Self-inducing Labor

I read that raspberry tea is the way to go but I couldn't ever find any. I drink lipton's rasp tea all the time but if you look at the ingredients there aren't actually any rasp leaves in it! I have heard a couple other people swear by bouncing on a workout ball. I think that walking only works if you do it when you are having braxton hicks contractions...but I have never actually met anyone who said they were walking while they went into labor.

Not that I was desperate to self induce or anything but I read a few little trivia tidbits about inducing that I would not recommend trying...The pilgrims use to try to induce labor by tying overdue pregnant women to a pole and pounding the pole up and down to try to shake the baby out...Native Americans would tie pregnant women to rocks and stage attacks. They would charge at the woman on their horses and then pull back at the last second, with the intention of scaring the baby out? Well I guess that isn't too helpfull but if nothing else works you can think back on this and maybe a c-section won't seem so bad afterall.

Good luck! and be leery of people with poles : )

The foot massage thing works, or so I've been told. You need to go to a massage therapist though. Even some acupuncturists do it. Good luck! I know how you feel.

R.,

I get how you are feeling, but there is a reason why your Dr's won't induce. Please do not try this on your own. You can end up with a uterine tear and the baby rarely survives this. Castor oil and nipple stimulation are not safe for babies. For every story of wow that really worked for me I can tell you an equal amount that had bad outcomes. I worked in L&D for years and I have seen the places on the uterus where previous c's were performed. It lacks tone and strength when stretched too far by baby.
Speak with your Dr about an earlier C/S before you try and do something that has the potential of costing you or your baby some extremely serious side effects.
K. @ The Nestingplace

Make sure your husband "goes" in you. We were trying that and I told my doctor my hubby was "withdrawing". She laughed and said that it is the prostoglandins in the semen that help kick off labor. The next day we had sex after lunch and i didn't get out of bed for fear it would "fall out", so i took a nap, and i woke up in labor!

I was 2 weeks over due and was scared of iducing as well. The DR 'stripped my membranes' (you can read about it on babycenter.com) and I was in Labor within 8 hours.

Ugh! I know the feeling! The foot massage thing is what I've been told works. When I was in labor (41 hours all natural!), we did the foot massage in the middle when I was slowing down and didn't want any meds. Seemed to help a bit. I looked it up online...there were directions about where and how hard your feet and heels should be rubbed. Look it up...have your hubby read about it...and have him do it. If anything...you're off your feet and you got your husband to rub them:) Good luck!!

When I was a few days out from delivery. I wasn't haven't any contractions that were close together. My friend had me do squats. Just make sure you have a spotter because you could fall. Instead of sitting down to watch tv I would squat. I would squat all the time. THen when my contractions started I would run the hottest bath water I could stand. Get in and stay in the tub until it gets cold. Then get out and do more squats. Then bath again. I did this for twelve hours. I know it will make you tired but if you want to do it on your own give it a try. After twelve hours and a quick trip to the hospital my daughter was born. without drugs, without doctors assistance (nurse had to deliver becuase my doctor could not get there fast enough), without inducing. I hope your labor goes your way. Myabe this will work. I'll be praying for you.

I was 70% effaced and still 4 days overdue... scheduled to be induced, but my water broke hours before the induction.

I didn't have any luck trying to self induce. Good luck and stay calm!

My friend swears by: pedicure (let them massage your legs and feet), mexican food, and sex in the same day. Although, my other friend just had her baby and she induced labor by mowing her yard (front and back) with a push mower.

Good luck

I don't know why they won't induce. Of course there are negative outcomes sometimes, and only you and your doctor can decide what is best for you. However, don't dwell on the negative.

I was induce all 3 times. C-section, VBAC and vaginal (or would you call it V-VBAC?). Anyway, during my 2nd delivery the doctor and nurse were chatting over the end of my bed about how someone else had ruptured during a VBAC... I was mad, that they decided to discuss this while I was pushing, but it was a little too late for me to worry at that point.

With that said, the c-section isn't that bad of an alternative either.

Just think positive thoughts, don't stress out and just roll with whatever happens.

There was a pizza in Southern California all the women ate to induce labor. Something spicey. Try googling "pizza and labor" and see what come up.