Are there things that prevent you going into labour?

So there are lots of suggestions of things to do to help bring on labour ( I am now seven days overdue - so trying lots of them) but is there anything that should be avoided because is likely to limit the chances of going into labour?

I found for me that only three things really "stopped" me going into labour.

Stress
Anxiety
Waiting for it to happen, lol.

Yeah, it's not so much the physical side of things, but the emotional side of it that can block your mind enough to stop labour from happening. It may sound all airy-fairy, but having too much of this emotional baggage can really hinder you. Focusing on things other than the impending birth can help relax your mind so that it does happen. Personally I would stay away from the computer unless it's for completely mind numbing things that wont get you thinking about this babe not being here yet and just look after your needs. For some women that's all they need to kick things into gear

Stress for sure, not only stop you from going into labour but in my case actually stalled it. The first time I birthed my waters broke and everything was going fine until they started timing contractions and strapping me to moniters - I went from regularish contractions to none at all (although that said in both my labours I have never had regular contractions - I seem to labour with irregular contractions, just a freak I guess).

Thanks for the replies, I am not feeling stressed about it at all (well at least don't think I am) so guess best plan is just to continue as I am, keeping busy, taking walks, afternoon naps etc.

just relax. as Trillian said.
I went to 41+5. i went into labour the day my DH took of as i had to have the montering for contrations done. i think maybe also feeling 'safe' helps. i felt 'safe' knowing DH was there with me for when it started...but then again i was ment to go for induction the next day (day after DS was birthed) so maybe in my mind i let go and thought it was going to happen any ways?

Good luck and relax! your body knows what its doing...even if your mind isnt 100% sure!

Stop thinking about! Seriously, for 3 weeks all i thought about was giving birth. Then the night before i had bub i prayed so hard i would not have him the next day because it was Valentine's Day and i didn't want his birthday to be associated with anything. I think me not wanting it to happen is what put me into labour to be honest.

With DS1 i went into labour the morning i was suppose to be induced. So i think the fact that it was going to happen anyway made me relax. However it was a very stressful labour which stalled a lot. So i think the mind plays a huge part in how and when we labour.

We need to just let go and trust ourselves and our babies that they will be born when they are good and ready.

Agree with Brontide there. We were in and out of the hospital over and over during my labour with Lyta. I'd be getting massive powerful contractions, get into the hospy and my anxiety levels would peak as they were strapping me to the contraction monitor... and it just stopped.. So they sent me home.

Minute we walked out the door I was doubled over with another contraction.

By the time they actually accepted I was in labour by checking my dilation I was 8cms.. Then they wanted to AROM and I am stressing about that and when that was over I was back to 4cms. It was a very long, very hard labour with a not so fairy tale ending.

Stress - Very Bad!