I am scheduled for an induction on the 19th, How can I help my labor along so that I do not need to be...?

Question

induced? I know that pitocin (sp*) causes more frequent more intense contractions and this is my first baby. I really don't want to be scared into not having more children in the future. Just looking for natural ways that work to try to get things moving along before the 19th.

Answer 1

I wanted to have a natural birth, but I wasn't able to. I was induced with pitocin. Here's how it went: arrived hospital 6:30 a.m., pitocin started 7:25 a.m., INTENSE contractions started 12:15 p.m., small amount of pain med given around 1 p.m., baby born 3:15 p.m. Every woman reacts differently to pitocin, but yes, it is intense. You're basically cramming several days of labor pains, slow progression, into a few hours. You need to remain calm and totally remember to breath. It sounds stupid, but it is so easy to get caught up in the pain and honestly forget and start hyperventilating. I don't want to scare you, just prepare you. As soon as my son was born -- and I'm not lying -- ALL of the pain went away. It totally didn't scare me into not having more children. Also, take lots of medium paced walks to try to get things going if you want to. Good luck!

Answer 2

Lots of walking is what I've heard. Why are you induced for an induction 10 days from now, I would think that you're not overdue at this point or the induction would be sooner. Whatever you do, don't start trying things like castor oil...it doesn't help and can only harm you or the baby.

I've heard the same thing about pitocin, and was actually walking through the hospital heading towards my induction when I went into labor on my own so I probably scared myself into labor. But the good thing with the pitocin is that you can normally get the epidural sooner. Good luck!

Answer 3

First remember, what the doctor suggests may be the best way, if they feel there's need to do something they will suggest it. You shouldn't be scared, I know it's hard not to be though in any situation you've never been in before. But remember first and formost, the doctors will never put you or your baby in harms way. They do what is best for you. Remember that.
Natural ways to induce your own labor are really only natures way. Walking, from either outside around the block, or around your house, just keep moving, pass the tme by keeping busy, again not an easy thing to do when your trying to make things go faster. But walking is the best way. Usually you can assume anything that people tell you to take isn't the best, seeing how your own doctor doesn't clue you in on it. Even the nipple stimilation, that's not an easy task, first it takes hours, second you'd end up with sore nipples which is even worse than waiting by itself.
Try and at least relax, get your feet up between walks, rest when you can, nature will take it's own course and if in the situation calls for it, will be helped along by inducing. Just remember even if your scared, and even if it does bring on more several contractions (I havn't really heard this,) The doctors are doing what is best for both of you, with that in mind you should be at least comforted to know your health and your baby will be and are being taken well cared for.
Sorry if nothing helped, I'm on my third at the moment and can't wait for it to be over. Walking was my trick for the first two, and right now at 35 weeks I want nothing more than for this to be over. unducing is actaully on my mind, but I know it's always best for nature to take it's own course. My own doctor has told me if I reach 38 and I havn't deliverd she may induce me as well, due to more of the back pain I have and little comfort I have in simply sitting. So even as I don't like it, I know in the best way I am being cared for.
Good luck, hang in there, and hope you have a good delivery. We've all been there, we're all there with you.

Answer 4

If you are going to be induced RELAX. I was induced with my last two children. It's NOT more intense or more frequent. It's just a nudge for nature. Let's your body know it's ok for the baby to come. It's only going to be scary if you let it be. Walking is the best way to get things going, even after induced they may suggest it. I know with me they did. Sex is another way to move things along. With induction there isn't the guess work as to what day will I finally go into labor. It's more what hour will I. With my second child, I went into labor within 5 hours, but my body was slow. The third child I went into labor within 7 hours. I loved being induced. With my first baby my mucous plug came out, and my water broke, and I still had to wait more than a week before anything consistant began to happen. Petocin worked for me.

Answer 5

First off, I'm due tomorrow. I don't know about sex being a "scientific fact" as that one person said. I've been having sex all week with my husband and still haven't gone into labor. Of course you contract or should I say your stomach just tightens up, your uterus naturally contracts anyway after orgasm, pregnant or not. Well my point; sex doesn't always work, we're going for a walk today to see if that helps, even then I couldn't say because I'm due tomorrow so if I do go into labor it would be hard to say that walking did the trick as I'm "supposed" to have the baby tomorrow anyway. Good luck!!

Answer 6

The only thing 'redpeach' said that is correct is that he pain of childbirth dissipates over time and that is why women have more than one child.
Sex and nipple stimulation are the very best things you can do to get your labor moving! Its not an old wives tale, its scientific fact. All the hormones that are released from your body having an orgasm and the hormones from your husbands sperm will be all you need to bring on labor. Same thing with manually stimulating your nipples - I know that sounds weird, but again, that produces hormones and you need that to get labor moving.
Walking can help to a small degree, but not near as much as sex!!
I do not recommend caster oil. I tried that and all though it does work for some women, the vast majority just poop their brains out!!

The bottom line is that sex & nipple stimulation will HELP but until your body & your baby are ready there is not much more you can do. Unless you try invasive measures like induction. Conrtarty to what most women are told, it is aginst nature and not possible for a woman Not to go into labor on her own. Your body can & will go into labor & deliver this baby. Know that...have sex...and take a walk.

Good Luck!

Answer 7

Try evening primrose oil. It's supposed to soften the cervix and get you going. you poke the end of a capsule with a needle and insert it when you go to bed. you can do this a couple of times before you're due to be induced. also, sex is supposed to help.(said my childbirth instructor)

Sex didn't help me. neither did the walking. I just got cramps from the walking. I also ate an entire pineapple (something my midwife said I could try) You don't want to do that. It was not fun. I didn't do the primrose oil, but they gave me cervadil(sp?) and it was really really uncomfortable and can cause lots of complications

Answer 8

Both of my daughters were late and both times, the doctor recommended sex, both times. Sex worked for the first baby. The man's semen has a chemical that softens the cervix and will help you to dilate. Not only does sex help, but nipple stimulation helps as well. It releases oxytocin and it helps induce labor.

Pitocin hurts like a mother, I will say. I was induced for my second daughter, and I thought my back was gonna crack into two! But, after you see your baby's face, it'll be all worth it!

Answer 9

I have something that definatly works if you are married. You need to have intercourse as the semen has natural chemicals that will induce your labor. Many indian tribes used this practice to have babies while they were not hunting. My friend had a baby 2 months ago and her doctor recommended this to her so it is effective.

Answer 10

there is nothing that you can do to help your labor along. everything you hear about are just old wives tales and some of them can be very dangerous. trust me. you won't be scared to have any more children. yes, it hurts. it hurts even f you aren't induced. you can remember that it hurts, but not exactly how much. it's your brain's natural reaction to blocking out the memory of the pain so you will want to have more children.