Luck with Putting Yourself into Labor?

I just had my 5th baby 10 days ago. I have not had much luck with starting labor until this one! I sat on my exercise ball several times throughout the day and walked up and down the stairs. I had already started to dilate though (I was at 4cm and 70% effaced) so I did have a head start. On the exercise ball, I just rocked back and forth. As I felt contractions strengthen, I just tried to find a rhythm to increase them. My water broke after my last trip up the stairs!

Don't know if this was just a coincidence, but this is how it happened for me: My DH and I took a 4.5 mile walk, then I ate spicy, chicken taco pizza. I went into labor that night. I didn't enjoy the spicy pizza the second time if you know what I mean. :(

Good luck.

Intercourse is my best suggestion. But, if your body and that baby aren't ready, it won't do anything. You need to be EXTREMELY careful about using anything like cod liver oil or caster oil or any other homeopathic/herbal techniques. Even though they are natural, they can still be dangerous, especially if you are attempting a VBAC. If you are really set on trying a VBAC, you may really want to think about accepting that you may have to see another doctor for your delivery. I know that can be a tough thing to accept, but you will need to decide what is more important. You should really try not to stress about this because you will just end up making yourself crazy and that won't do you or the baby any good.

Hello E.. Well, if you can handle it, have lots of sex. Orgasms and nipple stimulation cause the uterus to contract. Good luck and have fun.

M. F

There are herbs that help induce labor. Talk to a naturopath.

OK i feel you bc i never thought i would have my twins or even my older son but i tried spicy foods and walking and that put me in labor with my first son then with the twins my husband and i tried spicy food again and walking and sex this time and BINGO it work we had our twins a week earlier then the doctor wanted but he was very happy with as far as i got with them. And with all the things i tried I also cleaned my house from top to bottom and that helped to with the twins and my oldest. Just try those few things and see what happens some people are different but you never know. GOOD LUCK and Congratulation on your baby

Hi E.,
This worked like a charm for us with baby #4: My husband massaged the outside of my pinky toes, rubbing downward, and I massaged my nipples--not too hard because honestly, it wasnt' the most pleasant feeling! BUt, that created some serious labor. It was fast and furious--but, no problem. Just be prepared for intense contractions. I also have five. Best of luck with everything, and may you have a perfect delivery and baby!

Hello E.
God love you, four children the ages that they are and a fifth on the way. That is awesome! SEX is the answer. Try sex with a lot of nipple simulation. Good luck!

Dear E.,
Eating Mexican food made me go into labor! L. J

Hi E.,

As some of the others have mentioned, intercourse worked for us. About an hour later my water broke and my son was born within about 12 hours.

Best Wishes and Congratulations!

All I can offer is: WALK, WALK, AND WALK some more. Even if it is slow, slow, slow, just keep Walking. Go to Meijer and walk up and down. The baby will come. Trust me.

Good Luck!

Have your spouse massage the inside VERY HIGH up on your thighs...you will need to be relaxed while your spouse is doing this...massage massage and then massage some more....
You can also look online for a picture of reflexology on the foot....Have your spouse take a pencil...and using the eraser of the pencil, hit all the spots on your foot that corospond with the internet picture.
I am a massage therapist and i have helped several of my friends go into labor with these....so good luck to you!

Yep...I was told to have sex also. And I'm here to tell you! It put me in labor!!!
While "in action" I started having contractions!! Something they say about the semen or something ..you'd have to google it..but I don't know if that was "luck" or what but it happened.
Best wishes on a quick and easy birth!!
S.

Hello! Intercourse worked for my third pregnancy. I know you don't want to try castor oil, but I tried it with my second child two days before I was due and had her about 12 hours later. It did make me sick and made me vomit and this may be what induced the labor. But the sickness only lasted a couple of minutes and my baby girl was born soon after! Good luck whatever you try!

Evening Primrose Oil (I took capsules) worked for me - the midwife I used said the good thing about them is that it won't artificially start your labor, but it helps kick it into gear if you're ready.

I know you said no castor oil, but for my second labor, that was what finally did it, after the Evening Primrose Oil, nipple stimulation, sex, walking, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, chiropractic adjustment and mucho spicy food - everything short of castor oil or pitocin! LOL I was terrified of taking any kind of oil b/c I can't swallow certain textures, like, at all. They just come right back up. But my midwife mixed a couple of ounces in with some champagne and pineapple juice (or orange, or anything tropical would work), and, well, nothing's going to make castor oil GOOD, but it was at least tolerable. I drank about 10 oz, a mouthful at a time, over a half-hour and labor started a few hours later.
Good luck!

hi E.. I am a sahm of two and (27 mos snd 6 mos) both natural births no meds.I am also a licinsed massage therapist. I used pressure points with my first child to break my water. I used techniques I learned in massage therapy school to avoid being induced with meds. I'd love to help u out.
T.
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my Doc told me to have have sex, and that seemed to work for us. Though, I was 11 days late with the first and 8 with the 2nd. But as soon as we tried, I went into labor. Good luck!!

A long walk, my family joked about doing out for seafood which both my sister and I did and later in the evening our waters broke. The oils just make you have to have a BM, so something that does similar would work the same.

Good luck.

It's nasty but cod liver oil work with me. Also with my son hot and spicy mexican food followed by the oil. I also had vbac
good luck

My doctor and his wife, who was a nurse at his office, told me that stimulating your nipples brings on contractions. It really does work!!! He said to start doing it when you think about it a couple weeks before your due date, so I did, and it's weird, your stomach really does tighten up when you do it! I had my first child 2 weeks before her due date, and my second child around the same.

With my 2nd, an attempted VBAC the dr. told me at my appointment on a Tuesday to try walking, nipple stimulation, and sex. We did all three and I began labor the next morning at 7 am. Good luck!

My mother gave me a nice belly massage after a relaxing warm (not hot) bath. I like to think the massage did the trick. I was scheduled for induction (was going to break my water) the following morning but was already fully dilated and ready to push. This was my second VBAC with no complications. Best wishes and God bless!

Black Liccoris (sp?). I know it is gross, but my Mom has sworn by it for years, I have seen it work for my cousins. Good luck!

Try jumping about. I went into labor after church with my first. It had turned cold and we were standing outside talking. Stupid me was jumping about trying to stay warm. I was in labor for 56 hours. They would not even consider doing a C-section. Good luck. You also might try washing the cabinets down in the kitchen. I have friends who swear by this.

Do the same thing that got you pregnant in the first place :-) This worked like a charm for both of my kids. I started to get labor pains about 48 hours afterwards.

I know I've said this on here before, but have him 'strip your membranes' -- it worked for me so that I didn't have to be inducded, and the midwife that did it that day was on call that night and met me in the hospital to deliver our healthy daughter may 8 hours after the membrane stripping? Worked like a charm :0)
Possibility of it not working; however, there's no negative side-effects (accept that it's not comfy while it's being done but hey, is giving birth comfy, and wouldn't induction be worse?!)
Best wishes!

If you are really set on having that VBAC, then it would be best to let your body and the baby decide when you should go into labor. Let things happen naturally. If you simply cannot wait, you might wish to try sex (with your husband ejaculating inside of you) or nipple stimulation.

Unfortunately all forms of labor induction only work if your body is already ready to go into labor. Your best bet to get the VBAC you want is to just let your body go into labor on it's own. Talk to your doctor and be open with your feelings. If he truly supports you in a VBAC than he should know that pushing your body before it's ready just to fit into his schedule is a bad idea. Where do you live? Is it possible to find another doctor or hospital midwife in another county that will help you VBAC? How far are you from the hospital? If you go into labor while your doctor is away you can always just go in pushing! Check out www.ican-online.org for some great VBAC support. You can also e-mail me at ____@____.com if you have any questions of are looking for support. I to am a VBAC (going for my 2nd VBAC in November) and understand what a fight it is in this climate to get the birth that you and your baby deserve. Shame on your doctor for planning to be out of town with out first setting you up with a back-up that he knows will support you in your decision to VBAC. Not good ethics in my opinion.

how long is going to be out of town? i would ask him what your bishops score is...that is a way to determine the likelihood of induction working...not that your going with pit...but it may let you know whether you may still be pregnant when he returns...also, the advise on here is consistent...herbs, sex...relaxation so that the oxytocine can flow (not adrenaline) meditate talk to the baby....and if baby doesn't come...wait....labor at home...and refuse csect....when you get to the hospital...talk to him about a back up....is it your 4th vbac? or first after 4 c-sect?

I would let nature run its course...baby will come in his.her time. Being a massage therapist, there is and accupressure point on the inside of your heel that can stimulate uterine contractions (it is a very tender spot if you press on it in the right place and you will know when you have it), raspberry leaf leaf tea stimulates uterine contractions, a good walk and some good sex! Good Luck!

With both of mine I started taking evening primrose oil capsules, found in the health food store. It can take a few days to accumulate in your system, but worked well for me within a couple of days. Still, I had never had a cesarean, so you might want to research it in connection with that as far as contraindications. I also walked a lot. Good luck and congratulations! Keeping relaxed and positive is the best way to go!

Not sure if this works or not but a friend of mine said when she was pregnant and getting close to her due date, her cousin told her to get a pedicure. She ended up going into labor early on her own so I'm not sure if it works or not but her cousin (who is a nurse) said there's something with the way they massage your feet that will send you into labor. Good luck!