I'm 39 weeks pregnant with my first baby....The doctor has already stripped my membranes and hopes that I will deliver some time in the next few days. I've had irregular contractions...but I know that there are some ways to naturally help get labor going. I need some ways that actually do work...
2006-08-25 11:24:15 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
You're not going to like this, but ...
The baby will come when it's ready. If for some medical reason, the doctor thinks you need to induce labor, he'll do it (non-naturally). Otherwise, you're in for a wait. None of the natural ways have been medically proven: people that say they work, it could've just been coincidence. I know it's really hard to wait - you're uncomfortable, and really want to see your baby. You probably just have that, "I want it out!" feeling. I can understand.
The best thing to do is to occupy your mind with other things. If trying some of these supposed methods to induce labor is a way to keep you occupied, go for it!
Plus, having sex might be a good idea anyway. Because after you deliver, you won't be able to for a few weeks. Anyway, hope some of this helps! Hang in there!
2006-08-25 11:35:11 · answer #1 · answered by ugly frog 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am 37 weeks and my midwife plans on stripping my membranes this coming wednesday. There are natural ways to help things along but only if your body is ready to deliver. I had my midwife give me a whole list of things that ARE proven to help ( again only if your body is ready) I could list them all but it would be better for you would Google "natural induction" You can research yourself to find out what you are comfortable with. Remember though, make sure you research it good cause there are some side effects to some that you may want to keep away from... like nipple stimulation can cause harsh contractions that may last too long and restrict the baby's oxygen level ( thats why they only recommend it under a doctors supervision) and the castor oil...bad idea It will give you a bad case of the runs and may or may not cause the baby to have a bowel movement aswell which is not good. And for the woman who said she was a nurse, shouldn't she know what 'stripping the membranes' means? No ob-gyn I know would break your water and then send you home. Besides the fluid does replenish itself in most labors. There is a such thing as dry birth but doctors have a woman deliver within 24 hours from their water breaking to keep down the possibility of infection as well as complications like dry birth. I am all about naturally doing things and there are ways out there. Good luck and best wishes. (p.s. I have just started using evening primrose oil on myself with my doctors approval so the natural ways are safe if you are full term)
2006-08-25 12:07:07 · answer #2 · answered by Nina J 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My contractions have been 4-7min. apart for 5 days now... and I'm supposed to be on pelvic bedrest too. Walking, orgasm, and supposedly pineapples(not too sure, but I ate a whole can that's when my contractions got closer together. could just be a coinsidence.) THose are the best natural ways to induce labor. Please don't try the castor oil again. It WILL NOT induce labor, and can just give you really bad diahrea(that's what happened to my sister-in-law) Good Luck.
2016-03-17 02:41:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are several ways, but they will only work if the baby is ready.
Sex - When you have an orgasm, the uterus contracts strongly. This could start the whole ball rolling.
Castor Oil - it irritates the bowels & that often will start labor.
When you say he 'stripped' your membranes, do you mean he ruptured the sac? That's not good. If you don't deliever soon, you'll have a dry birth. There's a reason that the amniotic sac breaks so late, it lubes the path for the baby. A dry birth is not pleasant!!!!
The sac integrity also keeps bacyteria out. If it's been ruptured, you & the baby are subject to infection.... also not good!
2006-08-25 11:47:51 · answer #4 · answered by Fulltime in my RV (I wish) 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You need to understand that your baby will come when it wants to there is NO way that you can make your self go into labor unless your water breaks. All these ways are just myths. I am an RN with 5 kids, maybe you want your baby to come now but if it doesn't want to it won't and there is nothing you or anything else can do. Doing these myths are dangerous and could cause you more harm than good. Trust me, relax and now just take care of yourself. Your baby will come when it is ready.
2006-08-25 11:39:52 · answer #5 · answered by natmys333 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Irregular contractions will still dilate your cervix. (In other words, they don't have to be 1 minute long, every 5 minutes to do their job. :))
With my first son, I was scheduled to be induced on a Monday. I had my regular visit the Friday before, and I was 1 cm. On Sunday, I had irregular contractions off and on all day. At one point I was ready to pack my bag and go to the hospital (I would have had my leap year baby if I had, dang it!!) but then they stopped...totally. The next day I went in for my induction, and I was already 3 cm (see, the irregular contractions were working!) dilated, so they skipped the medicine they were going to give me (thank God) and just broke my water.
Sounds like your body knows what it's doing, so don't fret. Before you know it, you'll have a tiny, sweet, wiggly little baby in your arms. Congrats, and happy laboring! :)
2006-08-25 15:14:40 · answer #6 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with some of the other people who posted that it is best just to wait (as hard as it is) and let the baby come when it is ready. I am pregnant with our third right now and with the second the doctor kept stripping my membranes although I wasn't really wanting him to. The second time he did it I told him to stop. The baby was born later that night and had breathing trouble right off the bat. Very long story, but to make it short the nurses in the nursery noticed that she was purple/gray and not breathing....they had to work on her to bring her back. We ended up in the hospital for a week...waiting for her to get the hang of sleeping through the night and continuing to breath. I think if she would have just stayed in a while longer that we would not have had all of that worry and stress! So just hang in there and let the baby tell you when it is time. God bless~
2006-08-25 14:50:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something that my friend used was castor oil. She drank the whole bottle and had her baby the next day. It is not easy to take as it is VERY oily and will probably cause you to throw up alot. If you have a date booked to be induced I am sure you will go into labour the day before.
2006-08-25 11:39:15 · answer #8 · answered by new mom 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been told castor oil (not castrol oil for engines) works for sure, but I think it works rather fast so make sure you have your hospital bag ready! A friend of mine used it for all 3 of her pregnancies and I guess they came pretty quickly afterward. I've heard other people talk about it too. Good luck and safe delivery!
2006-08-25 11:32:08 · answer #9 · answered by NikC 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard that having sex is a good way to endures labor.
2006-08-25 11:44:59 · answer #10 · answered by Jennifer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋