Any Luck with Natural Induction Methods?

Last Night was a big full moon. Maybe something will happen for you this weekend and you will have an Easter baby. Someone was saying this is the last early Easter for a long time so that would be cool! I was miserable the last month and couldn't hardly walk and everytime we would hit a bump in the car I would have a contraction. But don't rush things, you will never have this moment again.

I tried everything with my daughter last July and nothing worked for me but I had to be medically induced at 42 weeks so I guess she was just not coming. A few of my friends had great success with Walking, Sex, and Castor Oil. I hope it works for you. Congrats!!!

Nothing works. It is mostly old wives tales. I tried it all and my son eventually came on his own right at 43 weeks. You are almost there, so just hold on a couple more weeks and enjoy the peace and quiet. :)

I know there are many opinions out there that you will get on how to naturally induce labor, be careful. I work in L&D and even though most babies will do fine after 36 wks, there are still those few that may have breathing difficulties if born to early even at 38 wks. Maybe your baby will surprise you and come naturally on its own. Other then telling you about walking, sex, nipple stimulation, red rasberry tea, there is not much other I can tell you besides asking your doc when he/she felt safe to induce you.
I just had my 3rd baby in Dec and I too was miserable, so I can definitely feel sympathy for you. Hang in there.

Walking and sex will help alot.

I walked and had sex, with my husband of course. Not "I love you" sex, it was "get this baby out of me!" sex. I don't know if my water broke on it's own or if this had anything to do with it, but... I had a normal day at work - didn't feel any different than usual - came home went to the bathroom (sorry if this is graphic) peed, wiped and pushed really hard like I was pushing a baby out for a couple of seconds. I don't know why I did that. But when I stood up and pulled my pants up I felt warm liquid come out and I thought I had peed my pants! Fortunately, I was wearing a pad because I was afraid my water would break in public. I sat back down and my pad was soaked with light pink liquid. Yahoo! My water broke!!! Off we went to the hospital to welcome our baby boy into the world! I'm sure a lot of people will criticize me for posting this and I don't know if a doctor would recommend pushing but I'm pretty sure it worked for me. He was born one week early.

I used Castor Oil mixed with Orange Juice to induce my labor and it worked as promised for me.

I mixed 1 oz of Castor oil with 6 oz of Orange Juice at about 9pm. About 11:30pm, my bowels started to pass. I started to have contractions around 2am. I went to the hospital at about 3am. My baby was born at 4:06pm.

The theory behind this mechanism, in which Castor Oil induces labor, is that the remedy causes diarrhea cramps by irritating the smooth muscles of the intestine. This irritation is passed to the uterus, which is a smooth muscle, as well. Irritation of the uterus increases the prostaglandin level, resulting in contractions and labor.

Castor Oil starts the diarrhea two to six hours after drinking the oil. The contractions should begin shortly after that.

Sex works! Semen contains prostaglandins which can gently induce labor. I had my daughter at 38 weeks this way. Also, acupuncture can induce labor.

A., I am a Mom of 2 boys(young men now). My youngest is 18 and the oldest 28. I had my first son at the age of 20 and did natural childbirth, the lamaze method. That was a long time ago ... 28 yrs :) but I was feeling the same as you :)& quite ready to get things moving. My midwife who had delivered over 1500 babies at the time told me to Walk; I walked nearly every day for the last month and I feel so certain it helped me stay in shape ; also helped get the baby in position for birth and I know it stretches those muscles so my childbirth was so easy ;especially for a first baby 8 pd 13 oz , a good size boy :) But I have been told it also speeds things along. With my second child the midwife had passed away so he was born in a hospital and my water broke but no contractions nothing was happening for like 3 hrs ; so I insisted they let me get up & walk... they said I was walking a path around the hospital but when I came back each time they'd ck me and I was moving right along and I'd tell them to let me walk and they did and once again no problems although it was different I had back labor with Tyler (very strange)he was smaller 7 pd 12 oz. still a healthy boy :) Also, I have a huge family;lots of children and the practice of natural childbirth, and WALKING has been a key to 5 generations of healthy happy babies & MOMS :) Try it it can't hurt :) T.~

I tried every natural one that was suggested, which ranged from drinking castor oil mixed with orange juice (so I could gag it down) to having my husband drive over rough railroad tracks - often! Exercises, walking up and down steps, nothing worked. Bottom line is, and after two pregnancie with reluctant world entrants, my mother's words of wisdom: The apple will fall from the tree when it is ready to fall, and trying to speed it up won't work at all. Sorry! R.

Castor oil worked for me-within 24hrs I was in labor & was able to give birth naturally. Would take it again! But it does taste awful so mix with a strong juice like cranberry.

good luck!

My doctors wanted to induce, as I was a week beyond my due date. I wanted to try a more natural way of getting the ball rolling. I found a massage therapist versed in the natural pressure points in the body ( similar to the concept of accupuncture.) I had the massage on Thursday evening and had a beautiful, healthy baby by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Was it the massage? Who knows, but it was a great experience all around!

sex with no condoms

Good luck, and God bless,

Unfortunately babies come when they are ready so if you get that mind set it might help you feel a little better. But when my first was over due I did everything from having sex to sucking my thumb (this hits a pressure point that induces labor)and in two days i went in to labor. When he is done cooking he will let you know, Good Luck!

I had a baby four weeks ago and she came on her due date. What I think helped me was a massage. I had my feet and hands massaged by someone who knew how to do it to get you started. They say it usually takes 24-36 hours to get the labor started and with me it took almost exactly 36 hours until the baby was out. That would be my suggestion to go and have that done. If it doesnt work at least you had a good relaxing time before the baby comes out. Good luck with everything!!!

With my second, I was more than ready to go into labor at 37 weeks! I finally broke down and tried sex.........it worked! I started having contractions immediately. They started very light. Once I was admitted, they told me that my contractions were also due to the fact that I was mildly dehydrated. Evidentally, I hadn't drank enough water that day, so I don't know if the sex just tipped me over the edge, or if it really was the trigger.... =0) Good luck to you! AND...tonight is the full moon, too! I have several friends who happened to go into labor on a full moon! Try to get in lots of walking today and have sex tonight! Do you have an upstairs in your house? If so, walk up and down those steps a lot, but hold on to that rail b/c I'd feel awful if you fell trying to take my advice! =0)

I was in the same boat last October. Finally, at the advice of my doula, I treated myself to a spa pedicure (asking them to concentrate on the pressure points in my legs), and then that evening I enjoyed a nice glass of red wine, a romatinc dinner with my husband, and some great pregnancy boom-boom <wink>. I had my baby the next day!

I've also heard that acupuncture can be of great help.

I didn't try this, but I heard that drinking warm , raspberry tea helps! (I don't like teat)

I did the nipple stimulation and it helped. It may have produced stronger contractions, but since I had to have Pitocin anyway, it didn't mean much to me. You have to do it for a long time though. I did it in bed before falling asleep. Massage in a circular motion all around the nipple.

The clincher was getting my membranes "stripped" though. Everytime my midwife stripped my membranes (I have 3 kids) I ended up in the hospital within 18 hours. This is a procedure where the doctor or midwife pushes around the cervex to release the lining with the uterus and causes contractions. It's not comfortable, but it results in babies!

Hi A.-

I'm a 32 year-old mom with two little ones (a girl, 3, and a boy, 8 mos.). I was a week late with our daughter and was induced, and two days late with our son (ended up going into labor, thank goodness because he was 10lbs!) With both babies we tried caster oil, walking nonstop and intercourse with no luck. Nothing seemed to work for me so I guess it wasn't meant to be. The babes were happy where they were and not ready to come out. A good friend of mine though tried intercourse and went into labor a couple hours later- so who knows.....it may work for you and it may not. I know how you feel being so close to the end but you're almost there! Hang in there- you know it'll be so worth it. Good luck!

We tried everything with BOTH of our children to no avail, so don't get too upset if you try and the baby still comes when it is ready.

Evening Primrose oil worked for us. I took it vaginally.

Seems what has worked best for most women is patience and walking. Castor oil will just give you diarrhea and no baby. Mexican food..gas...no baby. Bumpy roads...worn out shocks on your car...no baby. Jumping off the roof of your garage...broken leg...no baby (my OBGYN told me one of his patience did this...). Best thing is just be patient. Babies generally come when it's time I carried my 3rd child for 40 weeks and thought I deserved a dern Gold Medal for that!! IF you can rest with your feet up do so. Get as much rest as you can & walk when you have the opportunity.

Good luck.

I was 4 days overdue and sat down to watch Oprah. I was MISERABLE too and decided to take Castor Oil (someone had told me it would induce labor). By the end of the show I was contracting every 8 min.! I delivered 6 hours later. My widwife said that it has been her experience that if the woman is almost ready, Castor Oil will work. If not, then it wasn't the baby's time. You certainly don't want to rush nature. HANG IN THERE! It's almost over and the reward is coming!!!

HI,
First of all before you do anything like this you must consult your doctor for the safety of the baby...secondly if you do a natural method of induction it will do no good if you are not dilated at least to some degree. Castro oil and orange jiuce worked for me with my 2nd son...it tastes nasty but kicked in eventually...I did poop while delivering so beware! My first son took 20 plus hours to deliver so I knew with my 2nd that I wanted a easier time....I had 2 more babies after that without induction.
My son was born only 2 days before his due date...I would'nt recommend doing this too early...what if your baby is'nt ready yet just because you are it may cause alot of issues. Talk to your docs...they know best usually. This baby will be here when it is ready anyway....better safe than very sorry. Best of luck to you!

Blessings,
M...mom of 4 and want one more!

Hey A.!! I'm a 22 year old mom with a 18 month old, healthy, beautiful babygirl and I also did natural induction when I went into labor with her. My nurse actually gave me the idea to put a 1/2 of a cup of Castrol Oil (you can find it in the laxative section in the drugstore) in a cup of drink (personally, I used orange juice, it disquised the taste of the oil). You have to drink it fast because it's not the best tasting thing in this world. No kidding, I went into labor 4 hours later having contrations every 8 minutes. I have recommended this to several different people and it's worked!! Good luck!!

I tried EVERYTHING to get my little one to come. Caster oil, Salad recipies, stimulating my nipples, SEX, SEX, SEX, and nothing worked for me. I ended up in the hospital on pitocin (A week overdue). My suggestion is to be as patient as possible. I know you're probably thinking, "Yeah Right!!!" But seriously, I wish I had been patient enough to wait a little longer. I know now that induction increses risk of C-section, which I had, and it was not a good experience for me. Loooking back I would have carried her another month if I could've avoided surgery. Just hang in there, and don't let the due date psych you out. Babies come when they are ready, not when a doc decides.

Castor oil was totally stupid and I have only myself to blame. I've heard going to the mountains, maybe overnight I'm not sure how long. It has something to do with the higher elevations and pressure. Your not supposed to ride in a plane after a certain point in your pregnancy becasue of the pressure, going to the mountains is similar.

Good luck!

hey something to try iam not a doc but i just had my second son i am 21 and was miserable my mom sugested to not let my husband have sex for a week nothing at all then when hes going crazy at the end of a week do the deed making sure you go to climax and sure enogh you will end up in labore with in the hour try it. it worked for me both times being pregnent with my boys you cant be frustrated though it has to be excepting for both parties so sugest it see what he says. and let me know if it works for you. you can e-mail me at ____@____.com my name is adrian its an old remide both my mom and nana used.

I did drink a little of castor oil with my first (a girl) right on her due date and I was in labor hours later. I am 35 wks now with my third and don't know if I will try something again or not. I hear the 3rd comes pretty fast on his own. Good luck!

Go get a pedicure and have them focus a lot of deep massage in the arch area of your feet! Not only will this make you feel fabulous and look great but this often stimulates the uterus...which is why you're often warned NOT to get a foot massage or pedicure while you're pregnant. My nail person swears by this and it usually takes about 24 hours before things can start moving along.

Good luck!

Go get a prenatal massage... and let the therapist know you want to induce. they will not only trigger your contraction but will help with the strain you have on your lower back. congratulations and good luck with everything.

baby will come when its time nature knows when its time. dont mess it up and put your baby at risk no matter how miserable you are! DO NOT USE CASTOR OIL!!! it causes baby to have a bowl movement and causes major issues!!! I cant believe women are dumb enough to still do this! I will say if you are terrible miserable have sex i did (just for fun) and started having contractions that night

Are you working with a midwife you could ask advice of? In my experience, they are able to tell you what would work best given how developed your baby is and how your pregnancy is going, without jumping the gun to schedule an elective c-section. ;-) Glad to hear about so many moms using alternative methods - anything but Pitocin! (That's not a command, just a reminder to self.) I myself had luck with castor oil, black cohosh, primrose evening oil and raspberry tea......but how can we ever separate out the variables of exercise, environment, and just plain old time?

Congrats on your little boy, and may everything work out the best for you!

I heard that a pedicure may work. Also, there are pressure points all over the body that you may want your partner, family member or friend to stimulate. I'm sure you could find more information as to where these points are on the internet somewhere. Good luck and hang in there!

nothing worked. Believe me I tried it all and was finally induced at 42 weeks!!!

DON'T TRY CASTOR OIL. I was in the bathroom for HOURS after that! There was no meconium and the baby was never in distress, so that was good. It still wasn't a good idea though. :(

Hello!

I am a birth doula and please oh please do not take caster oil! Caster oil is a laxative. And if it can cause a "void" on the mom then it also can cause the baby to void. that is called Meconium. Meconium is very dangerous and could lead to an emergency c-section!

A few things to do is WALK WALK WALK!!! Please do not tire yourself out. If you are exhausted your body will not go into labor. And other idea is to get a movie, one that is so funny your tummy hurts from laughter. I was told by a mom of 8 that this is how she got into labor. Drink a lot of water!!! hydration is a major plus!

Also if you are having a boy especially, the longer the baby is in-utero, the better it is for the baby's lungs to develop.

I do know some other things, but as a doula I can not tell them with out a written permission slip from your careprovider.

If you do have an other questions, you are more them welcome to write back!

H.

A little about me: I am birth doula, military wife to a wonderful husband,and mother of three