39 weeks and fed up! Does having sex really work?!

[Sarah Lou 80]

I really am not feeling it right now but my midwife told me to try it...or to grin and bear it as she put it!!

Any thoughts people? I guess it's worth a go but the thought of it is really not great! (Poor OH!)

 

[spicyorange]

There is a school of thought that something in semen softens and ripens the cervix. However the thing that starts labour more than anything is oxytocin, the"love" hormone so if you're relaxed and happy then it will be more likely to work then if your "grin and bare it", if it's a chore it probably won't work.
There's more evidence nipple stimulation works so maybe try that first?

 

[mummyruston]

Well I'm 9 days overdue and have tried brisk, power walking, sex (and yes it's the semen not the sex apparently) RLT since 38w, bouncing on a gym ball, eating spicy food, eating pineapples...
Nothing! I think they come when they want

 

[emyandpotato]

I thought it did with my first but it doesn't seem to be this time, but maybe it's helping things along, who knows?! My MW also told me to try it.

 

[trinaestella]

Sex apparently works! I've not had much sex in this pregnancy and to be honest my OH annoys me so much I don't even want to have sex with him but I think I'm going to try it lmao! I know so many people who say it works for them xx

 

[mummyruston]

My friend had sex every night for 12 nights and still ended up being induced at 10d over

 

[NerdyMama]

About an hour and a half after sex my water broke with my first, my second sex didn't budge him. So who knows. If you think you can get in the mood great, especially with the long weeks of no sex ahead. But forcing yourself probably won't work due to you not being in a relaxed state. The semen helps to ripen the cervix though.

 

[icegurl470]

The day I went into labor with my first we went on a vigorous hike, a lot of up-hill, I bounced on my exercise ball and I was actually dry pumping with my breast pump on the lowest setting when I felt my first labor pain

 

[mummytobe_93]

I really am not feeling it right now but my midwife told me to try it...or to grin and bear it as she put it!!

Any thoughts people? I guess it's worth a go but the thought of it is really not great! (Poor OH!)

I think it only works if your body is ready. The semen helps soften the cervix and an orgasm helps stimulate your uterus.

Have you tried nipple stimulation? It's probably one of the most effective ways to encourage labour (but only if your body is ready) you can do it yourself or use a breast pump x

 

[xprincessx]

I did it every day near the end when I was pregnant with my DS. I ended up being induced at 16 days overdue and he was born at 18 days overdue so didn't work for me then!!

I will still be trying it again this time though as you never know and I am DESPERATE to avoid medical induction after last time!!

 

[mummyruston]

I will still be trying it again this time though as you never know and I am DESPERATE to avoid medical induction after last time!!

Currently 9 days over and doing everything to encourage labour but don't think anything is going to happen and will be up with a medical induction

 

[miraclemomma]

I haven't read all the comments but your question made me smile! At first I wondered if you meant "does sex really work when you're fed up"!!! Ha ha! Depends on the sex!!! Sorry - pregnancy brain!!!

 

[MissR]

I'm convinced it's what made my waters break with my first. We did it four times that day and waters broke that night. I wanted it all the time in that pregnancy,this time I'm the total opposite so I don't think il be using that method again lol! Interesting that it seems to work for some and not for others x hope baby comes soon for you x

 

[upsy daisy1]

With my first I started having back pain straight after dtd.contractions started about am hour after and she was born the next morning
I think if the cervix is ready then it will help...worth a try

 

[amelia26]

Didn't for me, and we tried quite a lot near the end.

I also tried walking lots, scrubbing floors, curries, pineapple, clary sage, acupuncture, bouncing/rotating on ball, epo, raspberry leaf tea... anything I've missed?

Then had a pessary, two lots of gel, waters broken, drip.

And then a c section.


This time if I go over I will try and stay a bit active and will sit on my ball to encourage good positioning and that's it. Not wasting my time again getting exhausted for nothing

 

[calliebaby]

Worked for me with both of my babies.

 

[misspriss]

No. It doesn't.

I was told to do everything possible to go into labor naturally due to HBP I was to be induced at 39 and some change. We DTD almost every other day from 35 weeks up until the night before my induction, I was barely a fingertip dilated and a foley bulb and tons of pitocin couldn't even get me past a 3-4 for nearly 48 hours. I don't think the sex helped my cervix in the slightest!!

 

[RaquelDee]

From what I understand, it's the female orgasm that's important as it releases oxytocin which can stimulate contractions. So it doesn't matter so much if your partner has a good time, but it's very important that you do if it's going to work. I will be making this point very clear if and when I need to get things moving in the next few weeks!

 

[Blu10]

Worked for me but could've been coincidence. My waters broke 3 hours after sex x

 

[Sarah Lou 80]

I haven't read all the comments but your question made me smile! At first I wondered if you meant "does sex really work when you're fed up"!!! Ha ha! Depends on the sex!!! Sorry - pregnancy brain!!!

Haha! This makes me laugh! Every time I read the title I read it in that way!!!