Now that all I have to do to finish this semester is wrap up my take home final and submit it, I'm thinking about willing this baby to be born. That got me thinking about all the zaney and not so crazy things that I've heard over the years that will supposedly cause a woman to go into labor. I thought it might be fun to list some of the things you've heard. These can be totally serious things that actually work (i.e. sex) or completely crazy things that probably made you laugh more than anything.
Walking worked with my first. I spent the day before my due date walking, I walked at least 7 hours, visiting the downtown shopping district visiting every shop on Main Street in the cute little college town I grew up in and then when it got too cold (it was Dec 19th and about 25 degrees out), I went to the local mall and walked.. I visited every single store, whether I had even ever been in it or not or if I even wanted to, I did it. That night I started having pain in my back every 20 minutes (not once had anyone ever told me that you could have ONLY back labor!!), I went to a friends house and exchaged gifts even though I was concerned about those back tightenings, about 2 hours after I got home I noticed that the tightening was getting worse and was at about 5 minutes apart, still I didn't think it was labor because I had been told that I would feel it in my stomach.... about 2 am (about 25 minutes after I realized my back was cramping up every 5 minutes) my water broke. Sadly I was only dialated to 4 when I got to the hossy went to 7 in an hour and stayed there for hours, even with pitocin and contractions coming hard every 30 seconds (I had no drugs). When DS went into distress I went to the OR. We learned then he was sunny side up and my pelvis is fused for some reason and never seperated to allow me to dialate anyway.. so I was never allowed to labor with any of the others.
A teacher friend of mine told me to eat chicken. I just laughed. She said she ate chicken & went into labor. Funny thing is I had chicken the nite before & we were going to have chicken the other time... I don't know but it's funny. Fam member said squat like your wrapping a horses legs. That what this person did & baby was born later that morning... except this person really had to wrap horses legs.
Hmm. Fennel tea, fresh pineapple, licorice. None of those worked for me, but it was yummy trying LOL. I tried blue & black cohosh with one pregnancy, but no dice. I second the walking. But we have found that walking makes for fast deliveries, if not the onset of labor. With #2, DH was determined to "assist" getting that baby here. So, he took off work nearly the last three weeks of the month I was due (Dec), and everyday he put us all in the car and drove us someplace new where we walked for 2-3 hours straight, with him pushing #1 in the stroller. Baby still didn't show up, so New Year's Eve we went to a First Night celebration and walked - really - for the better part of 8 hours. Nothing. Came home, went to sleep, woke up in a few hours with contractions. 71 minutes later (yep), baby arrived. We didn't get the birthing tub filled, the doula didn't make it, the midwife didn't make it, my friend we called and I yelled NOW into the phone didn't make it. But the baby made it
I've heard Blue & Black Cohosh before but never tried it. I've also heard castor oil (gross), never tried that one either. Let's see I was told fennel would help, also spicy food and greasy food. The only thing I've ever tried is walking but it didn't work for me. Though I've been told the chances of me going into labor on my own without being seriously overdue is slim so....
Me, too, Birbitt! I walked and walked and WALKED!!! NOPE!!! Carl and I were walking at a 24 Hour Meijer's store at midnight once, not because we needed anything, but just for me to be walking, lol! And with PHILLIP!!! With Rachael and Phillip I walked and walked and walked the halls of the hospital, but it sure didn't help much. Things would start up, they would have me get in bed, and then it'd stop. Sigh....
with my first walking did the trick..... but with my 2nd my dr. told me to try (now how did he put it)..... oh he said you know how you got the baby in there.... try to see if you can get the baby out that way...... yes it worked!
My first was 2 1/2 weeks early, so I did nothing. The second tried to come 8 weeks early & labor was stopped. She came at 37 weeks- again, nothing done on my part. The third was 4 days late. Since I had never seen my due date, I was trying any and everything I was told to do- castor oil, raspberry tea, walking (including mowing the yard which mortified my DH), s*x... NOTHING worked!! The 4th was induced at 37 1/2 weeks, so I didn't have to try anything with her.
My first was 3 weeks early all on his own, but nothing worked for my 2nd 2 either. My 2nd one was big enough that around ihis due date I was hurting, and so uncomfortable, and couldn't sleep. I did the "Rootbeer Special--I put the castor oil in rootbeer and drank it. We lived on a hill, so I walked up the hill and jogged down it. I did jumping jacks, tried s*x.............NOTHING worked. Finally, since I was so miserable, and getting sick and worn out, my dr. induced before I didn't have enough energy to get the baby out! With my 3rd, I tried everything but the "rootbeer special". Didn't work.....
ok you wanted it you are going to get it Amie, I worked in a OB floor so I heard and seen alot. First both of mine were really early so did nothing. but, one thing heard a doctor always tell his patient go home have sex and I will see you less then 24 hours. walk is a good one Sommer cleaning is another one, clean, clean, clean. I guess what I am saying anything to do with exercise will bring it on.
I was over my due date with my first. The day before she was born I was busy getting ready for daddy's arrival. We were 1300 miles apart at the time. We didn't have any private moments since I was at my parents but I guess the excitment of everything I went into labor that night and the next morning number 1 arrived. Number 2 came a week early due to me having high blood pressure. I been have contractions that never went anywheres but I was stressing because daddy, now hubby, was deploying. MIL was there and I hardly knew the woman. I was induced a week before hubby came home from his last workup before deployment. Mommy & Daddy time did it for us for number 3. I was a cranky and hubby was a bit frusterated with my crankiness. I was already have contractions that were more annoying than anything. Kinda like before unlike before I had hubby to help with crankiness and the next day our last child was born.
Sadly, "Mommy & Daddy Time" is the one thing I can't try. lol. Almost immediately from conception I get vericose veins in the most inconvenient place. The result is extreme pain in that area. Matter of fact, that's usually how I know I'm pregnant. lol. Not that I was really looking for things to try. I was more interested in the funny stuff some of you might have been told. Just for kicks and giggles.
Honestly, NOTHING is gonna help if it isn't time! Also I have heard some bad things about blue & black cohosh, I would never ever try it unless it was under direct supervision of someone who is able to handle a baby born with meconium in his/her lungs.
Just to be clear, I'm not on a 'try to induce labor' kick. I am all for letting her be born on her birthday (though, admittedly, I'd be happy if that was sooner rather than later....lol). Of course, if my midwife tells me to do something in particular, I will. But other than that, I just have some cleaning to do this week, so maybe that will do the trick. lol.
Let's see... I heard: rubbing vinegar on your wrists jumping jacks (yeah, like you want to do those with 45 pounds of baby out front!!) eating 11-bean soup (hmm, I'm sure you'd expel something!) wait for a full moon and take a walk outside (the hospital was full when I went in with one DS, a nurse said it was a full moon and they are always busier those nights) oh, and one I did try and it sorta worked- walk along the curb, one foot down and one foot up. I then went to the mall and walked with DH's dad and brother while we waited for DH to get off work. I was having contractions during the mall walk, but DS wasn't born until the next NIGHT- about 27 hours later. MT3
I tried everything down to stripping my membranes this past time and never went in to labor. I did herbs and exercises and sex and nipple stims and every single wives tale I could find...even castor oil. Nope....did not work. Good luck!
I've heard that either hanging wet clothes on a clothesline above your head or moving furniture would bring it on... (again, the exercise theory)
Well, I cleaned like a crazy person on Wed.... not because I was trying to go into labor but because my house has been suffering this semester, so now that I'm on break I'm catching up. I've been having some pretty intense contractions ever since, but they go in spurts (like a few hour of them, then a few hours of nothing. over and over). So that obviously didn't work for me. lol. Hmmm. I have to go get our milk today and that means driving over several sets of train tracks and some seriously bumpy country roads. I've heard that tale a few times. Guess we'll see. lol.
I've heard the full moon theory, but I have no desire to wait until the very end of the month, as that would be 11 days over my due date (again though, she'll come when she's ready... even if it's not until then). The others here, though, I have never heard. Vinegar on your wrists!? Lord that would stink!
Back in the "old days" I was told castrol oil and walking, so about a week after Nov. 8th due date I walked 1 mile and took castrol oil - I drank it with orange juice. As I drank it down, it came back up. Not very pleasant!!! I had my daughter on Dec. 12th. We didn't have ultrasounds back then. Was I late, maybe about 2 week, but definately off on my due date. The doctor said that the best incubator was a mother's womb and he wouldn't induce me. I was miserable and believe when the Lord wants a baby born, the baby will be born.
