Natural induction

[Anonymous]

My due date is about to pass and still no baby (this is my second pregnancy). My doctor feels strongly about inducing after 7 days; however, I'm against using pitocin, since I'd like to have a natural childbirth. I'll be talking with my doctor this week about natural induction methods, but I just wanted to get an idea of what has worked for others. Stripping membranes? Sex? Walking? Other stuff??

[Anonymous]

As a last resort, you could use a high quality breast pump. It releases oxytocin, which will start the contractions the same as Pitocin, but without as many side effects. There is a chance that too much stimulation that can cause too many contractions too fast, so please do your research and/or consult a midwife before trying it.

[Anonymous]

I read that most first-time moms go into labor 8 days past their due date. So it seems a shame to insist on inducing at day 7 without medical necessity. My doctor stripped my membranes 6 days past my due date, and I went into labor 8 days past my due date. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Castor oil worked for me, but it was a rough ride. I wouldn't recommend it unless you are DESPERATE!

[Anonymous]

Sex, sex, sex - orgasm makes your body release oxytocin, and the prostaglandin (sp?) in the sperm ripens your cervix. Seemed to work for us - baby came 2 days past due date, and one day before the scheduled induction (I had GD, so they weren't going to let me go much longer).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

There is no medical evidence supporting the need to induce at 7 days past your due date. That is absurd. Tell your doctor no. Refuse the induction.

Most doctors in the area will easily allow you to go to 42 weeks; some will even allow 43 weeks if you are persistant. Midwives will happily let you go up to and beyond 42 weeks. Any doctor who insists on inducing at 41 weeks is not practicing evidence-based medicine. All he's doing is causing you unnecessary stress and worry.

Let your baby come when it is ready. And yes, the things you mentioned are gentle nudges that you can do. If your baby is close to being ready, those things could push you into labor. Some people also use castor oil as a last resort. If you choose that, please research it - even talk to a midwife for advice if need be.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PPs that unless there is a medically necessary reason for inducing you, you should at least be able to go to 42 wks. That said, I had to be induced at 37 weeks (pitocin & breaking of water) and i was still able to have a natural childbirth (e.g. no pain drugs but of course pitocin is a drug, and therefore, according to some, not 100% natural).

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thanks to all for your replies so far. I'm 99.9% certain that my official due date is off by 1 week or more; so my doctor's 41-week induction is actually my 42-week induction, as far as I'm concerned. Today's checkup revealed that I've dilated a bit more, so hopefully I won't make it to my scheduled induction!

[Anonymous]

I would recommend doing everything on the list of things to do to get the baby out:

- membrane sweeping
- sex
- spicy food
- low squats
- lots of walking

Of course my first was born 9 days late and my second was induced a week late so NONE of this worked for me! But everyone is right, no reason to induce 7 days after especially for your first which arrives statistically as everyone has said. In France they actually say the pregnancy for the first is 41 weeks because that is the norm! Some of these creatures just don't want to come out!

[Anonymous]

I took castor oil with coke at 4pm. Went to the restroom at 7pm-not that bad-just like I had eaten something that upset my stomach. Lost my mucus plug at 9pm and had small contractions until 2am that went away. The contractions came back the next day at noon and continued until my DS was born. I did not overdo it on the dose though so it was not a horrible experience for me. My mother used it with my brother back in 1980 as well. It will not work though unless you are ready-it just gets things cramping down in the general area.

[Anonymous]

I went out dancing the night before (although I didn't know it would be the "night before" until the morning when I felt cramping). I've always been very active so this wasn't unusual for me.

Maybe light exercise (or whatever you were pre baby) will help with the blood flow and encourage the baby to "come on down!"

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Anonymous]

It's been proven that sex does NOT lead to the mother going into labor. I think it's coincidental.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if it works, but it sounds yummy. I am going to try it - heck I'll get a good meal out of it anyways.

http://www.wchstv.com/gmarecipes/eggplantparmigian.shtml

[Anonymous]

Some say that fresh pineapple helps kick start labor.
Evening primrose oil is also supposed to ripen the cervix.
Spicy foods!
Lots of walking.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I ended up delivering 3 days post due date and my doctor was talking induction also. I let them strip my membranes. This happened in the morning, and I delivered my baby within 24 hours and ended up doing it without pitocin or any other intervention.

I tried:
acupuncture
acupressure massage on the pressure points above the ankle bones
spicy food
walking
sex
the eggplant parm recipe
nipple stim (but not with a breast pump)
lots of squats (and I was doing prenatal yoga 3x a week)
moving around on the birthing ball
pretty much everything "natural" except the breast pump and I didn't try castor oil either.
plus I was eating tons of pineapple (just craving it)

Best of luck with whatever you try! It can be hit or miss as I know that some of these techniques do work for people, and, as with me, some just don't.