https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:11:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-405576 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 01:24:00 +0000 glimmersnaps 405576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did acupuncture labor readiness points at 38 weeks and 39 weeks/the day I went into labor. I had been doing acupuncture regularly throughout my pregnancy for pain management. There are certain points that will stimulate labor but she told me that it wouldn't work unless I was really ready. </p> <p>I also walked a ton and took EPO capsules orally and vaginally starting I think at 36 weeks. </p> <p>During labor, I tried walking stairs, nipple stim, and black and blue cohosh. Next time I'm hoping to have a friend who will do acupuncture during labor as well.</p> <p>Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-405517 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 23:03:35 +0000 mrsjyw 405517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>bumping this for our newly waiting for mama bees.</p> <p>i've officially passed my due date as of today.</p> <p>what i've tried: sex, pineapple, spicy food, birthing ball, evening primrose oil (not regularly), acupressure (just today), walking...</p> <p>NOTHING! (yet) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252788 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:53:15 +0000 Mrs.M57 252788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On the day before my delivery, I ate Chinese food for dinner and hubby and I dtd 3 times! Haha it may have been coincidence but I don't know my water broke an hour after we ate dinner and lo was born at 7:00am the next morn! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252726 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:16:42 +0000 autumnlove 252726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried spicy food, stairs, walking, papaya, pineapple, mango, sex and nothing worked! LO was born 9 days after my due date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252724 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:12:10 +0000 looch 252724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ooohh, I forgot acupuncture. That might be worth a shot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252719 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:09:12 +0000 Shimmer 252719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MungBean: Long walks have been tough for me because of the swelling in my feet, ankles, and calves. I wish I could walk further distances!</p> <p>@mrs. wagon: We've been trying that too, nothing yet! :)</p> <p>@IcebergMom: @sloaneandpuffy: Yeah, I was wondering about the full moon earlier in the month - no dice!</p> <p>@looch: Castor oil is one thing that I won't try - I've heard such horror stories about it! It can cause diarrhea and then dehydration for mama, which is a terrible state to be in during labor! I won't be allowed to go to my due date due to the twin pregnancy and they said that the boys would thrive if I had them now, so that's why I'm trying to get things started! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252699 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 07:49:44 +0000 looch 252699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard some women have had success with drinking castor oil, but I've never tried it, nor did I want to!</p> <p>My son arrived when he was ready. I just enjoyed those last few days over my due date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252695 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 07:37:19 +0000 mamimami 252695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A full moon (and eclipse) worked for me, but you can't exactly order that up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252668 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 07:06:20 +0000 IcebergMom 252668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A full moon brought my LO along (and a record number of babies for our hospital on the same day!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252560 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:29:41 +0000 mrs. wagon 252560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I swear with my first unprotected sex put me into labor from no dilation at all. Then with my second I was almost 4cm dilated for 2 weeks, tried everything including walking miles and miles every day (I lost 3 lbs in a week!) and had to be induced! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252541 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:00:32 +0000 pinkcupcake 252541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went for a looooong walk (3 miles!) and my water broke that night :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252525 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:36:36 +0000 Sweet T 252525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried everything and nothing worked. We even made the eggplant parmigiana from Scalini's. I had my membranes stripped twice. Sex, spicy food, Chinese food, nothing worked! I was 4 cm dilated for the last couple of weeks. My water broke at 40w2d. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252519 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:29:58 +0000 MrsMccarthy 252519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe try an assisted reverse squat using the birth ball or with patrick's help? Try Cobblers pose too. <a href="http://life.gaiam.com/video/cobblers-pose-how-and-benefits-practical-power-yoga-dvd" rel="nofollow">http://life.gaiam.com/video/cobblers-pose-how-and-benefits-practical-power-yoga-dvd</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252518 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:26:28 +0000 Shimmer 252518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lemondrop: Haha thanks! I'm not sure about the squatting - my legs are so swollen that I don't think I'd be able to stand back up! I'm sure that would be quite a sight! :P</p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Oh how I wish pineapple didn't give me reflux now! I love it so much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252514 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:23:12 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 252514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ate a lot of pineapple and walked miles and miles. A day later I was in labor, but I think I did those things because it was time, so it was just correlation not causation.</p> <p>Pineapple was still amazing though! It tasted so good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252510 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:18:44 +0000 lemondrop 252510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I reached down to pick up a pen that I had dropped, that broke my water. I walked my butt off and other than a ton of BH contractions, nothing. Spicy food, nope. All my plans to eat Eggplant Parmigian fell through. I sat on that birth ball all the time, nope. Didn't try anything else, sexy time wasn't happening. </p> <p>Good luck, so exciting!! I like the dog poop suggestion above, I think squatting is a good idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252495 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:51:42 +0000 Shimmer 252495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MerryC: Hey there! I was just thinking of you today! Congrats on the birth of your little ones. :) If you don't mind me asking, how did your induction go? If you don't want to discuss it here, I can always give you my email address or something. </p> <p>I'm surprised they let you go to 39 weeks! My docs said no later than 38, but maybe they were saying that to save my sanity! It's been quite a trip so far!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252473 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:33:00 +0000 twinmama 252473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shimmer: Way to go making it this far! You're almost term! My twins had to be induced at 39+2 for postmaturity concerns. We tried everything....walking miles a day, pumping/nipple stim, sex, birth ball, spicy food, etc.....starting around 36.5 weeks to no avail. Babies were cozy and had to be evicted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252457 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:11:26 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 252457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Heck no! I tried EVERYTHING!!!!! No dice. I even had my membranes stripped twice. I had sex every day. Walked multiple miles every day. Rubbed my nipples all day long. I still had to be induced! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252446 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:01:39 +0000 Shimmer 252446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: I'll be sure to tell hubby when he gets home! ;) Thanks for the insight! </p> <p>@regberadaisy: Ugh, I wish I could eat more pineapple. The midwives told me to try it but it gives me bad reflux! :( </p> <p>@Magilnyc: &amp; @bpcmarj: I hope my little guys aren't as stubborn as your babies! Hopefully something will work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252352 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:37:21 +0000 bpcmarj 252352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried EVERYTHING. Spicy food (several kinds), chinese food, pizza with red pepper flakes, pineapple, nipple stimulation, sex, bouncing on birth ball, walking all day every day, rocking in the glider, and trying to relax and not stress. I was still completely closed without any dilation at 41w6d. I was finally induced at 42 weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252345 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:22:48 +0000 Magilnyc 252345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried everything! Nothing worked. They finally induced me at the hospital and that didn't work either. Turns out my little guy was very stubborn </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252344 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:19:06 +0000 regberadaisy 252344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had pineapple two days before I went into labor. Could have been a coincidence! But maybe not! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252327 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:46:29 +0000 Arden 252327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shimmer: I'm a doula, so what I see most often is using it to kickstart labor when it has stalled part way through.</p> <p>But when clients are trying to start labor, I always tell them to try it plus sex and lots of walking (especially stairs). It works all the time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252323 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:42:55 +0000 heffalump 252323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shimmer: maybe its a Jewish thing. Couldn't hurt to tr it anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252321 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:42:32 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 252321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shimmer: Squatting! (and not like the exercises) Actually squatting down low like you're picking something up or examining something on the ground. </p> <p>My friend's doula gave me that advice, so I decided to do it while I picked up all the dog poop in the yard. Every time I squatted, I felt a little gush. An hour after I finished, contractions started and a few hours later, my water broke. </p> <p>Best of luck to you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252309 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:29:30 +0000 MrsBrewer 252309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shimmer: Good luck, I'm so excited for you and I wish you the best!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252302 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:24:13 +0000 loveisstrange 252302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried everything I could and nothing worked! lol</p> <p>Hope it goes better for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252300 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:22:16 +0000 Shimmer 252300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: I'm 36.5 weeks now, definitely going to be induced at 38 weeks if none of these ideas work! ;)</p> <p>@artbee: We've tried sex.... it's tough to do with the big belly! I didn't notice much of a change in my contractions, though. I'll have to look into the chinese food one - I never heard of that one before!</p> <p>@Arden: Oh wow, you've seen it work a lot? Is it usually a couple of days process or a quicker one?</p> <p> @Running Elley: Thanks! I'm super excited but crazy nervous too! I can't believe I'm almost done and going to meet my little men! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-any-old-wives-tales-work-to-induce-your-labor#post-252287 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:03:10 +0000 Running Elley 252287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice but good luck!!! I’m so excited that you’re getting close! I can’t wait for you to meet your little guys :) </p>