natural induction methods?

[purplepeenut]

I want to know everyones oppinions on natural induction methods. I'm full term today and can't wait to meet my bubsy I'd like to go into labour sooner rather then later but there is no way I want her out before she is ready! I've been reading about the health benefits of letting the baby come when they are ready and thats what I want to do. I do however want her to come AS SOON as she is ready and not later. My question is do you think using natural methods could make her come sooner even if she is not ready? I was thinking of doing everything in my power (spicy food, exercises etc) next week but am worried that if it works my baby might not be ready for life on the outside. I've read that they will only work if your body and baby is ready, do you think that's true?

I've been using Evening Primrose Oil (oraly and internaly) to ripen my cervix since 36 weeks, and taking red raspberry leaf tea from 32 weeks to strengthen my uterus. At my last appointment The baby was fully engaged and I've been having cervical pain etc. I also have nightly cramps, like strong menstral cramps which my doctor said was practice labor. 2 weeks ago i had long stringy discharge which i believe was part of my mucus plug but no bloody show etc. My doctor doesn't do internal exams because she says they aren't an accurate indication of when you go into labor. Do you think I should do the natural induction methods or just let my body progress on it's own?

 

[purplepeenut]

I just wanted to add that I'm 100% on when my due date i because I was trying to concieve. I know the exact date of ovulation and implantation. I also got a positive test at 3 weeks and 2 days pregnant so there is no way I could be less far along then this. I also had an ultrasound at 5 weeks where they confirmed my gestation. There is no risk that my baby is less developed then I believe

 

[Leikela]

It is really up to you and how you feel about it. There really is no "proof" that natural induction methods actually work. I think it is how you already said it though--if your body is ready, it will happen. I have read that the body is ready when your uterus gets to the average size of 40 weeks, whether you are 40 weeks or not. Personally, I would let the baby bake a bit more. At 37 weeks, the baby will still have that waxy substance on her face and the extra hair. By 39 weeks, most of that is shed and gone, truly indicating that it is really time for the baby to make an appearance.

 

[stephie_corin]

When you say full term do you mean 37 weeks or 40 weeks? I think of 37 weeks as "term" and 40 weeks as "full term"... if you are only 37 weeks I would definitely let her stay in for as long as possible and not do anything to try to induce labour.

In response to your question, I think the natural induction methods only work if your body is ready.

xxx

 

[purplepeenut]

thanks I'm 37 weeks but I wasn't going to try anything untill next week when I'll be 38 weeks. I don't want to go early, that's why I was hoping it would only work if my baby was ready. My doctor told me 'term' was 36 weeks 'full term' was 37-42 weeks and after 42 was overdue. Thanks so much

 

[pixxie1232001]

I heard eggplant parm was a way to induce labor, along with spicy food, pineapple and I am not 100% sure on anything else. I was told today to do squats by a friend of mine who just had her baby. Also my midwife suggests walking for 20 minutes 4 days a week.

 

[purplepeenut]

I've heard of eggplant palm too. it makes sense because my MIL told me that eggplant gets rid of/prevents spider veins because it helps with circulation. Maybe it has somthing to do with that? I plan to collect all natural induction methods and try them all

 

[stephie_corin]

I love eggplant parm! Great excuse to eat some

Good luck hon x

 

[AmesLouise]

Once I hit my 37 week, I will be in your boat! I'm getting things moving then! With my first I walked for 2 hours straight with no breaks and then had spicy foods. I went into labour 5 hours later! Now for me whenever I walk (when I am pregnant), I get very crampy. So, this time around, I walked right through the cramps.

 

[Indi84]

I've tried spicy food, walking up stairs, sex, rubbing my bump with clary sage oil etc, nothing is shifting this baby out I didn't try anything till 39 Weeks as I'm a believer in letting the baby cook as much as possible, and my little man has shown me up lol, he's staying till he's staying.

 

[2016]

Other than EPO and DTD I personally believe all the other things are a waste of time. Do them all if it passes the time though.

 

[purplepeenut]

I get crampy when I walk too so maybe it'll help if I go for a long walk. I think the EPO i've been inserting for just over a week has been working realy well because I started losing my mucus plug (sorry tmi) just after I started using it. So far I'm going to try:

EPO, RRL tea, walking, eggplant parm, pineapple juice,

We are getting so close to meeting our bubs!! I'm so excited it's all I can think about lately. I'm so impatient Let me know if anything gives you any progress etc. Good luck everyone!

 

[elohcin]

Most natural induction methods won't "hurt" because they simply won't work unless your body just needs tipped right over the edge.

FWIW, nothing ever worked for me, ever, despite having babies who have engaged before 36 weeks, dilating a LOT by that point (about 4cm), effacing a lot by that point (usually 75%). Well, castor oil worked with my last two but I wouldn't consider that "natural" unless you're comparing it to a medical induction! But even that never worked successfully for me until at/after my EDD (at which point I was always 5-6cm and a +1 station BEFORE I even went into labor!!!)

 

[purplepeenut]

I was reading about castor oil but I've read some terrible side effects, such as have the runs all through labor etc. I think I'd have to be past my due date and desperate to consider that. Did you think castor oil was a good option for you?

 

[elohcin]

It worked for me, and I don't have regrets (but like I said, I was at/after my dates, and a high Bishop score, and with my last one I'd been having major prodromal labor for weeks!). With my 2nd I didn't ever even have to use the bathroom. With my 3rd I did, in the beginning, but it wasn't bad. Not pleasant, but once it was "all out" after a couple bathroom it was kind of nice to not have to worry about any of that.

I WAS at home both times though, I may not have been as comfortable with it (having to use the bathroom) had I been somewhere else.

 

[purplepeenut]

Wow it sounds like you had a good experience with it. I was reading that it can cause meconium stress. I've also read a lot saying that there is no evidence for that so I'm very confused! If I go overdue I think I might consider trying it. I've also read it's good because it prevents constipation after delivery. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences it's given me somthing to think about.

 

[elohcin]

Wow it sounds like you had a good experience with it. I was reading that it can cause meconium stress. I've also read a lot saying that there is no evidence for that so I'm very confused! If I go overdue I think I might consider trying it. I've also read it's good because it prevents constipation after delivery. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences it's given me somthing to think about.

Yes, there is a lot of debate over that. But CO only goes through mom's digestive system and by stimulating the intestines it stimulates the uterus in turn. One thing that is interesting (told to me by an amazing experienced midwife) is that most of the cases with meconium after castor oil are already post-dates, so there's no telling whether the castor oil was the cause, you know?

 

[Skyy82]

I'm with others, theres no harm in eating pineapple/curries going for walks etc, but unless your body is ready I don't think that anything will happen. I go for walks everyday of about 40 minutes as I have a dog, so don't think the walking thing will work for me

 

[mumof1+1]

I constantly think about natural induction methods. And right now, feeling as I do at 6 days overdue I am getting very anxious to get this baby out but by no means am i even willing to try castor oil...Not even with the mood that today is bringing.

Personally, in my opinion and through experience, your baby will only come when your body and your baby are both ready. No, there's no harm in trying but as has been said, unless they are both ready they simply won't work. I have tried allsorts, ball bouncing, the walking despite the discomfort, the sex, the swallowing, the pineapple, stair running, baths, squats, and with DS i even pinched my nose and tried the curry.... NOTHING worked.

But good luck and have fun trying xxx