Perineum massage is from 34 weeks onwards as far as the midwife advised. I'm gonna give it a go (when I remember), not sure how effective it will be, but figure it can't hurt to try!
As for the other stuff - not sure to be honest, I'll check back in to see if you get some more answers
My midwife suggested raspberry leaf tea from 32 weeks last time, DD came early so Im going to wait to 34 weeks this time. Seemed to help me, had a posterior bubs vaginally without intervention/ analgesia. Reminds me I need to buy some
I used all of this stuff last time and intend to do so again. Here's what I understand:
RL tea or tablets - you can start any time in the last trimester. I have just started, and using tea is more gentle than the tablet form, but some people don't like the taste. Make sure it's raspberry LEAF tea though and not just the fruit tea. It's not available in the supermarket. Personally I don't think it tastes bad, just bland. The good thing about the tea is that you can slowly build up your dose. Start at one cup a cay and work up to 4 or 5 in the last few weeks. This should help tone the uterus so that when you do have contractions they are stronger and more effective. Be careful though - if you feel you are getting strong BH contractions then slow down teh usage. I just upped to two cups a day, and found that I was getting lots of BH so cut back to one for now (as I drink it after three minutes of brewing and with teh tea bag in).
Perenium massage - can be done any time. It won't make you go into labour, just helps the area get used to stretching so you'r less likely to tear. I did this much earlier last time... better get onto it! Not omething I look forward to though... I didn't tear with a bub over 9lb so I think it helped!
EPO - this is something you shoulod not start until 34w as it can bring on labour. I used 1000mg capsules last time. Started out at 34w with 1 capsule orally and then took one morning and night by the 37w mark. At 40w I got desperate and also took it "bodily" - it stinks though when you use it like this. Put it in just before you go to bed so it stays in as long as possible and wear a pad. Be warned: That first morning (or midnight!) wee will be yucky...
You can also use clary sage essential oil at about 38 weeks. Try burning it in a candle thingo (preferably when your partner is out - mine complained no end about the smell!) or put it on a hanky under your pillow or just inside your pillow slip so you are breathing it while you sleep.
Exciting times ahead! I hope you fuind this info useful and you are able to avoid a medical induction.
There are prostoglandins (sp?) in EPO - same as what is in semen - that helps induce labour. Obviously sex would be the best way to get them (and hubby likes that idea!) but not always practical or comfortable when you feel like a beached whale! Sometimes it's much nicer to insert, roll over and go to sleep! :LOL: Laying down helps the stuff stay in after the shell dissolves - you want to keep it in as long as you can.
Skye-All of the things above are great. My sister uses this routine and always has her bub the next day (not that you want to do it yet, wait until you are due ) She takes 20ml of Castor Oil in orange juice (I don't know if I would do that one), she eats a whole pineapple, inserts a EPO tablet after she has a really warm bath. She usually has cramps about 2 hours after and has bub really quickly. But I mean who wouldn't, she takes enough oil for the bub to just slide out
Doesn't the castor oil give you the runs...don't think i would be in on that one and what is with the eating of a pineapple??
A girl i used to work with used to do this really wierd positioning sex...i didn't ask any questions but she always had her babies, all 3 of them when she said she would....don't think i would be in on that one either!
Be wary of caster oil - it does give you the runs and can cause contractions due to the cramping. It's not a very "gentle" technique and can cause the baby to go into stress and pass mecconium. Not one I will be trying.
great topic - this is my 2nd bub and would love it to come before 40 weeks as I am due on the first day of school for my son !!
I tried Rasberry Leaf tea consistantly for my first. Hated the taste, but did it. I had a posterior birth too, like Sararose, and although it was a vaginal birth with no intervention, it was also 27 hours of PURE PAIN with very strong contractions but NOT dilating. actually I had an epidural at 20 hours as I was only 1 cm dilated.........so does it work??????? well, I won't be bothering to take it again!!
Question: what will Clary sage help to do??
The best thing that i did for my labour was being very fit - I ran 5-6 days a week up until the day he was born - and then had a marathon labour........ahhh.......
"they'" say the 2nd bub's labour will not be as long......lets hope that it may be right for me.... not counting on it however!
Apricot kernel oil is good, its lightweight and easily absorbed without being sticky. Its also a carrier oil, which means you can use it as a base for mixing essential oils to create your own blends.
Another great way to get prepared is to use the Pink Kit, which goes into perenial massage in more detail. It describes "internal massage" because you focus on the muscles that make up that perenial area inside the pelvis, rather than just the skin on the outside (which is what I presume other people mean when they talk about perenial massage).
I haven't started this yet (they recommend the last 8 weeks is the best time) but I have worded my husband up that his help may be required.
In terms of oil - for the outside of the perenium area, almond kernel oil has been recommended to me a lot. Although obviously you don't use any oil for internal massage.
We did massage, guys must help out here, make sure you ask that its not too strong! R&R, lots of talking to each other about how ready we were, movies, mum was doing physio classes incl pelvic floor exercises, hogs breath cafe the night b4 labour started (coincidence?), acupuncture and herbs from 34 weeks. The raspberry tea we bought but didnt use as the chinese herbs strengthened the contractability of the uterine muscle and provided the energy to sustain them. They also calm the mind of mum (which worked right up until crowning!) and baby, relax tendons and provide the basis for breast milk and speedy recovery.
The pink kit is great, i wish we had of known about it then.
Oh yeah dont forget to laugh ;-)
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How do you prepare your body for birth?
- it stinks though when you use it like this. Put it in just before you go to bed so it stays in as long as possible and wear a pad. Be warned: That first morning (or midnight!) wee will be yucky...
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