Advice to Put Me into Labor!!!

J.,

Coming from a Mom of 3 with 2 of my 3 labors being very long the last weeks can be frustrating.

Go have some spicy food for lunch and then walk, walk ,walk.
This is what finally helped me.
Hang in there.

Best of luck:)
L. G

I hate to tell you but you can try all the wives tales in the world and it doesn't work. babies come when they want to. I was 9 days late with my 1st and tried EVERYTHING. The 2nd one my doctor stripped my membrane- after the second time I had her the next day, in labor within 12 hours. Due to what she did or was the baby ready, I don't know.

Relax, I know you want to meet the baby and be done with uncomfortable pregnancy but SLEEP now b/c once baby comes it could be months or years until you get a good nights sleep.

J.,
I know you are ready for the baby to come out but you have to remember you have two more weeks at least before the baby is ready to come out. You don't want your baby to come out before it is ready. Trust me when I say this to you, I have had two babies come out before they are ready and both had to spend time in the NICU. Your body will go into labor when the baby is ready. Trying to start labor just because you are ready is not a good idea. You may not be happy with the outcome if the baby is truly not ready yet. I am not trying to come across rude but this subject is really close to me since I have had two premature babies one of which did not survive. Be patient.

I'd be carefully whatever you do! I was in the same boat and was desperate - tried a few things my 39th week and they did work, however my son (who was head down) was still turned - I ended up in horrid back labor and he was in distress - he's fine now (and was fine about 5 minutes after birth) and no one told me for sure that if I hadn't done anything and let him progress on his own that things would have been better, but I have some guilt about the whole thing and wish I would have just walked and waited!

After seeing all the advice to wait, I feel like I should come to your defense! If you're like me, you're not getting any sleep now anyway! I always got better sleep with a newborn than the last few weeks of pregnancy. I feel your pain and hope that the baby comes soon. I was a week late with my first and then 2-3 weeks early with my next 2. I didn't want to go late again, and sex worked for us both times--at least enough to get comtractions going. Then it's up to the doctors at your hospital if they'll let you stay. Good luck!

This may sound odd, but please trust me, it works!!! 3 little letters: SEX!!! Sex, sex and more sex!!!! It does something to the body to actually make you go into labor!!

Relax!! Go see a movie, go out for supper with your husband, spend time with your friends, etc. All of these will be hard to do after the baby comes. The longer the baby is in you, the easier it will be to take care of when it does come.

I know what you mean! I was sooo ready by 37 weeks. I was almost 39 weeks when I had my membranes stripped, and the doctor said if it was going to work, it would work within 48 hours. Well this was on a Friday. I drank red raspberry leaf tea ALL weekend, and then had to go in to be checked on monday (at this point I was pretty sure the membrane strip did nothing). Well they checked me in the hospital, nothing... but then about 10 minutes later my water broke. I was exactly 39 weeks. Soo, I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the tea, but I like to think that it did. Also, I had done some very vigorous walking around the mall all weekend, so maybe that helped too. Walking seems to be the number 1 way to naturally get yourself dilated. Anyway, hopefully your little one comes very soon. But TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SLEEP WHILE YOU GOT IT!!!

J., unfortunately, baby will come when he/she wants to! But you can try a couple things to help him/her along. Taking long walks will help. That will also make your labor easier. You can also try having sex! My Dr. actually told me this one and I've heard it MANY times since! Good Luck!

D.

How about waiting until you go into labor naturally? If your doctor doesn't feel it's necessary for you to hve the baby right now, just wait. Take it from a mom who has just had twins 8 weeks early, and all the problems that go with it. I know that at 38 weeks your baby should be fully developed and ready for the world, but just give yourself some more time....give your baby some more time. Follow your doctor's advice on this....if your dr. says to wait, then wait, if he/she says you're ready to go, he/she will induce you.

Not that there isn't decent advice here - what has been offered is as good as it gets. But the reality is the baby will come when s/he is ready - and doing anything drastic (like inducing before you're ready) will likely only cause more problems than it will solve. I know how hard it is, those last few weeks - but hang in there, your body *will* do its job and you will meet your baby when it's time. Good luck!

walking might help....but honestly, they come when they want to. your doctor may strip your membranes or if you are having high blood pressure they may be able to check you into the hospital and induce you.

take these last few days to put your feet up, relax, and rest for the baby. it is a crazy whirlwind once it comes out. take this time to reflect and get all the last minute things done.

good luck!

Seriously, you want that baby in there as long as possible...without being induced. Baby will come when baby is ready. I know it's hard right now and you just want it to be done but I'm preg with my 3rd child and my second was 12 days overdue. She came on her own and I wouldn't have it any other way. I know people who are induced and have ended up needing the baby pulled out. Your due date may even roll around and go by. Better late than too early!! Good luck!

I agree with the posters who say to let nature take its course.

When I was between 38 and 39 weeks pregnant with my son (and completely miserable....he ended up being 9 # 2 oz. and 22 inches long born 4 days before his due date) I cut our whole lawn with a push lawnmower and it did NOTHING!!! And we farm and have a HUGE lawn....

The baby will come when he or she is ready. As long as everything is going well, I wouldn't do any home methods. Talk to your doctor and see if they have some advice for you.

A pedicure! There are pressure points on your toes (right next to your toenails) that if they are activated, can induce labor. This has worked for several of my friends.

Nature will take care of it! Be patient! 38 weeks is not full gestation, 40 is! You are almost there!

How about some acupuncture? It is absolutely painless and I love getting it!!! http://www.innerfire.org/mt/archives/2004/10/can_acupunct...

Acupuncture did it for me when my daughter was 12 days late. It also worked for my cousin. Intact her water broke right there at the acupuncturists office!

Try a McDonalds cheeseburger. It did it for me and another person I know.

Research says that the baby is better off for every day it stays in the womb (up until at least 40 weeks). I know you're exhausted, but think how much harder it is to care for the baby when it's OUT of your body than when it's in your body. Enjoy your freedom -- and try sex!

I remember all to well being at that point with all 3 of my kids. In fact, with one of mine, I went to almost 42 weeks. They will come when they want to.

I agree with the person who says just relax and enjoy it. Not much longer and your world will turn upside down.

I've tried it all...eating spicy food, reflexology, sex,nipple stim, walking(i'd go to the mall to walk, one day I even logged 5 miles). My dd, she was stubborn, she just wasn't ready. The day that I had my induction scheduled(i was overdue), was the day that my water broke...on its own. Our little ones are on their own schedules and this is the first example of their strrong wills and a lesson in patience for us. Good luck! He/She will be here before you know it!

Try having sex. That's what got me going with our first ;O)

I carried my first child for 9 months. The doctor said part of that was because I had the Asian flu so bad that apparently the baby had not developed as it should have. He also told me, "Don't worry, that baby will come when it is ready and nothing you can do will make it come before it is ready." I'm glad I waited, I had a very healthy 6#12oz girl who was adorable. So, the moral of the story is, you may be ready, but apparently that baby is not. Good luck and God bless you.

It will come when it's ready even if you are all ready.

I agree that you should rest as much as possible now -- you didn't say if this is your first, but I'm assuming it is. You have absolutely no idea how little sleep you will get in the few weeks following the arrival of your little one. Rest, and definitely get a pedicure -- I don't know about the pressure points, but it's so relaxing and your feet will look so pretty once you can see your feet again. ;-)

lots of walking and stairs you could also try bouncing on an exercise ball, and doing squats, but dont go to crazy, you only control part of it the baby is in charge of the rest, i feel you pain though my son waited until 41 weeks and had to be induced. good luck!

There really isn't anything to put you into labor it happens all on it's own when that baby is ready to come out then he/she will it's all up to them now. I've tried all with all three of my children to go into labor and it never worked I tried going for walks every couple of hours going thru the nesting period and getting my house ready for baby making meals ahead of time all of it and never once did it work. He/She will come when your in the middle of doing something or going somewehre that's when you'll go into labor just when you think it's never going to happen. Your true and best bet is to honestly take this advise rest and get caught up on your sleep because your going to need that energy and want to spend time awake with your child when they are born.

2 days before my due date, my husband and I went shopping. I walked all day long! My water broke that next morning. They told me all that walking probably did the trick. I would just start walking every chance you get. But, I would make sure you are with someone!

slow down there mama! the longer that baby is in there, the better. just cuz you are over the 37 weeks that they consider preterm, you are still preterm! baby can finish growing and developing more properly if baby is still inside! :D trust me, the next 2 weeks will FLY BY if you make it that far! just do some light walking, drink lots of water, eat lots of fruits and veggies, do some stretching, practice your breathing, and have you heard of perineal massage? give that a try if you are having a vaginal birth! :D

good luck, and trust me, these last 2 weeks are precious, dont rush it! LOL

Wow! Get used to the idea that things aren't always going to be happening on your time table from now on. That baby knows when it's time to come out. I know it's hard to wait it out, but really take the time to enjoy the quiet. Is this your first? My guess is it is. If it is, you really don't have any idea of what the next days, weeks, months, years have in store for you. If it's not your first, take the time to enjoy your other children before this one is born. You will look at your other children quite differently after the new one comes along. Good luck and I hope things happen quickly for you.