What are some things my wife can do to induce labor? She was due yesterday and has until the 14th to give birt

Question

She has until the 14th to give birth. If not, they will need to do a C-section on her. We of course do not want that. This is our 4th child. The first was a C-section and the last two have been normal. We are looking for any kind of home remedy or proven method to help move this process along. We have been told walking alot helps. A C-section now will not help us out. Please share any tips or remedies you have or know work to help bring on labor. We are ready for this baby to be born.

Answer 1

I saw a documentary that stated it was the child who decided when to be born. The theory was it was the discomfort of the close, cramped womb. Another theory was the in utero nourishment was no longer sufficient for the needs of the grown fetus.The documentary also stated that studies showed that C-section born babies were calmer and more pacific. If you can find the info on the internet there was a pizza place (no kidding) that got a reputation for causing expecting moms to go into labor after eating the pizza. This was quite a long time ago and I think the program was 60minutes. The pizza had quite a success rate. Info might reveal an ingredient in the pizza that prompted the natural process to begin. I think the pizza place was in Texas.Your baby has already learned so much in utero. Birth is inexpressibly extremely important to the child's psyche so please be extremely respectful of reasonable peril to the child during the birthing process. All things equal, an adult would not survive if having to endure what a baby does during the birth process.
I do hope that at least one OB will answer your question here.

The naturally occuring "big day" of the blessed event is not as arbritrary as it seems.

God Bless all 7 of you and your family. May His light guide the path.

Answer 2

First off, what is the MEDICAL reason given for wanting the baby to be born NOW? And what is the medical reason to do a C-Section? I can tell you right now it is crap. Doctors should NOT do a C-Section because a woman goes a few days past her due date. Full term pregnancy is considered to be from 37 weeks to 42 weeks, with 40 weeks being when they say you are "due". Due dates are just an estimate! Even if there is a medical reason to get the baby out NOW, a C-Section is not the answer. However, I already know why they are telling you this, it is because of her previouis C/S. However, having two vaginal births following that one C/S has proven that her scar is secure.

Have you considered telling the doctor NO.
JUST SAY NO!!! It is so simple, but everyone wants to blindly do what the doctor wants.

Be an advocate for your wife and baby. C-Sections are major surgery, and have many risks for both the mom and baby. I just read a news article today on the greatly increased risks to moms having a second c-section from MULTIPLE things (try looking on web news, maybe Reuters.) Tell the doctor you want to wait for labor to begin naturally - when her body and the baby are ready.

If worse comes to worse, yes - sex, sex, sex. However, she needs to have orgasms, and ejaculate in her. The semen has prostoglandins which help trigger labor. Orgasm causes the release of the hormone oxytocin, which causes uterine contractions. Also, nipple stimulation will release oxytocin, and can be done periodically throughout the day. It does need to be done consistantly for at least 30 minutes at a time. If contractions begin she can continue during the contraction or stop during, then begin again. Once contractions are occuring she should continue until a good contraction pattern is established. A breast pump can also be used, or you can suck on her nipples.

If none of this works she can try castor oil, about 2 oz any way she can get it down (in juce, mixed in mint ice cream, root beer). This can be repeated in an hour. Castor oil is rather harsh and unpleasant (there could be a lot of toilet time!), but if mom and baby are ready it usually works, especially if it follows sex/nipple stimulation, and it is much safer and better than a C-Section.

You might find some info at these sites to to back up your desire to wait for natural labor to begin:

Çoalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS)
http://www.motherfriendly.org/

ICAN
http://www.ican-online.org/

Answer 3

I so know how you are feeling. I was 14 days late with my 4th baby!

Nothing will really help if she isn't already showing signs of being ready to go into labor. Most of the tips and remedies are to help get labor moving but most will not get it started if she is not showing any signs at all.

Some things that can help it along are walking, sex with orgasm(releases a hormone that can stimulate contractions), nipple stimulation.
Did you ask her Dr. if there was anything that they recommend?What about induction as opposed to a C section? There are medications they can rub on the cervix that can help, or even stripping the membranes(done only by her OBGYN). Couldn't hurt to ask about that as well. It may not be able to be done because of previous C sections.
I was lucky enough to never need any of that but I would ask about all options first.
Skip the castor oil. While it COULD help, it will make her miserable and could make for a horribly messy situation if labor were to start soon after. (not to be gross).

Congrats and Good Luck!!

Answer 4

All of these methods are quoted from a book written by Midwife Ina May: "1. Pleasuarable Sexual Intercourse. 2. Nipple Stimulation. It causes the release of oxytocin into the maternal bloodstream, and this oxytocin then stimulates coontractions of the uterine muscles. Breast stimulation is especially effective in starting labor at term when it is combined with sexual intercourse. This method is by far the most enjoyable method of induction. 3. Castor oil taken orally. Begin at breakfast after a full nights sleep. One tablespoon added to scrambled eggs or juice to make it more palatable. If necessary, she takes one more TBSP one hour after ingesting the first." Good Luck and God Bless you and your growing family.

Answer 5

Walking is a sure thing, but I know this is going to sound crazy, but the next day I was in labor....do the baby's room, move stuff around, and clean just about anything and everything you can do. I fixed my son's room on Sat. and on Sun. I was heading to the hospital because he was ready to enter this world! Best of Luck!!!

Answer 6

Nipple stimulation, sex and have the male ejaculate, drink green tea, eat Eggplant Parmesean, lots of walking...activity stimulates contractions.

There is an Italian Restaurant in Atlanta called Scalilni's that is world famous for their Eggplant Parmesean putting women into labor. Find a local Italian Restaurant and try it out.

Answer 7

sex. it release the same hormones that stimulate labor. be gentle!
if her water happens to break then stop as you don't want to initiate an infection. i'm surprise he doctor didn't suggest this. walking does help as gravity will be pushing things downward, but baby will come when baby comes and sometimes there is just no rushing nature. try warm relaxing baths, but make sure the water is only warm and not too hot. if your water has broken then do not do this unless your dr. approves(which i'm sure he/she wont unless it is in a controlled sterile situation, like a water birth)

Answer 8

CASTOR OILLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! it will start sympathy contractions for a bowl movement, tell her it wont hurt her, to go buy a 4oz bottle and a 24 oz bottle of Pepsi, and a baby meds dropper, fill the dropper take a drink of Pepsi hold it in your mouth, tilt head back, dispense dropper of Castor oil, swallow, fast its thick, drink all the castor oil, the whole bottle, but be warned she will have a serious case of the runs, lol, and if she wants to avoid tasting it, the faster she gets it down the better! good luck congrats, and if you figure anything else out, please, let me know, i need to go into labor in the next 4 weeks, or I'm going to be a planned c section!! i want to avoid this also, PS, check out www.ican.org it may be seriously beneficial to you!!!!!

Answer 9

You will think this is crazy, but....
YOU make a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese dinner for her.
Then, she DROWNS it in A-1 sauce and eats the whole thing.
She will go into labor in about 8-12 hrs.

Women swear by this. A I am not making it up.

Answer 10

Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT try to scrape your wife's membranes. This is dangerous and should only be done by your wife's OBGYN if it is even necessary. What did it for me was activity. I started doing a lot of moving around, housework, walking, you name it and boom, contractions began. I was a week overdue and was facing the same threat of C-section. My mom told me to do jumping jacks and lunges which I thought was just crazy and possibly dangerous. Anyway, this article helped me, you should check it out:
http://babyzone.com/features/content/display.asp?TopicID=&ContentID=820&Page=1

PS I also tried parsley tea...YUCK!