Please don't post to Facebook ☺️
Hi ladies, a very touchy subject for this post so would prefer it NOT to go on Facebook.
I'm looking for ways to bring on a natural labour.
Background is - I'm being induced in 4 days if Bub doesn't come naturally and I'm so scared, I don't want to be induced but the doctors and midwives are worried about babies growth as she has stopped growing and not moving as much as she should be.
They have given me a stretch and sweep and plan to do another tomorrow and then if that fails again, they will be attempting to soften my cervix Sunday and Sunday night before inducing me and breaking my waters on Monday morning.
It is not an emergency, as they would have had her out by now (well I hope), but they believe it is necessary as they do hold concerns for the movements and growth but the baby's heart rate is good (they have me monitored very well) but I live 40 minutes from the hospital.
I will NOT take caster oil so please don't give me that advice!!!
I've been trying to do more exercise but I'm so tired that I don't even want to move, plus I have hay fever ☹️
I would be very happy to go the 40 weeks, but if the doctors are worried, I'm worried and stressed. They want her to come naturally but they have given her a very short time to do so.
I'm 38 weeks and 2 days.
The last stretch and sweep was at 38 weeks exactly and they will be inducing me at 38+6.
Please no judgement or nasty comments, I already feel like crap that she can't stay in there until she is ready, but I don't want to risk her health.
Thanks for any advice.
12 Replies
You have nothing to feel guilty for. I don't know who this would be a touchy subject for? So please don't apologise for wanting what is best for your baby.
I've heard sex can get things started.
I can understand you want things to start on there own, but please dont stress yourself out about being induced. My son was an induction. Some women start labour with just the gels (softening of the cervix). This is what happened for me and the woman in the next room. Having the gels put in was not painful. Others need more help. But stressing about it won't help.
Yes it's great if everything happens on there own, of course. But take some deep breaths and let it go, whichever way this baby comes you want to be as relaxed as you can be.
I think maybe you should chat to your midwives about the induction process to hopefully help with the fears you have.
For natural kick start to labour I have heard the usual stuff women swear by spicy food, sex, exercise so forth.
What I found super helpful in the lead up to my labour was sitting on a gym ball and gently bouncing up and down it's exercise not too taxing and actually helped with all the pregnancy aches and pains.
No need to feel guilty at all! babies from 36 weeks on are generally ready to go! If possible have sex! Something about the sperm is supposed to help bring on labour☺ best of luck??
I read that when the head drops down enough it signals all systems go. So get the head down. Stay in good positions, gently bounce on a yoga ball and big big walks.
Don't feel guilty. We are electing for bubs to come at 38 weeks due to my health complications, there is seriously no need to feel any guilt whatsoever!!
There's a few things that *could* help bring on labour, eat a spicy curry, massage, play with nipples a lot and sex.
Sex - both an orgasm and semen can help. The orgasm can help start contractions, and the semen can help soften the cervix.
Nipped stimulation
Jumping/trotting like a horse/bumpy car rides/etc.
Spicy food.
Thyme or raspberry leaf (can be found in both tea and capsules)
A warm bath.
Bananas, dates and pineapple (best fresh over frozen or canned, apparently)
Basil or oregano
Balsamic vinegar
Swimming
Playing on a swing
Doing squats
Dancing
Etc.
There are many old wife tales about inducing labour, but most haven't been proven to be effective or not - but the ones I listed above are the safe (and some even fun) things that I found on Google. At the very least, it'll keep you distracted from your concerns so I guess they're worth a shot, even if they don't work.
Do not feel guilty at all hun. 38 weeks is perfectly fine to deliver a baby. As to induce labour have sex!!! I know people think its an old wives tale but it actually isnt. At 27 weeks the day after having sex with my hubby i went into labour. Thankfully the doctors and midwives were able to stop the labour from progressing but i was banned from having sex for the rest of my pregnacy (yay me lol i was happy as) from the doctors.
If bubs not ready then nothing you do is going to bring her on early without medical intervention. I was induced with my last bub, was confronting but also less stressful in a way as we knew what day he was going to arrive. I had my waters broken at 8 am and only got small contractions until around 2ish, got hooked up to the drip (syntocinon) and had him by 6. Goodluck!
Sex didn't work for me? Unfortunately nothing did (I tried literally every wives tale from essential oils, to 3 whole pineapple (had a couple of good Braxton hix) and putting my hooha over a bowl of coffee . Being induced (41+3) was actually good as my partner was working an hour away and wouldn't have been there the whole time good luck mama!. Other wives tales I tried were mowing, cleaning, warm baths, dancing, nipple stimulation, dates spicy food, walking/lunges
Hi ladies, poster here!
I had my second stretch and sweep with a much more informing midwife today, she was excellent and explained the whole process much better than the last!
I was told that being induced (using the drip) makes people go from no contractions to very strong, close together contractions within minutes, that's why I was so scared!
Now I am up to date with what is actually going to happen I'm a lot calmer and more open to being induced if needed ☺️
Thank you all for your lovely advice (I will still try it over the weekend) otherwise if Bub is still stubborn I will happily go in for my induction on Monday morning ? As long as she is healthy, I will be very proud and happy regardless of how/when she comes.
Kelly here - from the Imperfect Mum team - HOW DID YOU GO?!?!?! :-D Excited for you! x
Hi Kelly, not so good unfortunately.
We had Bub on the Monday at 8pm.
Now she is being flown to Sydney with possible heart problems tomorrow morning after spending all her time with us in the nursery ?
We're unsure of what the problem could be so she will be in the best hands thank god.
We're not coping and neither is my older boy but we need to find out what is wrong with our baby girl ?
Thanks for the support ladies. Glad we got her out when we did.