Natural Labor Inducers

[Csara]

This was just fun for me to look back on and read. It was posted on the front page (baby talkers blog) while in the very final stretch of my pregnancy with Jax. Thought I'd share and maybe get more ideas for natural labor inducers for those of you who may be interested when the time comes...

Stripping the Membranes
June 21st, 2005

Today I am 38 weeks pregnant. I went to the doctor this morning and am 2 cm dilated. She stripped my membranes to get things going and said hopefully I will go into labor and deliver my baby this week. I’ve been searching online and it seems that stripping the membranes works wonders for some and doesn’t do a thing for others. Hope I am one of the lucky ones that it works for. I had some spotting and cramping, but know this is normal. I want to start trying all the natural labor inducers. I’ve heard of walking, sex, spicy food, eggplant parmesan, raspberry leaf tea. I never thought I’d be this anxious, but I am tired of being pregnant and just plain tired and uncomfortable. I am ready to meet my baby boy!!! Bring on the labor.

and then this......

What the heck does labor feel like?
June 26th, 2005

It has been 5 days since I had my membranes stripped and every single night I think I am going into labor. I get horrible backpain and contractions, but the contractions are irregular. Except for tonight. I had 3 hours of them. 10 minutes apart the first hour, about 6 minutes apart the second hour, then they became irregular and now they are gone along with the backpain. I am grateful for that b/c it was pretty durn agonizing, but it is even more frustrating to think every night “this is it” and nothing happens! I even lost my mucous plug on Friday, but apparently that is just another thing that virtually means nothing. You can go hours or weeks before going into labor when that happens. I am so ready for my baby boy to come out. I have tried all the natural labor inducers I talked about the other day: drinking raspberry leaf tea, eating spicy food, eggplant parmesan, feta cheese, caesar salad, walking, and sex, but nothing seems to work. I guess he isn’t ready….he must be comfy in there.

I ended up being induced 3 days later (at 39 weeks 1 day) on June 29, 2005 when my precious baby boy, Jax David, was born. Hard to believe it has been a YEAR already.

[Csara]

Just ing this up to see if anyone else has used or plans on using any natural labor inducers if they get real uncomfy towards the end? Are there any you've heard of that weren't mentioned above?

[KeelyKay]

I'm pretty sure that once I'm term I'll at least try a few. I don't know how far I would take it, but I guess I'll find out when I get there.

[IUgrad02]

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[Angel78]

My only fear about trying the walking a lot idea is that my mom did that with one of my sisters (she was 17 days overdue) and Lia flipped around and went posterior on her....which led to scary things like cesareans being discussed, an inversion being done, some pitocin, and a long painful labor. Yuck.

[kristen nov02]

I am going to do be needing some ideas in just a few weeks. Seriously right when I hit 37 weeks (term) I am going to be trying them out. It can't really hurt to try.

C.....I feel just like you did right now, tired and uncomfortable and just ready to meet my little lady.

Megan....I have heard of membranes being stripped too. I am not exactly what the procedure does though.

[Csara]

"Stripping the membranes" is done by inserting a finger between the membranes and the wall of the uterus to loosen the membranes from the wall. Sometimes it can stimulate labor, other times it does nothing at all. For me it did nothing but give me very painful contractions for a week. It was also very painful while the doctor did it.

[stacyl]

Csara described what the doc does when stripping membranes, and her experience of how negative an impact it can have. OBs can also break your bag of water in the process, which leads down a road of interventions you don't want to have to deal with.

As for walking causing a malpositioned baby, it simply doesn't. Walking is one of the best things to help baby get into prime position and let gravity help that baby's head push against your cervix. Reclining is one of the worst things you can do, so be very conscious of your posture especially as you sit. Check out www.spinningbabies.com for info on how to help your baby be in optimal positioning.

Lastly, beyond walking and sex just let that baby cook. I know how difficult it is to wait, but both you (general) and your baby will be well served being patient. Do things you can't do with a newborn (enjoying a movie in quiet from start to finish, reading a book uninterrupted, sleeping in late, going on a date with your DH, etc.). I went 15 days postdates with DS2, so believe me I know how long it can be to wait

[IUgrad02]

Good info, thanks!!

[CC21]

My Dr. stripped my membranes at my checkup the day Landry was born. It just felt like a really agressive check of my cervix. It didn't hurt really, was just uncomfortable. I did start having contractions soon after. I don't know if it would have thrown me into full blown labor or not because the Dr. broke my water and started pitocin shortly after.