
B/c ya know what? My crotch feels like I've been kicked with steel tipped boots. A turkey baster would be a nice option right now if it's just the semen that's needed.

It's some of both... Sorry! Semen contains prostaglandins which soften the cervix, but an orgasm gives contractions and releases oxytocin (i.e., "real" pitocin). Definitely the combination of the two is what does the trick best!

[stefka]

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf Mama

B/c ya know what? My crotch feels like I've been kicked with steel tipped boots. A turkey baster would be a nice option right now if it's just the semen that's needed.

Hey, did I write that??? I almost got up the courage last night and just couldn't. Didn't think of the turkey baster option, though. Hmmmm...

[beautiful_mama]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

It's some of both... Sorry! Semen contains prostaglandins which soften the cervix, but an orgasm gives contractions and releases oxytocin (i.e., "real" pitocin). Definitely the combination of the two is what does the trick best!

OOOOHHHH yessss!!!!! More of an excuse to DTD, like I needed THAT

I'll be offline tonight after 8:30 trying to get labor started then

[gina871]

I unfortunalty are one other those mom who had a midwife who wants to induce. I don't think I am going to my appt. tomorrow I am to afraid she will want to induce me the next day I will be 42 weeks.
I have not tried caster oil. But I read to mix it with OJ and vodka. Those of you who have tried would that make it any better?
I have done both cohoshes, from what I have heard you have to becarefull of the blue it can cause a rise in BP or to go off of it every 3 day ( I think ) because it is hard on your liver.
Accupucture
walking
sitting on the birth ball
sex
walking

[stacyg]

Originally Posted by gina871

I unfortunalty are one other those mom who had a midwife who wants to induce. I don't think I am going to my appt. tomorrow I am to afraid she will want to induce me the next day I will be 42 weeks.
I have not tried caster oil. But I read to mix it with OJ and vodka. Those of you who have tried would that make it any better?
I have done both cohoshes, from what I have heard you have to becarefull of the blue it can cause a rise in BP or to go off of it every 3 day ( I think ) because it is hard on your liver.
Accupucture
walking
sitting on the birth ball
sex
walking

I can't remember exactly how I did it (as far as how much I took-I know it was a lot...I thought if I'm going to take it - I'm going to take it! )

I mixed it with OJ and very slushy ice. Drank it very VERY fast! After I drank it I took a warm bath and tried to relax - a short bit later I was on the toliet. It was a deep cleaning out! Be sure to drink lots of water/gatoraid type drink. I remember thinking if I keep this up (on the toliet) I'd get dehydrated. I only went about 3 times. Got to the hospital - was only 1 cm dilated. However I chose to stay and just walk because I felt this was it. 12 hours later he came! A nurse made a comment something like - You wouldn't believe the moms that come in here having taking castor oil and all it did was mess up their stomach (she said this out of the blue...all we were doing was walking around - and around - and around but still! )

Honestly I would do it again if I was facing an induction. HTH some what...

[memiles]

Originally Posted by AbbieB

I am so jealous of all you moms using sex to try to induce.

That was our plan this time...starting at our due date DH was gonna do his "fatherly duty" and get this baby out ! We were really looking forward to it. (I should explain...we wanted to wait until our midwife was in town before getting going. She was to fly in on our due date and stay in the area on a family vacation until the wee one arrived.)

But 5 nights ago my water broke AND NO CONTRACTIONS YET! : :

With my first birth I tried almost everything to induce (DD was 3 weeks over due). EPO, sex, walking, chiro, acupuncture, acupressure, black and blue cohoshes, other herbal blends, and 3 goes at Castor oil. Nothing really worked. Castor oil had me contracting for something like 6 hours, but not strongly and it petered out once I stopped popping.

I'd say that Castor oil is a bit rough but there is that point in pregnancy when the discomfort or the clock pressure makes it worth it - if it works for you.

DD did have old mec in the water but she was 3 weeks post dates...no doubt about it looking at her. Labor was 51 hours.

Three days after my water broke, my mw suggested oral application of prostaglandins.

Baby was born about 12 hours later, fwiw.

[Faliciagayle]

Maple Leaf Mama: like it's been said, the semen has the prostaglandins, the orgasm helps the contraction along, but then again, husbands/partners aren't needed for orgasms : so I say, bring on the turkey baster!!!

(I just bought a baster today for reasons which have nothing to do with turkey nor prostaglandins; Hah!!)

My original EDD was Sept 6, but the 2 U/S I've had put the EDD at Sept 11/12, though the MW didn't change the due date.

We're still snug as a babe in a womb.

I've been drinking raspberry leaf tea like it's going out of style since about 30 weeks, just for general uterine happiness.
Walking everyday. Yesterday I even did the curb walking thing.
Easy cycling on the cruiser around the block on some days.
Baths, swimming.
Water retention enema.
Sex.
EPO orally and vaginally.
CO on my tummy (more of a placebo?) but so far I haven't swallowed it.
Yoga.