natural induction helps

[mommyschiff]

I am due August 27th. My 1st was born 18 days early. My 2nd - 6 days late - he's the stubborn one in the family. I know that babies are considered term at 37 weeks. Around 37 weeks I am wanting to begin some natural labor induction techniques. I tried the Castor Oil last time and will not do that again - YUCK! But I am hoping that trying some very mild things might help get things going so that I deliiver close to my due date. (as opposed to waiting until I am overdue to begin labor induction)

I am looking for suggestions... I know Red Raspberry Tea or tablets (do those work? I've never heard anyone say that it worked), there is a GREAT pre-natal massage therapist here who knows the spots to rub, and then there is always sex. What else??

Thanks
Kelly

[saintmom]

babies are full term at 40 weeks.You'd be better off waiting until then to try to induce.

[mommycaroline]

I'm in a difficult position here myself, and I'm considering natural induction remedies. Each pregnancy is different, and you really have to weigh why you are considering this. It really is best to wait until babe is ready to come out on their own. BUT, if you have extenuating circumstances (like a VBAC, or an antsy care provider who won't let you go past 40 weeks, or something along those lines) you can start different things early. If you only want to do it because you just don't want to go past your due date, I'd highly recommend you reconsider, because it does introduce risks that you may not want to deal with. For example, any early stress on baby can cause the baby to start pooping, and then you have meconium in the water and a whole different ball of wax when it comes to delivery (you are probably risked out of a home birth, and your baby may have extra interventions at birth).

All that said, Evening Primrose Oil is a very common one. I heard one table per day for one week inserted vaginally, and then two tablets per day for the next week, sticking with that level until delivery. You can also take it orally, but if you have any BP issues, it's a known risk factor for raising blood pressure. I'm not taking it orally for that reason. EPO will help ripen your cervix.

There's a supplement called PN6 that a lot of people recommend. It's no longer made by the same company, but you can now buy it as Dr. Christopher's Prenatal Tea (although it's a pill). It has black cohosh, red raspberry, and a variety of other things in it. You start it 6 weeks out, take one a day for the first week, two a day for the second week, three a day for the third week, etc, adding one more a day per week until you deliver. Very hard to find, pretty expensive.

Lots of sex, daily if you can tolerate it. Getting your EPO inserted may help with that. ;)

That's pretty much what we're doing here. I had a cesarean due to failed induction due to pre-eclampsia last time, and already my OB's office is singing the "baby's too big" induction song, so I'm trying to help things along as much as possible. If I had the luxury of waiting it out, believe me I would. It's very stressful worrying about beating their clock. I'm very envious of anyone who can just gestate in peace. Enjoy it while you can!

[lena_girl]

I personally also wouldn't suggust trying early induction methods unless you have special circumstances for needing the baby to come sooner rather than later. For me I know that I might be ready (but I'm not yet, hee hee) but I don't want my baby to come until she is ready.