Has anyone tried Nipple Stimulation?

[wife&mommy]

If so, how did you do it? Everything I seem to read says a different way to do it. My midwife said I could try it but she didn't mention the method and I didn't think to ask because I thought I could find it online... but again, they are all different!

Anyone had any success with it in the past?

[waiting2bemommy]

It worked for me when I was in the shower...I put the washcloth, wet with warm/hot water over one nipple and rolled it back and forth with one or both hands. About 2-3 minutes of it gave me a good strong contraction. But you need to use a clock to make sure you do it long enough. My only problem was that the contractions petered out and eventually stopped responding even to the nipple stimulation. But that method DID initially work for me....I'm thinking of trying it again today to see if I'm more ready now. I also leaked milk all night after doing it.

Oh and they say that in between contractions you should rest 5-10 minutes before starting up again on the alternate nipple.

[Frenchie2]

My SIL started her last labor this way. She said that you really have to ream on your nipples to get it going and that it took her about 15 minutes (while watching Antique roadshow) to get started. They were threatening her with induction and so she did nipple stim and started ctxs that night and had baby the next day. But she said it did hurt because you really have to work on them.

Personally, I started some nipple stim last weekend and it did start some ctxs but nothing steady (obviously). I am a little more of a wimp though and my nipples are really sensitive right now. What I did was sit in the bathtub with washcloths over my breasts (and a candle lit) and just rolled and pinched my nipples for awhile while I was visualizing baby getting into position and my uterus contracting. I didnt do it as long as I should have as I had a 4 year old banging on the door. But like I said it did start some contractions up and going. I am going to try it again today and try to do it for 20 minutes, I think doing it for longer would yield better results.

[waiting2bemommy]

I have a really silly question: how do you do this visualizing stuff? I tried a couple times during the nipple stimulation because I kept hearing about the mind-body connection (which I do believe) but I couldn't picture anything in my mind and my thoughts just sort of wandered. What's my problem?

[starry_mama]

Originally Posted by waiting2bemommy

I have a really silly question: how do you do this visualizing stuff? I tried a couple times during the nipple stimulation because I kept hearing about the mind-body connection (which I do believe) but I couldn't picture anything in my mind and my thoughts just sort of wandered. What's my problem?

I can't do it either. I always start cracking up and making fun of myself.

[*MamaJen*]

Yeah, I've tried it. I think it had something to do with me getting pregnant in the first place.
Oh, you mean like that. Right.
If you have a breast pump handy, I've heard that's a really easy way to do the nipple stimulation--I mean, I think the whole idea is you're basically simulating breastfeeding and it releases all those hormones. Also, the way I understand it, it's the most verified natural induction method (y'know, pineapple and castor oil, the jury is still out whether or not those work, or if the women who ate a pineapple then went into labor were about to go into labor anyway and they may as well have just eaten a bag of gummi bears). I hear nipple stim can bring on really strong contractions if you do it right and long enough.

[Beppie]

My body must not respond to it the way others do... I tried it with my first pregnancy, with a breast pump, and I pumped for a long time (20 minutes each side) ... and never got a single contraction! I wonder if my body then was just too clueless. I started pumping at 40 weeks. dd was born at 42 weeks.

It might be different with this pregnancy, I haven't tried it. Not sure I'm going to, though, just because my results last time were so disappointing.

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

I tried it last night for 2 hrs with my dual PIS and got nice strong bh but no real contractions. I took it as a sign that he just wasn't ready. I was getting excited because the bh were coming about every 5 mins and last a min or so. But there was no pain with them.

[Brees_Mama]

Since Im still nursing dd I get quite alot of nipple stimulation on both boobs bc she likes to play with the other while shes nursing LOL and I get quite alot of contractions!

[Frenchie2]

Originally Posted by waiting2bemommy

I have a really silly question: how do you do this visualizing stuff? I tried a couple times during the nipple stimulation because I kept hearing about the mind-body connection (which I do believe) but I couldn't picture anything in my mind and my thoughts just sort of wandered. What's my problem?

This may sound corny, but I just imagine those pictures of what baby looks like in books, like when they are engaged. I picture my little guy with his head engaged and this peaceful look on his face. Then I picture that he is wrapped in a big muscle that is massaging him. Like I said it sounds corny but it really does work for me. The other day, I just visualized without the nipple stim and it started ctxs. I think being in water with the lights off really helps too because I figure it is pretty dark in utero.

[kittywitty]

I tried this, though honestly I was not very dedicated, with dd#1 and it didn't work.

I get some nip stimulation sometimes when dh feels up to it, but if these cramps and stomach issues continue tonight, I might have him actually try. I doubt he'll refuse!

[guest9921]

Originally Posted by Brees_Mama

Since Im still nursing dd I get quite alot of nipple stimulation on both boobs bc she likes to play with the other while shes nursing LOL and I get quite alot of contractions!

Still nursing here as well, though if my DS twiddled my other nipple, I'd go screaming for the hills. Its the most obnoxious feeling in the world.

Brings on contractions every once in a while, but while I'm nursing - because of my lack of anything more than colostrum - I detach myself as much as possible. My son is a marathon nurser, and I find myself nursing for hours a day. I'm sure if I were more 'there' - things would 'work better'.

[RedHen4]

I think it's another of those inducement methods that only work if you're really close anyway. That said, it didn't work for my 1st baby, but did work for my 4th. I got up from a nap and tried it; got some good contractions and was able to keep them going somewhat throughout the day until my body took over later that night.

With baby #5, I had a very strange labor. I was pretty much walking around at a 7 (I asked to be checked after 2 days) with no regular labor pattern established. Nipple stimulation kept contractions going for a couple of hours, but still never really kicked things in to high gear.

This is baby #6, and I have tried MULTIPLE times to kick-start things, but like a previous poster, I only get some really strong B-H, but nothing that takes on a life of its own. Guess she's just not ready.

All I do is rub my hand/fingers back-and-forth--nothing really mean or strenuous. It begins to work after 7-8 minutes, usually.

Korrie, with baby #6 at 40+3

[frogleymom]

Originally Posted by Katfka

Still nursing here as well, though if my DS twiddled my other nipple, I'd go screaming for the hills. Its the most obnoxious feeling in the world.

This is exactly how I feel. I usually can't even stand DD#2 playing with the breast she's nursing on... there's no way I'd let her play with the other one. I've started holding both of her hands so she won't play while nursing... I just can't stand that feeling right now. She's usually pretty good about it... mostly because she usually only nurses when she's sleepy.

As for the contractions... I get a few BH while nursing, but that's about it... nothing strong.

Emily