Seeking Advice for Labor

Babies come when they are ready, hopefully you will not be induced.
Maybe you could try drinking a lot of red raspberry leaf tea. That could help - if you are already having contractions.
Good luck

Some babies take 42 weeks to fully develop.
Don't rush Mother Nature!

I tried castrol oil with my first and all it did for me was give me diareah.... but my sister took it and she went into labor that night... What Ive heard is if your body is truly ready for labor it will work, if not, then it wont.
My Dr told me to walk walk walk and have a lot of sex. I know the last thing you want to do right now is have sex, but it may be worth it if you go into labor... you can also take primrose oil, some say that helps. Just keep moving... as hard as it is...let gravity help you! Good luck... at least you know its almost over and then trust me you wont even remember how much the end stunk!! Thats why we all do it again!!

If you are uncomfortable with being induced then refuse. The "science" of determining due dates isn't exact so it is possible for the doctor to be off a week or two. Don't try to rush labor, it'll happen when the baby is ready. If you do refuse induction they can do stress tests to ensure that the baby is fine while you wait for nature. If you are too miserable to wait(I completely understand!!), my midwife suggested taking Bach's Rescue Remedy(herbal remedy to relax you) and she suggested sex!! I know it is the last thing on your mind but there is naturally occuring pitocin in semen. Whatever you do, don't let a doctor and their schedule dictate this experience in YOUR life. It should be enjoyable and memorable without the anxiety of forced induction. Good luck!!
D.

i walked for hours to get mine started

I understand your concern but being induced isn't so terrible. my third was flipping all over still at 38 weeks and they were afraid she would end up stuck in a breech position so tehy waited for a day when she had flipped back down and induced me, it wasn't bad and she was fine as was i, i did have to stay in bed longer than i did with my first two though, walking can help but it most likely will jsut make your feet hurt and i know ppl that swear that sex will do teh trick, but jsut be patient as much as it sucks and don't panic if you do end up needing to be induced.

S E X!!

Also, spice food and laughing so hard you have tear and your sides hurt!

good luck!

I have a friend who swears by Taco Bell-- not too sure about that though!:) Take a walk, bake cookies- anything that keeps you on your feet. Also.. a little personal but have sex- thats what I was told with both of my boys- and it seemed to work- or maybe I was just ready-I realize your not at your sexiest right now- but hey try anything!! Good luck!!

You got a lot of good advice. I would add this: If you have an option DO NOT have your labor induced. Only if it is way past your due date and your baby is in stress. Let things happen naturally. It is always best for you and your baby if things happen when you are both naturally ready. (and being uncomfortable and just wanting it over with doesnt count!) Inducing will require more monitoring of yur baby which will give you less freedom during the labor to move around, ect. Labor is much easier when you feel as much in control as possible. I had 5 natural deliveries. One was induced mainly because it was convenient for the doctor';s schedule and I regretted it. As an old lady told me many years ago "Don't worry honey, when the apple is ripe, it will drop!" lol

hav your membranes torn, it can hurt though, I had mine done on a friday, by that sunday she had really stopped moving and I got worried so we went to the hospital and was monitered, they said i was prob in early labor and basically expected to see me the next day, they were right! my water broke the next afternoon and with the help of pit because of unproductive contractions i was holding her 12 hours after that! P.S. I was miserable, not sleeping because of the pain from being so stretched out and crying all the time from my misery! would do it again in a sec!

Hi J.!

I feel your pain! I was MISERABLE, cranky, and in horrible pain through my 2nd and 3rd trimesters. I just wanted my baby out!!

I was afraid to try anything a little out of ordinary. So I opted for sex. Despite the pain I was in, the sex actually did start the process. I started losing my mucus plug and dilated a 1cm within a week. I was having blood pressure issues, and actually ended up being induced the day after my due date.

However, I firmly believe, that had I had sex earlier and more frequently, I probably would have gone into labor without the induction.

Good luck!!

When I was at the end of my pregnancy I hated reading this answer, but it is honestly the best one: don't rush it. When your little one is ready your body will know it. If you have enough amniotic fluid and the baby is doing well, just sit tight. If not, induction isn't all that bad.
I was 1 day past my do date and the baby stopped moving. They monitored the baby for an hour or so and noticed that during my minor (regular, unnoticable) contractions the baby's heart rate would drop, so they decided to induce me. I only needed a small dose of pitocin for less than an hour. The baby took over from there. The contractions weren't severe like I heard they would be if I was induced. The labor went well and was only 8 hours from start to finish.
Just concentrate on your nesting while you still can because you will never "find the time" again!

Sex and nipple stimulation. No, I'm not joking. Semen and nipple stimulation will lead the body to produce the hormones that start contractions. It may cause labor to start, but it may also not work completely. Why are they inducing you the week you are due? Is there a medical reason they do not want you to wait any longer than that? I would suggest not being induced and asking your doctor for more time. I personally hated being induced and it's proven to lead to a higher level of c-sections. BUT if there is a medical reason that could effect you or the baby, then it may be more important to induce. Best wishes!

Hi J.,
I was in the same situation with my duaghter i was only 3cenemeters dialated when i was 39 weeks, i actually threw myself into labor by cleaning my house from top to bottom lol....i was having pains the morning after i cleaned i went to the hospital i was about 5 by then they made me walk for an hour then admitted me and then broke my water and then the hard labor began...so i guess my suggestion is to do alot of walking and maybe even do some lite spring cleaning or something hope this helps!!

With my first I raked leaves, with my second I walked around the IX center for about 1-1/2 hours and then stayed active for the rest of the day. Good luck!

J.,
I feel your pain! my secind son was one day overdue (which isn't technically overdue), and I was tired, bitchy and very uncomfortable by then. seriously, you have gotten A LOT of sound advice, but nature will work in it's own time. Your baby will come when he/she is ready (as a matter of fact it is the baby producing a surfactant from it's lungs that tell the uterus to start contracting to begin with). You can use primrose oil (as a vaginal suppository even), and raspberry tea is wonderful. I highly suggest a book called "Prescritption for Natural Healing" (not just for pregnancy either). Honestly though, don't feel terrible if you DO get induced. Sometimes it is necessary, but try to wait it out. Don't be induced for the convenience of having a baby on schedule. I walked, cleaned my house (hands and knee style) from top to bottom. I took 4 children to the Cinci. zoo two days before my baby decided to make an appearance. Stay active, if nothing else it will help to keep your mind off of counting the minutes till delivery. ;) good luck to you!
~L.

Hi J.,

I feel your discomfort, I was pregnant all last summer my son was born in August and all I wanted was to go into labor. I was scheduled to be induced too and the night before I was suppose to go in to the hospital I went into labor however once I was there they still ended up inducing me which was not bad at all and I am glad that it sped up the process. The day I went into labor I mopped our kitchen floor and cleaned a bunch. Honestly though I would just be patient I know you are uncomfortable but cherish these moments with your baby because you will never be this close again. I miss being pregnant so much. Good luck and dont worry that baby cannot stay in there for ever. Did you really drink motor oil, I would be concerned that that is probably not the best your baby since what you eat or in this case drink so does your baby I would let your doctor know what you did so they can be prepared incase there are complications during or after delivery.

I know how uncomfortable you feel that far along- I remember very vividly. No matter what you do, though, your baby will come when he or she is ready. You can try all the things listed by the other women, but they may not work and will probably just frustrate you. Instead, try to keep yourself occupied by getting the baby's room ready, doing laundry, cleaning your house, making a few meals to freeze for after the baby comes, double check your labor bag, get the car seat installed in the car, and do the other things that you won't have time to do for a long time after the baby comes. I did practically everything to try to induce my labor, including getting my membranes stripped in the office, and all I got was cramping and false labor. It was miserable. Then my water broke on its own, and I had my baby in under 4 hours, 2 days prior to my due date. Everyone is different. If you do have to get induced, ask the nurse to induce you slowly so it gives you time to adjust to the contractions. Best wishes, and don't worry- it will happen soon!! =)

Don’t do caster oil again. The reason it works some times is because it cleans you out and leaves you dehydrated. Being dehydrated puts the baby in distress and thus causes labor. You don’t want that. There is nothing that works. Baby’s come when they are good and ready. You are not even passed your due date. Don’t worry. YES, the last days stink!!!! But you will not be pregnant forever.

I was one of the few lucky ones I went in right on time. Considering that I lived on the third floor at time probably contributed to the fact of me going in. The night before I was do, my husband and I walked for about a good hour around the neighborhood. Later that evening when he went to play basketball, I cleaned our apartment from top to bottom. I found everything that I could to take down to the dumpster. I ran as fast as I could up and down the stairs. Not that you can fast at 40 weeks with swollen feet. I literally picked up furniture and mopped the floor and the next morning I was in contracting. Later that evening it was full blown labor. Oh yeah if you can tolerate it a little sex helps too. Hope this helps.

i have had 3 children and ive found the more sex u have tword the end no mater how uncomfortable it is it really helps with labor it losens ur muscles down their give it a shot