39 wks 5 days pregnant today, how can I induce my own labor??

Question

safe methods, nothing STUPID.....

Answer 1

Please don't try DIY labour induction.

You are still pregnant because your body and your baby aren't quite ready for the birth yet.

There are various things you can try to ripen the cervix, such as having sex or going for walks, but bear in mind if you aren't ready this probably won't do a whole lot, and it's not actually "induction".

PLEASE don't try anything herbal or anything such as castor oil, which can be dangerous if tried unsupervised.

Inducing a labour before your body and your baby are ready is something that needs to be carefully considered and this is usually in consultation with your professional caregiver. Induced labours can be very slow to progress and give rise to complications and c-sectins more frequently than those that start naturally.

I know the end of pregnancy can be boring but please, enjoy the peace and quiet and give mother nature a chance.

If you are absolutely desperate, please seek the advice of your doctor or midwife who will discuss it with you - don't commit something so critical to advice from anonymous strangers - I've seen some downright dangerous suggestions on this board.

Answer 2

There are no guaranteed ways to naturally induce labor. Even medical inductions don't work a surprising number of times if everything isn't ready for labor to begin. There are quite a few Old Wives' Tales about ways to induce labor and even a few with some scientific theory to back them up. It seems odd that you wold want your baby to be born prematurely and I can't think of any good reason to put a baby's life in danger. Just because 2 of your children were born before 37 weeks does not mean that this baby will be ready to be born early as well. In my own personal case, I am mom to 4 who were all born past their due dates by 9 days, 11 days, 5 days, and 7 days. You can be sure I did not want to deliver after my due date so I tried a variety of things to get labor moving along. I walked for miles, did squats, walked up and down stairs, ate spicy food, had a lot of sex, tried nipple stimulation, drove down bumpy back roads, and scrubbed floors on my hands and knees. I even had several membrane sweeps with my middle 2 babies. I was near to desperate to get those babies out, but nothing I did made them come any faster. Of course you can allow your pregnancy to go full-term. There isn't any reason you can't. Your health and your baby's health are the most important things. Whatever your reasons are for wanting an early delivery are nothing in comparison to giving your baby the best start in life you possibly can.

Answer 3

If I knew the answer, I'd be in L&D right now! There are so many safe things to try, but whether they'll work really depends up on how ready the baby already is to come on out.

Nipple stimulation (15 minutes every hour for at least 3 hours)
Sex (will ripen your cervix and with orgasm, can cause contractions)
Walking (will help baby drop, cervix ripen)
Pineapple and under-ripe papaya are supposed to help
Don't waste your funds on Red Raspberry Leaf tea - it's a uterine tonic, and if you haven't already been drinking it, it won't do much good this late in the game.

Good luck - I'm inducing on Tuesday if I can't get it rolling, and my membranes have been stripped TWICE to no avail.

P.S. Just in case there is anyone who read "castrol oil" in a previous answer - the poster meant Castor Oil (Castrol Oil is for automobiles and should never be ingested). I don't advise castor oil either because it can cause both maternal and fetal distress, and should only be used under supervision and advice from your OB.

Answer 4

first of all the due date is an estimate. because we all ovulate at different times of the month due dates are just educated guesses. So don't rush it. Babies come when they are ready not when you are. But sex does seem to be one of the most common ways to start labor but only if you are already effaced. Spice foods don't help or most of the people from countries with spicier foods would all have babies early (common sense). Most OB's will tell you that most babies are born during storms so hopefully you live in an area that is going to have a storm soon. :D Good luck and enjoy the last few days. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep now before the baby comes.

Answer 5

You want to be careful with inducing your own labor(except for sex and not sure if walking works) because it will bring on very hard contractions and is best if you are in the hospital for that. I remember that though. I researched it on the internet cause I wanted that baby out, but it will come sooner than you think.

Answer 6

Hi not long now please be careful when I say this and make sure someone is with u i started doing gentle leg squats put hands on hip and squat down a couple of times at intervals i tried this and to my surprise my labour came on within 6 hrs (or good timing)goodluck ,hope u have smooth labour and enjoy being a mum ,its great.

Answer 7

if you have a health/herbal store go there and ask them...there is some kind of tea they have that helps the labor start...i used it and 2 days later i went in labor...also i dont know if this has anything to do with it but i ate a lot of watermelon and the next day i went in labor good luck and hang in there

Answer 8

Apparently sex is a good way and the sperm is also good. It softens the inside walls which people say makes birth alot easier. im not sure if its true but its worth a try!

Good luck hope everything goes well and congrats!! ;-)

Answer 9

sex and walking are the two safest and effective ways if it's still ok to do both but truth is the baby will not come until your contractions dialate and efface your cervix so don't overdo it, save your energy for birth and the newborn

Answer 10

Well, you really CAN'T force the baby to come, but they say that SEX gets it started. Why? Not sure, but at least you'll be having fun (as much as you can at full-term!).

Remember, though - a watched pot never boils!
Good luck!