Bath to induce labour?

[Pocky]

I've heard in a few places that a hot (more likely "warm" though) bath can help induce labour?

Can't really see how it would have an effect - but has anyone ever actually heard this as a possibility?
(i'm getting desperate now i might even consider letting OH touch me at this rate! )

Alsooo.. I make and use bath bombs a lot. And they contain essential oils etc
Apparently scents like rose, lavender and clary sage etc can also play a part in inducing labour..

Though would they bring risk of infection?
Has anyone head any reason why at this stage we shouldn't be using baths with oils etc?

 

[arj]

I dont think a bath in itself would induce. Maybe would help relax you, which can bring labor on, but so would sleeping. Clary sage is meant to be a kick starter, but for me personally I needed a sweep and a jog and castor oil to get my labor going! I have baths every night with bath bombs etc in.. So relaxing. Wouldnt know how to make one tho, clever you! (they are so expensive, Id love to make my own)!

 

[Pocky]

Yeahh, relaxing is the only way I could see it helping - but I find it difficult to actually relax in the bath (need to get one of those inflatable pillow things!) I always really fancy one, then get in and realise I could be doing something else

A few websites have said Lavender can induce.. but not sure how much truth there is to that (also not much a fan of the smell!).

It'd be lovely if a bath could actually induce though.

And it's mostly 1 part citric acid for 2 parts bicarbonate of soda/baking soda, held with a little oil. The essential oils and colourings and things are just extras but it only takes a smidgy bit of them

Lush and other places are crazy expensive though..especially as a lot of them don't even have essential oils and they use a load of fillers to make it cheaper to make

 

[AP]

A bath with clary sage did the job for me, I'm pretty certain!

 

[Pocky]

I'm still waiting for my clary sage oil to turn up
It's not something i've ever smelt so i've never considered using it in a bathbomb before.

If my bathbomb business dream does take off though then i'll definitely do a range aimed at pregnant ladies

 

[swood9]

Since I'm on bed rest I'm going to have a bath with lavender After my movie. Why not? Lol

 

[babykate]

if you don't have an inflatable bath pillow, you can put a regular pillow in a garbage bag to rest your head on in the bath, it works pretty well (and i've heard it works well if you plan to labor in the tub)

 

[Pocky]

Well i've had my lavender bath and will see if it has any effect in the slightest

And ohh, I hadn't thought about trying a pillow in a bin bag :O though i probably would have dropped it in by accident xD

 

[Ganton]

There is an aromatherapy specialist at the hospital I'm going to, and my midwife suggested getting a bath bomb made up by her when near due date, and using it after a sweep. Their experience has shown that this has a particularly high success rate with inducing labour.

 

[swood9]

Well i've had my lavender bath and will see if it has any effect in the slightest

And ohh, I hadn't thought about trying a pillow in a bin bag :O though i probably would have dropped it in by accident xD

Did you use essential oil? Or something else? All I have is a bottle of young living lavender. And a few others, but yeah.

 

[Vitibaby]

The risk of infection is only when your water has already broken- then you shouldn't take a bath.

I took baths the last two nights with some drops of clary sage oil in it.. nothing happened yet, but it was relaxing (till I wanted to get out with my huge bump.. it was not very elegant!)

 

[Pocky]

@Ganton: I'm gonna guess and say it'll be a clary sage and lavender mix :O although Jasmine and Juniper are said to have similar properties.. but Clary Sage is the main one :O

@swood9: Yeahhh essential oils. Though with Lavender for relaxing i'd expect the smell in any form would do the trick :O

 

[arj]

Ooh I might try that, I use the Lush ones but as you say, expensive as! And Im addicted to bath bombs

 

[swood9]

@Ganton: I'm gonna guess and say it'll be a clary sage and lavender mix :O although Jasmine and Juniper are said to have similar properties.. but Clary Sage is the main one :O

@swood9: Yeahhh essential oils. Though with Lavender for relaxing i'd expect the smell in any form would do the trick :O

Do you know anything about basil oil? I have it for headaches, and I'm trying to find information on it's properties. It's not for use in pregnancy, some sites say it can be used to start contractions, others say don't use it at all.

 

[Ganton]

@Ganton: I'm gonna guess and say it'll be a clary sage and lavender mix :O although Jasmine and Juniper are said to have similar properties.. but Clary Sage is the main one :O

@swood9: Yeahhh essential oils. Though with Lavender for relaxing i'd expect the smell in any form would do the trick :O

They allow up to 3 oils, and recommend clary sage and lavender for their inducing properties. Some of the other options are apparently good for nausea, or headaches, back ache etc.

 

[Pocky]

@Ganton: I'm gonna guess and say it'll be a clary sage and lavender mix :O although Jasmine and Juniper are said to have similar properties.. but Clary Sage is the main one :O

@swood9: Yeahhh essential oils. Though with Lavender for relaxing i'd expect the smell in any form would do the trick :O

Do you know anything about basil oil? I have it for headaches, and I'm trying to find information on it's properties. It's not for use in pregnancy, some sites say it can be used to start contractions, others say don't use it at all.

Yeahh i've heard it can cause contractions (it's the basil and oregano in that eggplant Parmesan dish that everyone's talking about that induces labour).
I'm not sure if they say to just not use it at all because they might not like the idea of ladies trying to induce labour (and it's probably easier than saying "do not use until week 38" etc).
I wouldn't have thought it'd be nearly as strong as a diluted oil than actually eating the herb though

It's supposed to be good for nervous tension, breathing troubles, period pains and colds too though :O

 

[Pocky]

@Ganton: I'm gonna guess and say it'll be a clary sage and lavender mix :O although Jasmine and Juniper are said to have similar properties.. but Clary Sage is the main one :O

@swood9: Yeahhh essential oils. Though with Lavender for relaxing i'd expect the smell in any form would do the trick :O

They allow up to 3 oils, and recommend clary sage and lavender for their inducing properties. Some of the other options are apparently good for nausea, or headaches, back ache etc.

Yeahhh. Frankincense, geranium and rose are probably on there too :O
Also supposed to be very good for stretch marks and scars.. but I'd expect it'd take quite a few baths before seeing any effect there D;

And ginger is awesome for nausea and muscle aches :O