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Saturday, October 4, 2014

Inducing labor - like a boss



Saturday, 4th October. No, this is not the 'I am in labor' entry. We are still waiting. As long as it is only such a short time after the due date, most docs suggest waiting, unless there are good reasons to have your doc induce labor. But there are some methods of how to lend nature a hand, so that labor might start. I have tried a few of these methods the last two days, but have not been successful with them up to now, which doesn’t mean much, because this might simply take a little more time. Besides, today, waiting is somehow less of a problem, it doesn't chip away my patience as it did during the last week.

 
Walking. Definitely not my favourite at the moment, because I waddle pretty much. If I got it right, walking helps to put baby into the best position. Yes, as if you had not guessed it, the aim is your pelvis again, walking might help in getting baby lower down into your pelvis.

Sex. My favourite (what a surprise). Whether orgasms might help to induce labor is still disputed. But it might just be what it takes to start labor. First of all, in semen is a substance that resembles (or is it identical? Not sure) a hormone that a pregnant woman produces to prepare the cervix for delivery. So, you know where to put this. The lovely contractions from your own orgasm might also just be enough to let the uterus start actual labor.
We have been in the favourable position that sex is still allowed. Maybe I should say  ‘I have been in the favourable position’! :) It is a lot of hard work, but someone ‘s got to do it… The work is hubby’s job. :)

I have primrose oil here and am allowed to take it, but have not, because I don’t like meddling with my body by using substances without a really good reason behind it.

Primrose oil also softens up the cervix and it might therefore help dilating. But I think this is definitely N O T for every pregnancy. If there have been problems with the placenta, this is probably a no-no. And I have asked doc and midwife whether this would be ok, and got all thumbs up.

Something which I cannot really do is eat spicy food. It is supposed to help with digestion and that might somehow help to start contractions in your uterus?! I cannot comment on that one, because I cannot try. I simply get heartburn immediately, from everything spicy, sweet or too salty.

There is another one that I have not tried yet. Massage. This is about the levels of a hormone called oxytocin, it is one of the feel-well-hormones and it is connected to starting labor. Massage can increase this level and therefore can help. I know that you release this hormone in other situations too, e.g. cuddling and being in a warm bed, possibly sleeping. And, surprise, surprise, in our family most moms-to-be had labor start at night. So sleeping, cuddling, being in a cozy place is  maybe just what it takes…after a long walk.

There are absolutely more methods that might help induce labor naturally, and I guess just as many myths about others, such as castor oil. If in doubt, I'd always ask the medical experts, and getting on their nerves is definitely better than doing anything that might cause harm. 

I wish you all a lovely weekend !


9 comments :

  1. I've heard of eating pineapple, also scrubbing the kitchen floor (why the kitchen?). Only 5% on women have their babies on their due date - I know of one myself, just one and we were like - you came on your due date!!!. Most mums I know came 7-10 days late :(
    At my antenatal group we were all due in Jan - I was suppose to be last, but ended being first and others who were due earlier, came last. I don't think babies appreciate how important these days are ;-)
    hugs
    DF

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    1. Hi DF, pineapple yummy, I put it onto my list of must-haves! I didn’t know that it might help get labor started, but now I have an additional reason to eat some more. Scrubbing the kitchen floor is also a new one for me (which doesn’t mean anything!). I have done that so much and extensively lately that there are almost no tiles left to scrub. But it is a good excuse to do it all over again.
      As for your ‘why the kitchen’-question, I think this is because a man came up with this idea and he liked his woman on the floor, bottom up, in rocking motion, while he was standing next to the fridge, eating. Two of some men’s favourites covered in one, I’d say. :-) Sorry, I have been a little bit rebellious here all morning (for no reason) and one of our encounters was in the kitchen with hubby eating and telling me to relax.
      When you ended up being first in your antenatal group, was that also with your first child? It sounds as if you met some of them again at the clinic. :)

      hugs

      Nina

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    2. With my first child I had free ante-natal classes and parenting classes with other mums. Many of us remain good friends over 10 years later, meeting regularly in some way, whether for coffee, shopping trips, the theatre or activities with the kids. Beyond our children we have next to nothing in common, just 9 kids whose birthdays all fall at the same time of year :) (plus all the siblings that came after)

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  2. OH I don't think Castor oil is a myth. I know for a fact that within 24 hours of taking it 5 deliveries happened. Coincidence? Perhaps...but those are pretty good odd. NOW the catch is it will only work if you are ready to go. But you do spend a bit of time in the bathroom. LOL

    Good luck when the time comes.
    willie

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    1. Hi Willie, you are probably right about the castor oil, because somehow stirring digestion is said to help in starting labor, too. But the idea of taking a laxative is somehow not my favourite. I prefer sex as a starter! :)

      hugs

      Nina

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  3. Nina, this is a good list :-) I have used castor oil to induce, and it does work. But I have to say, the feeling of oil going down my throat was traumatizing for me. Just so gross. My favorite method of inducing was nipple stimulation. This can also be used to make weak contractions stronger during labor. Hopefully baby will just get with the program and make an entrance already!

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    1. Hi River, the idea of drinking castor oil is nothing I’d like to do for sure. Sorry that you had to endure that one. Willie objected about my myth-castor oil line too, and I think you are both right, as somehow there is a connection between digestion and uterine contractions. Nipple stimulation works well, I guess, at least I quickly get light contractions from it during sex. But I have not done the regular procedure yet, because I felt a bit silly about it, but will better start doing it immediately!

      hugs

      Nina

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  4. I'm pretty sure a lot of these are urban legends...however, I was born in October and my mom happened to go into labor right after going on a bumpy hayride, so I would suggest a hayride!!

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    1. Hi Autumn, I have heard that one about the bumpy rides, too, but couldn't (didn't want to) believe it. :) A hayride sounds like a lot of fun, let's see where I can find one now :-D

      hugs

      Nina

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