[Sprinkle 2010]

Ok Ladies! As we are getting closer, let's talk about all those old wives tales about "getting the party started!"

I've heard raspberry tea helps with the elastisity of the cervix. Pineapple is supposed to induce labor, as well as spicy foods. There is a restaurant in Atlanta that is famous for its eggplant parmesan causing women to go into labor.

I know most of these are just for fun, but I'm 37 weeks this week and am ready to have this baby!!! I'll try anything!

[morethanamom4]

It's fresh pineapple if I remember correctly, not the canned Dole stuff

I've never had a food put me into labor. Hmm. My mom swears by squats and lunges and cartwheels lol

[Mommy to 3 boys]

I made that eggplant recipe when pregnant with DS#2... it didn't work but nothing did with him! lol. I tried castor oil like 6 times (not within a close time frame so I didn't get dehydrated or anything) and it never made anything happen lol. I'm 34 weeks now but within a couple days of being 37 weeks, I'll be walking A LOT, eating spicy food (I get heartburn from water so whatever lol), having LOTS of sex!!! lol. I can't see me ever trying the castor oil again but I'll try the other stuff... at least until they will strip my membranes at 38 weeks (worked with all the boys).

Originally Posted by morethanamom4

It's fresh pineapple if I remember correctly, not the canned Dole stuff

I've never had a food put me into labor. Hmm. My mom swears by squats and lunges and cartwheels lol

I can NOT imagine trying to do a cartwheel right now lol.

[MrsTiffy]

DTD always worked for me. With my dd dh had just got back from his first deployment, so we dtd a lot. In a few days of him coming home I had her. With my ds Dh was home from a deployment exactly 16 hours before I went into labor. With my youngest I never officially went into labor before the emergency c-section.

[Blue_Twinkles]

With my last DS I had heard that macaroni and cheese with A1 steak sauce was supposed to send you into labor. LOL I tried it...disgusting...and didn't work. That, castor oil and sex was the only I ever tried.

[Sprinkle 2010]

With my DD1, I swear it was DTD that worked. And we had spicy taco soup for dinner that night. I'd try that again, even if it is 105 degrees!

And yes, fresh pineapple! Yummmm!!!

[destiny hope]

I tried castor oil with dd #2 and with in 3 hrs i was in labor. With dd #3 i tried castor oil and it did nothing my water ended up breaking but before that i tried everything walking uphill swings jumping, eating spicy food and pineapple nipple stimulation and dtd. After my water broke they had to use pitocin to get things started.

[3Sapphires]

fresh pineapple gives you the runs! I learned this the hard way whilst not pregnant - but I guess that can stimulate the uterus to contract!

I will be trying it this time if I get to 39 weeks again.

there are accupressure points I did last time. since I did them on myself I doubt they were very helpful.

Acupressure Points to Induce Labor/ Labor Induction: leg and foot points - YouTube

[mommysoon]

Scalini's! That's the restaurant in Atlanta- it's not far from my house, and I have never made it there before, but if I get close to my due date I may make the trip!
I always eat a lot of fresh pineapple in late pregnancy- mainly because it's delicious, but I always hoped it would help some.
With my first, I walked a lot and we dtd ... I was in labor just a few hours later. With my second, I was very dilated (5-6 cm) and not in active labor, and no amount of sex or pineapple, or squatting on a yoga ball, was getting that party started! I ended up being induced because the hospital was so far from our house and I was worried about my labor going too fast and having her in the car.

[Buttercups]

Originally Posted by Sprinkle 2010

OThere is a restaurant in Atlanta that is famous for its eggplant parmesan causing women to go into labor.

Scalini's. If you are term and don't go into labor within 24 hours after eating their eggplant it's on the house. Hubs got some for me at 39 weeks and I was in labor 13 hours later. Going to try it again this time. If it works again I will officially swear by it!

[MJTKNT]

Evening primrose oil is supposed to help the cervix soften, but even though it's a gel cap- you don't eat it. You have to insert it before bed and just let it release right on your cervix area.

[Blessed Mommy Of 5]

Most of the ways I have heard have already been mentioned. Nipple stimulation is supposed to help bring on labor. I tried it when I was overdue with my son and it didn't help. They say bumpy car rides will do the trick, I never tried that one. Also getting really emotional either by watching a sad movie and crying your eyes out or watching a funny movie and laughing like crazy; never tried that either. I am already extremely emotional now, lol! I have cried my eyes out more than a few times recently, thankfully it didn't trigger labor since I want her to be at least 37 weeks but preferably 39 weeks

[Love_09]

I heard most of the ones mentioned, but I really do believe DTD helped with my DS, few hours after I was in labor but I was also overdue so it could have just been good timing
although a friend swears jumping jacks put her into labor the other day!

[RunningMommyTo3]

Originally Posted by morethanamom4

My mom swears by squats and lunges and cartwheels lol

While I couldn't imagine doing a cartwheel, either, at this point, but, maybe I'll try it??? I love tumbling, so it *should* still be an easier move for me....my balance is still really good and I haven't had to modify my balancing poses in yoga at all.....I'll report back on the success of this after I hit 37-38weeks...haha

But, the lunges and squats are supposed to be really effective. They're supposed to help open up the hips and pelvis and allow for the baby to drop further into engagement. But, I think I read somewhere that they need to be done throughout the entire pregnancy because it's a gradual thing? I don't know, but some wide stance squats (especially yoga squats) and lunges couldn't hurt. I've always done both throughout my pregnancies and the earliest I went into labor was the morning of my c-section that was scheduled 3 days before my EDD. However, my structure won't allow for them to move below a 0 station, anyhow, so I may not be the best judge!

I will be trying lots of DTD, fresh pineapple (because I love it anyway), nipple stimulation, and some yoga poses to encourage the baby to move into position after 37wks. Yes, I have to have a c-section, but if my contractions become regular and closer together for more than 3-4hrs, they'll do the section sooner. I want her to be very healthy and ready, of course, but I'm very ready to meet her and I can only hope all of these periods of contracting are doing something helpful.

[amazing_love]

DS was a week late so i tried a lot but mostly walking all the time, bouncing on my ball and being as active as possible. We were DTD at least a few times a week as well. I never tried pineapple as i heard you'd have to eat practically a whole pineapple to make a difference and THAT wasn't going to happen! I'm not sure if anything i did helped labor along or if he would've come at that time regardless. I'm sure by 38 weeks i'll start trying to get things moving.

[YumPickles]

Originally Posted by MJTKNT

Evening primrose oil is supposed to help the cervix soften, but even though it's a gel cap- you don't eat it. You have to insert it before bed and just let it release right on your cervix area.

That doesn't seem very sanitary, lol.

[alicenwonderland]

Originally Posted by YumPickles

That doesn't seem very sanitary, lol.

doesn't seem any less sanitary than shoving a penis up there lol

[momma_d]

^^^LOL^^^ oh my....

With DD I drank RRL tea everyday, we were still actively DTD, and DH drove a huge lifted Chevy truck and that thing ws bumpy just driving down the road! I swear that thing put me into labor! LOL

I'm not trying ANYTHING until I know where this placenta is located! If it's moved out of the way next week I'll go ahead and start the things that are safe now to just get my body prepped, like RRL tea and bouncing on my ball (which I already use my ball everyday)

When I'm really ready to get things rolling I'll probably try:
- Red Raspberry Leaf tea
- Evening primrose oil
- Ball excercises
- Walking
- Sex
- Bumpy drives! LOL
- Nipple stimulation if it gets to that!

[oicyur]

What's with the eggplant that causes labor?? That's peculiar. I'll have to give it a try, because at the very least it'll be a yummy italian meal, right?

I think the best things to do are what they tell you not to do when you're in PTL. Sex, nipple stimulation, and taking it easy. Do the opposite.

I've tried Red Raspberry Leaf Tea in the past, sex, long walks, bumpy roads, spicy food... and I can't say that any of that put me in full blown labor. Maybe, MAYBE it helped me dilate, but for the most part the active things just left me tired and sore. So, I don't plan on being more active this time around. I'm already in to much pain. :\ But, heck, I'll try the eggplant, spicy food, and pineapple! Sounds like a yummy alternative! And of course, sex. Although that's never put me in full-blown labor, it DOES give me lots of contractions.

My friend swears by nipple stimulation. She said she stimulated herself until the baby came.