My wife is now one day past our due date. What's a good way to get labor started?

Answer 1

Several things can be done that might make you have contractions and start your labor, but they'll only work if your body is ready. If your body isn't prepared to go into labor, you can try as much as your heart desires, but you will only frustrate yourself.

Use caution when trying any of these natural methods to begin your labor, particularly herbs and nipple stimulation. The uterus can become hyperstimulated, meaning that it'll get too little rest between contractions. This can cause the baby to receive less oxygen, resulting in fetal heart rate slowing. Before trying any of these techniques, you should discuss them with your practitioner.

Walk
If you are having contractions but are not yet in labor, walking can help get things going. Walking allows your hips to sway side to side, which will help bring the baby into position to be born. Also, by standing upright, you're using gravity to move the baby down into the pelvis. Another plus: It usually feels good to walk when you are contracting. And of course, even if you don't go into full-blown labor, at least you're getting some exercise.

Sex
Making love can be one of the last things on a woman's mind toward the end of her pregnancy. She feels clumsy and big and may be experiencing a lot of vaginal pressure. But believe it or not, sex is one of the things you can do to get your labor under way. When you and your partner make love, his semen (which contains prostaglandins) can stimulate contractions.

Castor oil
For decades, women have been using castor oil to help induce labor. In fact, many old school physicians and midwives swear by it. It can provide good results if you are already in early labor. It is believed to work by causing spasms in the intestines, which surround the uterus toward the end of pregnancy. These spasms, in turn, cause the uterus to cramp, which might result in labor.

You can take 1 to 4 ounces of castor oil mixed with 6 ounces of orange juice to cut its oiliness. You'll want to drink it quickly because of the unpleasant taste. Some practitioners suggest taking a single dose; others suggest repeated doses depending on your response. Keep in mind that castor oil usually will cause your bowels to empty within about three hours. With luck, soon after that, you will be in true labor.

Spicy food
Some people swear that it was that extra-hot enchilada from their favorite Mexican restaurant that brought them face to face with their new baby. Unfortunately, the statistics are out on this one. You could try it, but if you have a full stomach when you are in labor, you might vomit and see that enchilada again--in less-than-appetizing circumstances.

Blue and black cohosh
These herbs are used often to induce labor. They may be particularly effective if you are having weak or irregular contractions. Blue cohosh is believed to make uterine contractions stronger, while black cohosh may regulate the contractions. Together, they work to make contractions more effective. Unfortunately, no studies have determined that these natural treatments are safe, or whether all versions of the herb available for purchase are of equal potency. Be sure to discuss any herbal treatment with your practitioner before attempting it, to see if it is a good idea in your situation.

Nipple stimulation
Some women massage their nipples as a way to induce labor. This stimulation brings about the release of oxytocin, which is the natural form of pitocin. Oxytocin causes contractions, which sometimes evolve into labor.

Most practitioners are not enthusiastic about this method of inducing labor, because it has been known to lead to excessively long, strong uterine contractions sometimes resulting in fetal heart rate slowing. Unless your practitioner advises it and is monitoring your progress closely, nipple stimulation is not recommended as a means for beginning labor.

Answer 2

Instead of Castor Oil, go to the vitamin aisle and get Evening Primrose Oil caplets. The idea is the same as Castor Oil (to up prostaglandin production to ripen the cervix), but it's a caplet, so no bad taste and is said to work better. Sex will deliver prostagladins in your semen straight to the cervix and orgasm and nipple stimulation will cause her body to produce oxytocin, which is the hormone the inducing drug Pitocin imitates. Walking can help move the baby into position, putting pressure on the cervix helping it to open up faster.

But, like the PP said, if her body isn't ready, nothing is going to work, or else we wouldn't be allowed to have sex until the last week! The Evening Primrose Oil, sex, etc. (prostaglandins) will help her body get ready, however.

Spicy food is an old wive's tale and is more likely to cause heartburn than labor. The idea behind the spicy (or greasy food) is to irritate the bowels which supposedly can get contractions going. In actuality, it is early labor that causes the diarrhea, not the diarrhea that causes the labor.

SAFETY WARNING: Keep her out of the hot tub!! If her body temperature is elevated too much it could be harmful to your baby!!! Hot tubs or hot baths will elevate her body temperature!

Answer 3

Don't do anything! The "due date" is an estimation only. A baby born anywhere from 38weeks-42weeks is considered a full term baby. There is no reason at all to rush nature. The baby will come when it is ready to come.

The best thing you can do is help your wife relax. Have her take a bath, go on walks together, clean the house for her :). A relaxed woman won't be tense and fighting labor when it's time to start!

Answer 4

Absolutely! 40 weeks is the average but anytime between 38-42 weeks is normal. If the baby goes past 42 weeks (or now if you have a sympathetic doctor) they will probably start to seriously discuss induction. A few things. Get some sleep while you still can and as long as Mom is healthy walk a lot and get your...um...groove on.

Answer 5

Be patient! The due dates are only approximate! The baby will come when it is ready! You don't want a premature baby, even if it is only a week or two to a day or two early......I know your excited but have patience! All to soon you will not be sleeping properly, eating right, or anything! So think of the baby! When it is ready, it will let everyone know! Happy Parenting!

Answer 6

I ran up and down my stairs to my basement for a good 10 minutes everyday and that helped my cervix dilate :)
Walks or any other form of exercise is great as well as intercourse if your wife is feeling up to it!! Take her swimming if she has a maternity bathing suit and sit in the hot tub!!! Also you can try hot baths at home..I went only 4 days past my due date and if you go more than 14 then they will induce you!!! Hope this helps..

Answer 7

sex and walking, walking and sex. these are the best natural ways to induce labor. I am against all other forms of natural induction becasue they can cause problems in the future. I highly recomend if you try anything else other than these two methods, that you research it first. good luck and congrats.

Answer 8

if she's not bedwritten, walking is one of the best thing to start contractions i was a week over due and i walk around walmart and my water broke...so walking is the best way to start the whole labor thing

Answer 9

go for walks, have sex. some people say castor oil gets it started, but that scares me, i believe that used to be how they started labor in the hospital way back in the day

Answer 10

Go for a walk, watch a very funny movie that your wife will laugh at hysterically, have some sex with ejaculation inside and involves (I'm sorry it sounds graphic) stimulation of her breasts (both). And see what happens. Best of luck I hope all goes well.