Spicy food, long walks, sex, nip. stim....

[birthjunkie27]

When do you all plan on beginning these things (if at all) or any other natural induction methods- which may or may not work?

I'll be 37 wks in 9 days at which point I'll have the green light for homebirth. I don't plan on starting any of the previously mentioned until about 38 wks (or sooner or later.....depends on my mood I guess). :lol Or maybe not at all. I haven't really decided yet. I didn't with my first two and they were born at 36 wks and 38wks.

I was just wondering if anyone else is planning on starting these on a specific date, or are you just going to go with the flow so to speak, and let things happen on their own?

[witchbaby]

ahem, i do them already? i've been doing them since before i was pregnant?
i really really like spicy food. it's MILK that gives me heartburn!
we take walks as often as possible.
we're like rabbits around here. it's almost disturbing. ;)
k is still nursing, so i get nipple stimulation several times a day.
i don't have any plans to do any natural inductions other than just living my life. once i go into labor, i plan to encourage k to nurse to help along contractions, but, other than that, nothing really to speak of.

[kir]

I really want/need my mom around for the delivery, so i'm thinking around nov. 25...that's 37 weeks or so for me. Wow...just 2 weeks away!! ACK!!!

Kiran

[darkpear]

Yeah, I do all that stuff in the course of everyday life too. Though the walks are more because I don't drive than because I actually feel like walking (especially since we are still having 80+ F weather here, yuck)... and I could do with a bit more sex :blush

I dunno, I went a bit early with my daughter (38.5 weeks) and I don't have everything in order yet for this baby, so I'm not sure if I will feel any need to try and help things along. I would rather like to birth before the new year (I'm due 12/29 or 12/30) for the tax deduction though :down

[StarCat]

i already started taking the herbs my midwife recommends. Called 5W. You start them at 35 weeks. With dd I started doing a little nipple stim and increasing my walking at around 38 weeks. sex is really painful on my hip joints so although I want to, I don't know that I will attempt that too much. I don't think I'm really going to do anything much until after thanksgiving...then maybe a little nipple stim to encourage more contractions. I've already been walking but more for weight/exercise rather than labor. I do need to increase it though the weather is still pretty warm here- but on nicer days I should walk more.

[Spark]

I personally, can not mentally handle the idea that I am trying to do natural induction until I'm at least 40 weeks OR I've been in promodial labor for a few days. For me, starting these things earlier than that really only leads to disappointment and a longer wait.

I'm just about 36 weeks. Next week, if I started doing these things with the intent to start labor that doesn't mean a possible 3 weeks of doing all that... it means a possible 5+ weeks (many women go to 42 weeks). Trying to get myself to go into labor for a month of my lifetime does NOT sound like fun to me.

[selazenby]

Trying to get myself to go into labor for a month of my lifetime does NOT sound like fun to me.

Well...I guess that depends on the method :wink Since Jake was born 3 weeks early, my midwife has had me restricting activities like walking and sex. And I miss them! Saturday is our green light day, so I'll be back to my walks (which I love pregnant or not) and sex (which needs to happen SOON around here!). As far as other methods, I'm not planning to "try" to go into labor - I want baby to bake as long as she needs to. But I really do think that none of the natural induction stuff works unless you're pretty much on the cusp of labor anyway - so I'm not going to necessarily avoid anything either.

[Spark]

Well...I guess that depends on the method :wink

:lol Good point! I just meant, I wouldn't do those things with the intention of getting myself to go into labor. I'm all for walking, spicy food, sex and some good old nipple stimulation... but just for the heck of it!

Gosh, erin, I hope you reach your "Magic Week" soon so you can walk and sex yourself to your heart's content!

... Oh, i meant sex with your DH, but I guess by yourself would work, too! :lol

[selazenby]

... Oh, i meant sex with your DH, but I guess by yourself would work, too! :lol

:lol at this point, i'm up for anything! :wink

of course, it may be a classic case of - you always want what you can't have - come saturday, i might be totally over it. (but i doubt it :) )

[amelissam]

we're like rabbits around here. it's almost disturbing.
Remember, I'm *kinda* a newlywed!!! We will have our one year anniversary this Sunday, so I'm with you on this "method"!!!!!
I plan to start *really* working on it at 36 weeks. I'm really miserable, but I know that anything I do may not *really* help speed it up, so I'm settled at thinking he won't be born until his due date.
I'm afraid of doing nipple stim, though, I've heard it can REALLY work and bring on very painful labor very quickly. Has anyone had this experience? I don't think I'd resort to that until I was overdue.

[judybean]

I'm all for trying anything and everything to get things moving.

With both girls I went overdue by two weeks, the doctor got a bit worried and I was induced. I don't want to be induced this time and will be having another hospital birth.

So.... On Monday I will be 35 weeks and like StarCat (Becca) I will be taking the 5W. I'd love to be out taking walks, but it's downright cold here. Last night it got into the teens... it's usually below freezing in the mornings, but... .. who knows? Maybe the cold front will move out of here soon and I can get to walking (though really, these girls seem to generate enough laundry for an army and I get plenty of stair-walking in going down to the laundry room). Sex is hit or miss (on my part, dh is plenty willing). Spicy foods? Heck, I've never NOT eaten them -- they're one of my food groups!!

I'm not anticipating going early or anything, but I just want this baby to come out in December. That's really all I care!!

[amis2girls]

I'm afraid of doing nipple stim, though, I've heard it can REALLY work and bring on very painful labor very quickly. Has anyone had this experience? I don't think I'd resort to that until I was overdue.

I think it's Ina May who says as soon as you stop, so do the contractions.

[punkwoman1982]

Hey the full moon is next week maybe that will help some of us that r due in early dec get things moving... not gonna count my chickens b4 they hatch tho.

[witchbaby]

Remember, I'm *kinda* a newlywed!!! We will have our one year anniversary this Sunday, so I'm with you on this "method"!!!!!
I plan to start *really* working on it at 36 weeks. I'm really miserable, but I know that anything I do may not *really* help speed it up, so I'm settled at thinking he won't be born until his due date.
I'm afraid of doing nipple stim, though, I've heard it can REALLY work and bring on very painful labor very quickly. Has anyone had this experience? I don't think I'd resort to that until I was overdue.
i'm NOT a newlywed-- we've been married 4.5 years, together 6.5! i'm always shocked to discover we're having SO much more sex than other married couples because it doesn't feel like we have much of it! :banana
my midwives have you take dosages of evening primrose oil starting at 36 weeks, but that's about all i'll probably be doing.

[DesireeH]

Do you just swallow the EPO? I have that too. I forget what it's good for, I need to look it up. LOL

I'm at least 36 weeks but am having tons of cramping/pressure so walking is out. LOL I try just to be active but honestly, it just hurts too much so I go back home after like 5 minutes. HAHAHA Plus, where will I pee? LOL I could pee on the bottom of the mailbox like my dogs I suppose. HAHAHAHA Just kidding.

We have sex but not just for labor, just to have sex. LOL No nipple stim here either, boobs are out of order, they hurt! HAHAHA

I never cut off spicy food or anything (except when the heartburn was awful but it finally let up 2 days ago when my child decided to get her giant butt out of lungs/etc.) so we're pretty much just doing what we usually do.

I cant say I wouldnt be super excited if she came in a week.....I TOTALLY would as I am super uncomfortable and sick of all these cramps and pains but I am trying to mentally prepare myself for December so that I dont get dissapointed or more anxious than I already am. I have NOOOOOO patience!

[Taedareth]

What is this 5W herbal mixture? Where can I buy it?

I'd like our baby to be born as early in December as possible to have a birthday distinct from Christmas. So I plan to start encouraging labor around week 38. But all the usual things (walking, sex) are things I've been doing all along. So I don't see how that's going to encourage the onset of labor. Hence why an herbal approach sounds more promising.

Oh as for nipple stimulation, in the last couple months that has been giving me contractions (after orgasm, usually - or maybe it's orgasm itself that causes the uncomfortable contractions). It's not painful exactly but uncomfortable for sure. I don't know whether that would actually start labor or if it just causes braxton hicks?

[amelissam]

Yeah, I want to know about this 5W stuff and also what EPO does.

[amis2girls]

There are a lot of threads on EPO in the "I'm Pregnant" forum. You take it orally and/or insert vaginally, but lately I've seen a lot of experiences with "loose cervix" and very hard labors when inserted. It ripens and softens the cervix so that once labor starts dilation goes faster.

The 5W (five weeks) is a combination made by Nature's Sunshine. It's full of stuff that prepares you for childbirth. I couldn't find it when pg with my first, but I may not have looked for it hard enough. :)

[witchbaby]

Do you just swallow the EPO? I have that too. I forget what it's good for, I need to look it up. LOL


according to their book, my midwives just have you take it orally. i imagine the topic will come up in the visit after this (my 36 week).

[hunnybumm]

I'm not planning on doing anything at all. I figure this baby will come when it's good and ready. ;) I will just contiune on with my regular life, or at least as much as I can. Walking is pretty much out of it for me as well, I have been having lower back pain when walking, bending, rolling over (like a beached whale none the less) in bed, etc. Plus my feet swell pretty bad, and it's uncomfortable to walk for too long.

But I guess chasing after a toddler can't hurt, right?

[marisa]

I inserted EPO vaginally from about 37 weeks on with my last baby and had him at 41 weeks with a easy 4 hour labor. (No loose cervix or hard labor problems.) Doing all the natural inductions methods may not work, but I think all the stuff I did - lots of sex, red raspberry leaf tea, EPO vaginally, and nursing my firstborn - helped tone the uterus and pave the way for an easier delivery. So, in my opinion, trying this stuff can't hurt as long as you keep perspective and know that if it doesn't bring them earlier, it can help during labor.

[StarCat]

The evening primrose is a natural prostaglandin. It works to help to ripen the cervix, make it softer so it is more able to thin out when the time comes. It can be taken orally or placed in the vagina near the cervix. semen is also a natural prostaglandin and works the same way but is more potent. ;)

5W is a blend of herbs that are supposed to help to tone/strenthen the uterus. It's made by a company called Natures Sunshine, I think other companies have similar products but I don't know what they are or are called. You take it from week 35 gradually increasing the amount up through when you go into labor. It's kind of controversial, I suppose, because of 2 ingredients...black cohosh (its black not blue thats in 5w) and dong quai. They are not recommended during pregnancy because they can start labor (blue cohosh is really more the "inducer", though) Since a lot of people really feel that its better to leave things alone they don't like to take it. I feel pretty comfortable with taking it, my midwife explained to me last pg. that it is in small amounts and helps to strengthen and tone the uterus preparing it for birth, and it is not meant to initiate labor. Still, they don't recommend taking it if you are at risk for preterm delivery until after 37 weeks.

Its pretty easy to find online- just google natures sunshine and 5w you can probably find a local distributer, too that way. I think they are a mlm company (I hate those) but the products seems to be pretty good and they aren't annoying like others can be.