When to start trying to bring on labor?

[danniellabella]

Ok, I know it's still a little early for me (almost 34 weeks pregnant now), but at what point should I start doing things to try and help bring on labor or at least prepare for it? Does anything actually work or is it all just chance and old wives tails?

[StrawberryMumma]

Hey Danniellabella

Congrats on your pregnancy! Not too much longer now!

It's hard waiting isn't it?! But IMO, I think sometimes everyone gets a bit impatient and over keen to bring on labour when the best thing to do is sit back and let these beautiful bubbas cook away until they decide it's time to meet us. If there isn't any complications, being in there is the absolute best place for our little ones to be so there's no need to rush them (Plus, once all the screaming starts you may wish they were back inside at times!! lol).

But I do think there are some good things that we can do to help PREPARE our bodies (rather then trying to start labour). I do think RLT or tabs can help, and maybe even some EPO in preparing the muscles and cervix. Plus trying to stay positve, rested, relaxing walks and just looking after yourself leading up to the birth.

All the best hun..and enjoy these very special last few weeks.

[_JeSs_]

im desprete to get labour going, but i dont think any of the wife tale things work, i've tried pineapple juice, RLT, walking heeeeaps, swiveling hips on a fit ball... i think they will just come out when they like!
u think u want the baby out now, just wait till you get to about 38 weeks...

[Lucy]

I tend to agree with the other girls.......babies come when they are ready. Don't try anything to bring it on.

At 34 weeks, the only thing I would contemplate (in my experience with my 3 labours/births) is Raspberry Leaf Tea. Not to bring labour on, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that suggests RLT helps tone and condition the uterus in preparation for labour.

[kirsten74]

I went into labour naturally with my first child after sex and pizza. Not sure which one was the clincher, but hey, sometimes you will try anything. Besides, my Ob said no matter what you do, if bub isn't ready to come, he or she won't, no matter what you do!

[Nikki87]

I went into labour naturally 5 days early the night after sex with DH. I avoided it the night before the 6th because it was FIL's birthday. Didnt help much, bubs was born on the 6th!

[all girls]

My MW has said she will show me a few things to try bring on labour when i am around 37 weeks, there are certain pressure points that you can massage on your feet. I am seeing her on Tue and will let you know what she sais, 37 weeks is considered term so probably around then is a good time.

My DH is going away 3 days after my due date for 6 weeks so i will be trying anything and everything to get her out before then.

Garlic prawns may have brought on one of my labours but wouldn't recommend that as when it came back up the next day i was cursing them!

[~Belinda~]

I had EPO (orally), fresh pineapple (not tinned) and DTD. I was 2cm dilated when I went to my last Ob appointment on the Monday (40w+1day) and was induced on the Wednesday. I think all the things I did softened my cervix ready for my little one...I only had a 5 hour labour too! I believe it all helped but who knows!

[LuluHB]

I asked my OB this recently - DD#2 is due 4 days before DD#1's 1st birthday and I'm desperately hoping they don't end up with the same birth date. When I asked if there was anything that really did work to bring on labor he said "yup, sure is. I rupture your membranes and hang a drip" ha ha. Not what I was after!! My DD was induced at 40+4 and it still took 36 hours to coax her out into the world - and I'd tried everything with her!

[KatieRabbit]

I am with the others- hard though it is, in the scheme of things it is not too long a wait and baby will comewhen she is ready. Baby has a reason for staying in for the time that she needs to and unless a med emergency I say to let her be. I took the thought when I got impatient that it is up to bubs to decide when to arrive- it is not my decision. Mind you, I tried EVERYTHING to bring labour on as I didn't want to be induced and none of it worked. Some had nasty consequences too- esp castor oil (and I took the recommened dose) and pineapple (the acidity of it burned my lips, tongue and roof of my mouth for days). After all that baby came at 41 and 6 days.

[Liviam]

I am one of the weird ones and did absolutley nothing to induce labour. I had to finish my midwifery studies so I did absolutely nothing and DD came 5 days early, ON MY BIRTHDAY!! But most importantly I posted off my last assignment on the Monday at 9.30am and my waters broke Tuesday 1am. She was a good girl and let mummy finish all her homework. So I did nothing and she came and my girlfriend did absolutely everything she could possibly think of and was induced at 41+3. I did nothing to prepare my uterus or body and my labour was 3 1/2 hours from start to finish. Go figure. These little ones of ours are running the shop before they are even out, LOL!!!!

[Ozziehoffy]

As most girls have said.. when they're ready is when they'll come no matter what you do. I agree with this. I didn't try anything actively to bring labour on. We did hear about the foot reflexology thing when we did hypnobirthing, so foot massages were the only thing that I did. Like I said though, not actively trying and I went 4 days past EDD... that's when he decided he was ready and made his very hurried appearance in 3 1/2 hours.