How Can I Induce Labor? - Franklin,TN

Updated on August 04, 2008
L.P. asks from Franklin, TN
24 answers

I've heard the usual suggestions... spicy food, walking, sex, and have started drinking rasberry tea and taking primrose oil. I just wanted to know if any of you out there did anything specific that you know caused labor for you. Also, anything that made your labor faster! Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I did walk a lot and used the primrose oil capsules and my baby girl was born last monday... four days early!

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C.D.

answers from Nashville on

I did the sex thing with my last two times a day for about 4 days. That worked but it about killed my husband!! :) My neighbor did the walking up big hills where we live. She had to do that for a few days and that did it for her. Good luck!

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M.A.

answers from Knoxville on

Primrose oil worked for me and I had a very very short easy labor. I started taking 2 caps a day at 34 weeks, morning and night. I increased to 4 caps at 36 weeks and went in to labor that day, actually about 20 min after I took it.

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S.U.

answers from Nashville on

Go Mudding..I know that sounds silly. But, my sister induced her labor with two of her kids that way...lol The bouncing around helps..Good Luck.

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B.

answers from Augusta on

Just a small correction its Rasberry leaf tea , not just rasberry tea , its the leaves not the flavoring that does it. the raspberry leaf tea isnt used to induce labor its used to tone your uterice for labor so it gets back down to size quickly. I guess it COULD cause labor if you drank a TON of it. Caster oil is also supposed to cause labor. For some women it works for some it dosnt but you arent going to go into labor untill your body is ready thats just the way it works.
Good luck

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D.J.

answers from Knoxville on

I tried everything. They said my son was going to be very big and they wanted to induce me at 40 weeks but I wanted to go into labor on my own so I tried every natural induction method. I had tons of sex, nipple stimulation, drank red raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, CASTOR OIL (HORRIBLE experience), walking, running, car rides, sad movies, spicy food, everything. Basically if the baby isn't ready, he/she won't come no matter what. Just think of it as your baby telling you when he is done cooking and when he is ready instead of you telling him when he is ready.

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E.F.

answers from Memphis on

I too tried everything in the book and my son was still a week late!! I wish however that I would have walked more when I was in the hospital. I was induced and they would not let me walk, but when I got up to go to the bathroom... boy did it seem to make my contractons faster and more painful. I would advise you to walk until you can't anymore. My mom walked like a maniac when she was preg. and only had labor for about 30 minutes for all four of her kids! So walk walk walk!!! Hope this helps and good luck with your new little one!!

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T.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi L.,
I induced the labor of my second son by drinking about 2 tablespoons of castor oil and then walking. It worked. Within a couple of hours, I was in the labor and delivery unit.

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K.S.

answers from Atlanta on

Besides walking I am not sure about going into labor, that is what helped me, all three times (lol). However to make the labor go faster you can stand in the shower with the water (as hot as you can stand it) running on your back and then if you get tired you will fill the tub up with water and then sit in the tub grant it if you are still at home. I hope this helps and good luck to you.

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J.B.

answers from Chattanooga on

Hey...I drank castor oil and went into labor two weeks early the same night I drank it. I also walked ALLLLLLL day and had sex. See if it works...it tastes really gross BUT.
J. Brock

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A.Y.

answers from Knoxville on

Nipple stimulation! Unfortuately I do not mean anything sexual, but as my OB told me- you have to do it like it is your job. It is also supposed to speed labor, but I guess what they say is true, it will only happen if it is time anyway.

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C.R.

answers from Nashville on

I've always heard, walk, walk and walk. Also, have sex!

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J.

answers from Atlanta on

I had my midwife do whats called " scrape my membrane"
if you are full term, and your due date is now then ask your Dr. to "scrape your membrane" he'll know what that is and then pack your bags, cuz somebody is coming, the day you do it
GOOD LUCK!!
J.

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L.A.

answers from Savannah on

PRIMROSE OIL TABLES WORK!

I have had three girls and on my last pregnancy at 37-weeks until the last day (exactly 40-weeks). I took primrose oil tables three times and drank three 8 oz glasses of Red Raspberry-Leaf tea EVERYDAY. It was by far the best idea! I actually dilated without help from the doctor unlike my other two pregnancies but she did have to break my water to speed things up.

The Red Raspberry-Leaf tea made the contractions less painful. In fact, when I was strapped to the monitor the nurses were telling me that I was having very strong contractions but to me I felt nothing but painful pressure. Which was so different from the other two deliveries but I think that was caused by the red raspberry-leaf tea. Because the Red Raspberry leaf tea helps strengthen the pelvic and uterine muscles so that once labor does start the muscles will be more efficient.

LOL, my hubby loved this advice: On all three by the advice of the doctor we would stimulated my nipple for 3 minutes then swapped nipples. This did bring on contractions but as soon as I stopped so did the contractions.

With my friend's first pregnancy she took the primrose oil tables I gave her at 37-weeks by 40-weeks she was 100% effaced and 2cm dilated without feeling a single pain!

PS: Red Raspberry Leaf brewed as a tea or as an infusion, is one of the safest and commonly used tonic herbs for women wanting to get pregnant or for women who are already pregnant. Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus) tones the uterus, improves contractions and decreases constipation. It is also helpful for regulating menstrual period.

HOWEVER, the more conservative stance is that red raspberry leaf can cause minor spotting in the beginning of a pregnancy, and some midwives claim an increase in miscarriage rates. Contact your midwife, herbalist or physician for more information. If you're thinking about using it, to be safe, just wait until you're 36 weeks along.

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A.B.

answers from Elkhart on

All I can say is HOME DEPOT! I walked and walked, and got further and furhter efaced! good luck!

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B.L.

answers from Atlanta on

caster oil
eggplant parmigina

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S.J.

answers from Knoxville on

I walked ALOT i mean i walked the mall Sams club then toyrus. then come home and had sex.. I went into labor the next evening. How far along are you? Good luck..
O nipple stimulation works to..(add that with the sex)
Another thing you could do .... I know you are miserable, but take the last few days before the bundle of joy come to SLEEP.... He/She will come when they are ready. So take my advice and Sleep and rest while you can......

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K.S.

answers from Macon on

Hi L., I do wish you the best of luck with your new baby. The hardest part is yet to come. I tried several things like castor mixed with Orange Juice helps it go down easier. This will stimulate your bowels and get things moving, but be careful, you can also get dehydrated. Sex actually works the best, but not the semen, it is the contraction of the uterus muscle that gets it started. So if you have sex, make sure you have the big 'O'. And enjoy it because it will be a while before it is enjoyable again. I have 2 boys. The first was 8 hours 2 days early induced b/c the doctor was going out of town. The second was 3 weeks early and we still dont know why!! He weighed 8lbs 9ozs!!
The best thing is just let your body tell you when the baby will arrive and it will be right on time.

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S.

answers from Nashville on

I have to agree with Mariela and Colleen. Your labor will start when your baby is ready to be born. I allowed the doctors to induce labor with my first child and ended up with a C-section. I was smarter with my second child, refused doctor's suggestions to induce, and tried to relax and let things happen naturally - which they eventually did, thank goodness. It is so hard to be patient but, as one of the other mothers suggested, you could use this time to get some extra sleep if possible!

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M.K.

answers from Knoxville on

I know the last bit of pregnancy time can really drag along, but sometimes there isn't anything you can do. I was getting close to my due date and tried castor oil, which was a VERY bad idea. It did nothing but cause horrible digestive problems. I also drank the raspberry tea, walked everywhere and had sex. In the end, the doctor induced me a week after my due date. After two days of labor, they determined that our baby was too big and I had a csection. Sometimes labor doesn't start for a very good reason. I would just recommend waiting it out and knowing that your body knows what it is doing. I know this isn't quite the advice you were looking for, but I hope it helps. Hang in there...the end result is worth it.

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A.W.

answers from Atlanta on

I have heard eating pineapple helps. Walking up flights of stairs, nipple stimulation if sex is too uncomfortable, get a massage, cinnamon stick tea, acupressure like the webbing between your pointer finger and thumb, Blue & Black Cohosh, and finally Clary Sage Oil. But please read up or get all the information before trying some of the herbs. I hope it happens for you soon. *fingers crossed*

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D.E.

answers from Nashville on

Actually my doctor recommended sex. For some reason, semen induces labor. Good luck!

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V.B.

answers from Clarksville on

Exercise and have sex!!! Or of course if your doc will do it, have them scrape your membranes, sometimes they won't do it until a week or two before your due date. Good luck!

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N.L.

answers from Atlanta on

As a certified Reflexologist who has also taken a maternity reflexology course, I can hardily recommend reflexology. I have had several maternity clients and took two through labor and delivery! It was a wonderful experience and I was honored to be asked to participate in this very special event! (My FIRST L & D just celebrated his 1st birthday yesterday!)

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S.D.

answers from Chattanooga on

With my first child, I did have sex, it only helped break the water, they still had to induce labor. It took 16 hours for her to get here. So I don't know if that is helpful or not. Good Luck.

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