As a disclaimer before I even start this post, no I am not a medical professional and no you should not do any of these 'old wives tales' without first speaking to your midwife and/or doctor. When I was pregnant with Cameron I was very impatient and as soon as I hit 37 weeks (classed as full term) I was on the lookout for ways to start of labour. I tried tirelessly for three weeks, reached my due date and cried for a further week when labour still didn't start... I eventually had to be induced after my waters broke but labour STILL didn't start on its own!
I had Cameron eight days after I was due, on 13th September 2010 having been hooked up to an IV drip to strengthen my contractions, and having had a reasonably quick established labour of six and a half hours, with forty three minutes spent pushing him out. Now, from this, I can tell you that old wives tales do not (necessarily) work. When you hear people say that things have worked for them, they could in fact be down to coincidence. Despite this, next week once I reach full term this time round I know that the impatient side of me will inevitably come back out and I will be reaching for that extra spicy curry before you can say myth.
A quick search online will give you a handful of ways you can try to start your own labour, some I have been assured are safe by a midwife, others that are definitely not to be tried at home (the most scary ones include at home sweeps and drinking vast amounts of castor oil, both of which can cause the baby to become distressed and can be dangerous for both mum and baby).
I was intrigued to find out what women I know tried out when they were becoming impatient for baby to arrive so had a quick ask around on Facebook. From this I have come up with my own top ten old wives ways of inducing labour at home. Again I reiterate that these should only be tried once a medical professional has given you the ok and should never be attempted before you reach full term (37 weeks pregnant).
1.
Spicy Foods
My Experience:
Probably one of the most well known ways to help start labour, the curry or other spicy food was one I went straight to when pregnant with Cameron. I was eating a ready meal Chicken Tikka Masala daily for a couple of weeks until I realised it was no longer hot enough for me so I moved onto the extra spicy Tikka Masala which still didn't do anything. After switching to a Jalfrezi, which still had no effect, I pretty much gave up on curries (though to this day I now love Jalfrezi so that's something anyway).
Theory behind it:
Apparently there is a link between the gut and the uterus meaning that when one is stimulated, the other will automatically be affected as well. By eating spicy foods, the gut is kicked into action thus (hopefully) also kick starting labour.
Real experience:
"(I) had a curry the evening I went into labour (my due date)"- Felicity, mum to Eric.
2. Fresh Pineapple
My Experience:
Another popular food to eat that is meant to help 'bring it on'. I started eating pineapple around the same time as the curries in my first pregnancy, in fact I can distinctly remember many a shopping trip heavily pregnant with curries and pineapples in my shopping basket. I used to buy the ready prepared packs of pineapple as the whole ones were too fiddly but this got expensive... You have to eat quite a large amount of pineapple at once for it to have any real effect, and my bank balance ran out way before I reached this amount. On top of this, my tongue ended up bleeding from eating too much pineapple, ouch!
Theory behind it:
In the same way that the spicy foods are meant to help start of labour, eating lots of fresh pineapple can also apparently stimulate the gut and then the uterus. In addition to this, fresh (not tinned) pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain that is supposed to work like a prostaglandin (which ripens and softens the cervix). You need to eat a vast amount of fresh pineapple for it to work though.
Real Experience:
3. Sex
My Experience:
I was single when I had Cameron so this wasn't really much of an option. I was pretty gutted as I had heard that sex was the most likely to work. I will have to keep you posted this time round!
Theory behind it:
This is the one that is most recommended by doctors and midwives when asked how to induce labour. Sperm contains prostaglandins, which can ripen the cervix. On top of this, if you orgasm during sex or whilst having foreplay, your body releases the hormone oxytocin which can cause contractions.
Real Experience:
"On the Friday before Eloise arrived I cleaned the garden and did the deed. 5 hours after the deed, my waters went"- Emily, mum to Eloise.
4. Raspberry leaf capsules/Tea
My Experience:
I started raspberry leaf capsules at 36 weeks when pregnant with Cameron. I remember the woman behind the till asking me how far gone I was when I bought them to check I wasn't taking them too early on (I had a smaller bump that time obviously!). I took two a day, increasing to three a day nearer my due date. I also started drinking the tea when I reached 38 weeks but only actually managed half a mug once and a few sips another time as it tasted so disgusting (I am not a tea drinker usually anyway and I was gagging, not nice!). I do think the capsules helped me to have a shorter labour once my contractions had been stabilised with the IV drip. I was in established labour for six and a half hours which isn't too bad for a first time mum. Raspberry leaf capsules/tea are not meant to help induce labour but can do, which is why they shouldn't be taken until 35 weeks at the very earliest (despite what you might read online). They do help to soften the cervix and tone the uterus, which in turn is meant to mean a quicker and easier labour. Definitely worth a try in my eyes, and I will be getting the capsules next time I am near a health food shop.
Theory behind it:
Raspberry leaf doesn't actually induce labour (although there is a risk it could so it shouldn't be taken until term). It is meant to tone the uterus and make contractions more efficient. It is meant to help make the established stage of labour shorter and easier.
Real Experience:
"I drank 1 cup of raspberry leaf tea a day from 36 weeks....I have no idea if... that helped or if he would have been born (anyway)"- Felicity mum to Eric.
5. Walking
My Experience:
I started going for long walks along the beach with my mum once I hit full term with Cameron. I also up and down a hill local to me. None of this seemed to work for me and I am pretty concerned about my walking plans this time round. I have had pelvic girdle pain since around 22 weeks in this pregnancy and it makes walking incredibly painful. I often have to stop and rest after only a very short distance, so I don't really see myself being able to walk long distances in order to get this baby moving down the birth canal....
Theory behind it:
Walking can encourage contractions to get stronger once they ahve already started, and can also help the baby move down into the birth canal, pushing onto the cervix and encouraging it to dilate.
Real Experience:
"The midwife said my laps of the hospital and bouncing on the ball helped to dilate my cervix itself and staying upright encouraged her head further down"- Natalie, mum to Harriet.
6. Nipple Stimulation
My Experiences:
I think I attempted this with a breast pump as a last ditch attempt around 39 weeks last time. It seemed freaky to me and I definitely didn't do it for long enough to have any success. Looking it up online, I might be tempted to try again this time round but it does seem to take a lot of time, effort and practise to get a good technique going.
Theory behind it:
Just as foreplay can help bring on orgasms which release the hormone, ocytocin, tweaking your nipples releases the same hormone and can therefore help soften the cervix and start off labour.
Real Experience:
"Me and my husband did that when i was 37 weeks pregnant and i had my baby that night"-Jenny
7. Bouncing on a Birth Ball
My Experience:
I did try this, but I didn't do it enough to work. Apparently any form of bouncing will do and there are some people suggesting bumping down the stairs or going for a drive along a bumpy country lane will help but these things seem a bit more dangerous to me. I will definitely be inflating my exercise ball in the next couple of weeks and plan to do some bouncing reguarly, perhaps whilst watching daytime TV or in the evening when me and my mum watch Hollyoaks (guilty trash tv at its best).
Theory behind it:
By bouncing and rocking backwards and forwards and side to side on a birth ball, the baby is supposedly encouraged to drop down towards the cervix. The movements can also help to open the pelvis, which prepares it for labour and delivery.
Real Experience:
"I think the gym ball helped the most as I felt like he was moving down further. I used it a few times a day for an hour at a time. Riley was born 8 days early". -Kathryn, mum to Riley
8. Massage/Reflexology
My Experience:
I never tried anything like this first time round. I had a massage earlier on in pregnancy this time round which worried me as she actually did press on the pressure points which can trigger labour. Maybe having a massage would be a good idea later on once I have reached full term and labour would be welcome? I might have a look into it....
Theory behind it:
Reflexology, massage and acupuncture have all had positive results from women for getting labour started. It is thought that pressure points stimulated during these sessions are linked to the uterus, making contractions start. All of these can also help relax a heavily pregnant woman, something that won't help kickstart labour but will be of help during.
Real Experience:
9. Housework
My Experiences:
I must admit that I am not one for doing a whole lot of housework. When pregnant first time round I was in the process of moving into a flat with a Uni friend but staying with my mum during the last few weeks and I let her do pretty much everything. It was a shock for both of us when I suddenly got my nesting instinct and started manically cleaning the kitchen at 38 weeks. As you know, I still went overdue so nesting means nothing is imminent, however, it was doing housework that I believe finally helped get me somewhere as I was on my hands and knees picking up laundry off the floor to be washed when my waters broke! This time round I have definitely been getting the urge to have everything nice and tidy and ready for when baby gets here and have done a major clearout of my room in the last week, including finally sorting out getting a new bed as mine has broken a couple of times and often makes an ominous creaking sound when I get in it (I try not to let it give me a complex about my weight!). I will be doing as much housework as I can as I reach full term, which I'm sure my mum will be thrilled about as I am back living with her... Scrubbing kitchen and bathroom floors sounds like something that could help get things going....
Theory behind it:
The same way walking is meant to be able to help induce labour, doing housework can help by making the baby drop down and onto the cervix, causing contractions to start or intensify.
Real Experience:
10. Clary Sage Oil
My Experience:
I must admit I had never even heard of this essential oil when pregnant with Cameron, nor was it something I was advised to use when asking around for induction ideas last time. This time I have done some research, as well as having a couple of ladies I know tell me how they used it, and I might give it a go. What worries me a little is warnings I have found online about it giving strong headaches, making people sleepy or euphoric, and that it can work too fast causing intense contractions instantly. I think if I do use this oil, it will be with caution, only in the evening or at a weekend when my mum or Tim is around to ensure Cameron is looked after and I am not alone if labour were to start suddenly!
Theory behind it:
Clary sage is meant to be able to stimulate labour, and if used in a nice warm bath, it can also help relaxation.
Real Experience:
"I... used clary sage oil massaged with some oil into bump once at term it's supposed to bring on contractions so use wisely!"- Christine, mum to six
