Advice on Encouraging Labor

go for a walk. My son was 10 days late, but I had contractions for over a week and my doctor told me to walk. Also, you may not feel like it, but it helps, have sex. that will help too. Good luck! :-)

K.,
Just keep up with the walking. It sounds like you will have the baby this week. I went through the same thing and my baby couldn't come fast enough. I was so uncomfortable but the reality is the baby will come when he/she is ready. And mine came on the exact date the doctor said..........which i hear is rare. Don't do the castor oil because it can be very dangerous for the baby. Don't worry it will come and you are not that far away.
Good luck with everything!
L.

I tried to have mine early too and my midwife told me to walk alot, have sex,(something in the semen makes labor happen faster I guess) and if you can handle it she told me to eat really really spicey food. Something in that progresses it also. I don't know if it will work but atleast the spicy food is a new idea than the other ones on here I seen. Hang in there I hope you go soon.

This advice may sound a little funny but try having sex. That is exactly what I was told to do because with my daughter I dialated early and then stopped and she was late. My midwife told me that and my husband and I pretty much wore ourselves out doing it. I'll admit it's great but it was advice I was given. If nothing else, the baby will come when he or she is ready.

There may be nothing that you can do to start labor at this point. (Sorry!) Right now the baby is in control. If baby is not sending your body the signal to start labor, your body wont start on its own. If baby is ready to be born, sex is the most effective way to start things (and funnest!) You can also try the nipple stimulation and keep walking! There are accupressure points that can help kick things off too. If you are interested I can let you know exactly where they are.
I would definately not try the castor oil without your doctor's input, it can start very strong contractions.
I would not hurry it too much. Every contraction that you have right now is doing something to speed your labor along. It is one contraction that you never have to enure again, and as frustrating as it may be waiting, your body is slowly getting ready as opposed to doing it all at once.
With my daughter I had contractions for over a week off and on, and had her after only about 2 hours of labor and 1 push.

You are going to laugh but have sex. My OBGYM told me that at my last viset before I had my son. Something with the semen can start labor.I saw her on Wed late after noon. Went home that night and did "it" before bed about 8PM and had the baby Thurs at 3:30PM! I think it worked for me. Let me know if it works. Good Luck!

I was told to try eggplant parm and that that helped a lot of people so that is a suggestion. I tried the sex, walking, driving on a bumpy road and none of them helped my son along. He was 5 days late. You can keep trying though, everyone is different. Mine just did not want out! Good luck!

My advice would be to relax. You're still a week and a half away from your due date, so it's not as if you're overdue. Chances are, any attempts you make to start labor before it begins naturally will just frustrate you this early on.

I did do the castor oil in all three of my pregnancies, but I was over a week late each time (my first was born 10 days after his due date, my second was 15 days after and my last was 17 days after...due dates are just approximations after all). It's normal to lose the plug and have it regenerate in the weeks before pregnancy ends, or to be dilated to 3-4cm and just hang there for weeks...your body (and baby) will know when it's ready.

M.

Hey I feel your pain... I was miserable by the end of my pregnancies I would have tried anything. I did the walking thing...spicy food but the one I heard that works the best is sex. Now my husband refused but you may be able to talk yours into it. Good luck!

Sex and falling down on your rear on the stairs or otherwise are the only things that I have seen spur on labor. I obviously don't recommend falling down. I tried almost everything when I was pregnant and NOTHING worked. I was miserable and if one more person told me to go take a bath I was going to knock them out! It was a very rough time for me and looking back I should have talked to my doctor about how mentally unstable I felt but everyone kept telling me that the baby will come when it's ready. If it's ready you can spur it on but if it's not there's nothing you can do- from my experience. Good Luck! Let us know when your precious bundle arrives!

Just like so many have already advised... have sex!! That put me in labor with both of my kids.

I know many people who did the caster oil and it truely works, you can mix it with OJ, or just down it like a shot.

I agree with the others sex and walking should bring on the labor. Just another helpful hint..if you are able, walk as much as you can in the hospital. Is is boring because you feel like you walk in circles, but doing that was one of the main reasons I was in labor with my first baby a total of 4 hrs!!!!

i was 12 days overdue, and we tried everything... walking a lot, jumping jacks, you name it... finally we tried shagging... can't say it was the sexiest I have ever felt... but sure enough, a 1/2 hour later I went into labor... so... that's what I would recommend!! :-)

Don't rush it...I agree with K. C go pamper yourself then come home and make passionate love to the hubby cause you won't be doing that consistently anytime soon after the baby and I heard Raspberry tea, warm bath not hot to relax the muscles all over and I did lots of laundry and pushed all the kids in the neighborhood on the swing and I had mine girls the next day. All do squats or walk up and down the stairs as much as possible. Good luck can't wait to hear if it works!!!!

Not to beat a dead horse...the baby will come when the baby is ready. You are still early. When you are two weeks over due, then start thinking about ways to go into labor. Rest, put your feet up and sleep because none of those will happen for a long time. If this is your first, enjoy this time with just your husband and you. Soon you will three!

Nipple stimulation helps, if you have a breast pump, start pumping (it will help your milk come in earlier too), walks help, and SEX!

Then again, pamper youself NOW because it will be a long time before you are able to. Go get your hair done, get a manicure, and go out to a fancy dinner ALONE with hubby!

Good luck!