Induce Labor

I am looking for natural ways to induce labor. I am 39 weeks and am scheduled to be induced on monday, but i would like to go about it naturally. I have timeable contractions if i take a bumpy car ride but they stop after I get out of the car. Any suggestions?
The reason I am being induced is low placenta fluid and very little movement. 3 hours at the hospital and stimulation from the ultrasound techy and all she did was twitch her foot once. Good heartbeat and breathing though.

The Answer by cutemountaingirl76 :
I feel for ya. I"m the same way. Contractions if I'm in the car but they stop as soon as I get out. I've been trying all the normally recommended ones…bumpy car ride, sex, sex, and more sex, walking. I refuse to try castor oil though because I'm afraid of the side effects. I've also tried nipple stimulation but that didn't work either. Good luck though!

I'm due in two weeks. Next Thursday I have a scheduled induction, and am really scared. My first baby was HUGE (9 lbs 8 oz and 21 1/2 inches long). They say this baby will be at least 10 1/2 pounds unless we induce early.

And, giving birth to a big baby is a terrible memory. And, no it hasn't faded.

Not whining just giving background. I really don't want to be induced. I'd rather start this naturally. I have no dialation or thining. Although I did loose my plug last night. I've been taking primrose oil and walking and having lots of sex.

Can someone give me some encouragement? I know labor won't even start if I'm this wound up! (My inlaws are here for SIX months making me nervous and uncomfortable).

The Answer by Autumn_Rains :
I'm so sorry! My first was also 9 lbs, 7 oz, and I just had my second son five weeks ago. I posted almost the exact same question on here two weeks before my due date! My second was also supposed to be big but he ended up being 8 lb, 12 oz.

I took the Primrose oil, walked and had lots of sex too. I was induced the week of my due date and it great, because my doctor said I was ready and prepared (I believe those methods definitely helped). Don't worry - everything could change in one night! Keep doing what you're doing and try to keep your mind occupied. Go shopping, get out of the house, do whatever you can to not focus on waiting.

Even if you have to wait two more weeks, your body will be more prepared because of what you are doing now. Don't force anything - don't do castor oil no matter what - and it will happen soon. Be encouraged! Only a short time longer and your baby will be here!

And hey - I had the epidural with mine and had no pain during delivery even though he was big. Do it if you need to so you have a pleasant experience. Congratulations and please post an update when you have your baby!

What are the best ways to induce labor? I am due in 3 days and would like to know what are the best but also safe methods in starting things up.. I am 1 finger dialated and very soft and only 2 cm long.. any suggestions? I would wait, but darling husband might be leaving this week due to some miliary issues.. and i would like him here.. and they don't induce here in germany

The Answer by bumblecherry :
Sex, curry and a walk - not necessarily in that order!

Good luck and bless!!

I have been taking herbal supplements to help induce labor. how long does it normally take blue cohosh to work? Any ideas?

The Answer by Jill :
Have you talked to your midwife or doctor about this? If you are attempting to self-induce, I think they will probably want to know about it, and they would make recommendations or give you warnings against certain methods.

If self-induction methods (herbal or otherwise) were safe and consistently effective, they would use them in the hospital instead of pitocin, but they are not. So don't get your hopes up. Labor only begins when its ready and not a moment before.

Good luck and congrats in advance.

I know sex helps to induce labor, because the semen thins out the cervix, but could it bring premature labor?

The Answer by Suzy K :
No, sex will not bring about premature labor, in normal, non-high risk pregnancies. If you are high-risk, however, the doctor's will usually tell you to abstain from sexual activity, just in case.

labor.what will induce labor?

The Answer by jupyter_flew :
Old Wive's Tale

(I asked this earlier but I am going to ask again, I think I asked too late last night to get answers) At any rate-

My midwife just told me about using Evening Primrose Oil Capsules (inserted inside of me) to help thin me out and possibly induce labor (I'm 80% effaced 2 cm dilated as of Wednesday). Has anyone tried this and how many capsules (500mg) did you use? Thanks…

btw: I'm 40w4d pregnant and I am at my wits end on how to get this ball rolling…. I have been walking, running up and down stairs, intimacy, pineapple, acupressure…. So I am pretty much ready to give anything (except castor oil) a shot… I am starting to believe that all the things people have told me to induce labor is just a bunch of B*S, am I correct in assuming this? LOL…This is soooo frustrating!!!!!!!!! I want him OUT!
I would definately be willing to take castor oil, I have just held off because I heard it can make the baby poo in the womb and make him sick, I don't know if it is true or not, I just didn't want to take a chance of hurting him..
I keep asking her to strip my membranes but she said I am not dilated enough…. I am going to give her a call tomorrow and see if I can run in and get checked for a membrane sweep.

The Answer by Sharon G :
My midwife had me insert 2 to 3 capsules of Evenig Primrose Oil to help my cervix soften for the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy. She said it is like putting chapstick on your lips to keep them soft. She said nothing about induction from it.

I am surprised that the midwife didn't want to strip your membranes. That sometimes helps to get labor going. How about nipple stimulation? You could have your husband suck on one breast for 10 min. then walk for 20, stimulate the other breast for 10 min, then walk for another 20. Keep that up for 3 or 4 hours because it causes your body to produce oxytocin (the natural form of pitocin) which will in turn allow you to contract. That is the only thing that I think will really truly help.

With my second baby I went 5 days overdue and had, had a bumpy ride (almost rearended someone and drove into the ditch to avoid them) on my due date, Intercourse numerous times, walks late at night, mexican food (which isn't the right kind of spice, but I loved it) and none of those worked.

ETA - don't take the castor oil without your midwife telling you to.

I am 39-1/2 weeks pregnant and so far having no signs whatsoever of labor (no braxton-hix, etc.) My dr says everything looks great and the baby weighs about nine pounds already (my last was 11lbs 1oz) but we decided against a medical induction. My question is: does castor oil really induce labor? I am SO ready to have this child, and that seems like the most natural way to induce. If anyone has advice on this - or ANYTHING else that might get this little girl out - I'd appreciate it!

The Answer by Nicole D :
The castor oil technique rarely works for women. For the few women that it does work for, these are the reasons:

It cleans out the system, allowing a little extra room for baby to move further down into the pelvis, encouraging more pressure/dilation on the cervix.
It causes cramping and irritation in the bowels, which can, in turn, irritate and cause the uterus to contract or cramp - encouraging the uterus to produce higher levels of the contraction hormone, oxytocin.
It causes some women to heave and vomit. This heaving and vomiting causes the upper digestive tract, diaphragm, and stomach to press down on the uterus, along with the first stated reason, together causing more pressure on the cervix… blah blah blah :o)

Most women, though, it simply causes frequent dashes to the bathroom, nausea, and overall discomfort and disappointment. There are better ways to 'encourage labor naturally'. Good luck!

I will be 37 weeks on Friday.I lost my mucus plug and I am dilated 2cm.Doctor told me on monday to walk to help induce labor.My fiance' has to go back to work in a few days and won't be able to come home if I go into labor.Should I have sex to help induce labor or will it harm the baby?

The Answer by JUDAS RAGE :
It wont harm the baby but I dont think it will make you go into labor either. personally i think its a man made concept. Try to self induce by simulating breast feeding. It sends a hormone into your body that helps your uterus shrink back down after pregnancy. When you simulate breastfeeding you do have to be ruff with the nipple in order for your body to start to push the production of the hormone. It will give you almost instant contractions if you are in a bare down position. good luck.

If I don't go into labor in the next week, my doctor will have to induce me right after Thanksgiving. I am terrified of the intense/fast contractions that pitocin can cause, and I need some ideas to help get this labor started NOW! I will try just about anything at this point. Any ideas?

The Answer by SydneyMum101 :
If your body and your baby aren't ready, nothing you can do at home will effectively start labour.

And any kind of induced labour is generally a lot tougher on the mother and baby than a natural one no matter what the method.

Why will your doctor "have" to induce you right after Thanksgiving? And why no other option than pitocin?