https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:14:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor/page/2#post-2851154 Sun, 14 Oct 2018 10:22:33 +0000 YogiRunner 2851154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: thank you :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor/page/2#post-2851080 Sat, 13 Oct 2018 14:44:00 +0000 Foodnerd81 2851080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiRunner: congratulations! Babies do not care about your plans for delivery but sounds like everything went really well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor/page/2#post-2851077 Sat, 13 Oct 2018 14:34:52 +0000 YogiRunner 2851077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just a little update that we had a smooth induction and baby boy arrived after just a few pushes! Looking back, I’d give some credit to the constant walking to get him to descend nice and low and lessen the amount of pushing. </p> <p>And, such a lesson in letting go of control. At 40+5, my normal appointment noted slightly elevated blood pressure so they sent me right in for monitoring to be on the cautious side. My BP was totally normal upon arrival so they were about to send me home, but one of my labs came back borderline for preeclampsia so we stayed to have the baby! Was not expected and felt fast after I had waited so long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor/page/2#post-2850073 Tue, 09 Oct 2018 10:49:18 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2850073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiRunner: one way or another it'll be very soon! Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor/page/2#post-2850071 Tue, 09 Oct 2018 10:46:39 +0000 Foodnerd81 2850071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiRunner: hugs. He’ll be here soon enough but I’m sure this last week felt about two years long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor/page/2#post-2849891 Mon, 08 Oct 2018 15:32:01 +0000 YogiRunner 2849891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the support and suggestions! I'm 40+4 and have tried about 90% of the tricks at this point, so trying to come to peace with the fact that he's not THAT late and will come when he's ready (or when my OB says time to kick him out!). I'm not sure if I'll go for another membrane sweep at this point, since it hurt like a mother, but I would rather that intervention than Pitocin.</p> <p>In the meantime we've been going on some nice long family hikes, making freezer meals and just trying to enjoy a little calm before the storm :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849800 Mon, 08 Oct 2018 11:02:11 +0000 dc yoga bee 2849800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiRunner: thinking of you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849547 Fri, 05 Oct 2018 22:25:16 +0000 Shantuck 2849547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A bikini wax! I’ve heard this from others as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849541 Fri, 05 Oct 2018 19:33:23 +0000 rockinghorse 2849541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Induction is the only thing that worked for me.... Good Luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849372 Fri, 05 Oct 2018 04:47:09 +0000 Becky 2849372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sex (2 nights before, started having contractions really soon after and they were on and off for a day before real labor started), raspberry leaf tea (drank extra the day before), and walking around the zoo all day holding my 2.5 year old half the time (day before). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849357 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 23:33:08 +0000 Portboston 2849357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sex worked for us the night before my son was born at 38 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849318 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 19:10:16 +0000 lamariniere 2849318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The very best thing was (TMI) the enema. My water had already broken but my contractions didn’t start on their own. The hospital midwife suggested an enema and the contractions started within half an hour. The 2nd best thing for me, which worked with both pregnancies, was the yoga ball. I didn’t really bounce on it, but more of a rolling/swaying motion to open up the pelvis. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849314 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 18:36:35 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2849314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiRunner: omg I feel you. DS1 was born at 35 weeks and everyone was worried this baby would be sooner. So we had hospital bags packed, nursery done, etc since like 32/33 weeks. DW went off work at 36 weeks. My parents had arranged months earlier to stay with us the week of the due date. I was going day by day with my work schedule which was super annoying. She went 3 days overdue and my parents left the day before because we thought she would need to be induced but then it happened all of a sudden. We made zero plans the last 5 weeks as we didn’t want to be far from home. By the end, we all felt she was a month overdue! </p> <p>All I can say is enjoy the last bit of time you can rest and not have a baby hanging off you all the time haha I know everyone says that but it’s true! Distraction is key. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849278 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 14:55:02 +0000 YogiRunner 2849278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, the commiseration here is what is helping! My parents have been here a week and I’m sure they’re feeling restless and unable to really help, my toddler is all of a sudden acting out big time, and DH is feeling half-in / half-out at work which I know frustrates him. I’m trying to embrace this time but we’re all just ready to get to the other side. </p> <p>@lindseykaye: so yes, I did just have a good cry! Toddler screaming in his crib, Mama just losing it into her pregnancy pillow. Happy due date to me 😂</p> <p>@LCTBQE: they’ll induce me at 41 weeks, which feels absolute light years away. I was sort of hoping for labor to start on its own this time, but I have definitely learned that I have about zero control here and am trying to let the next week bring what it may! But your induction experience sounds so lovely, I’m glad they listened to your needs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849252 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 14:01:33 +0000 misolee 2849252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing worked for me 😭 I did everything possible (membrane sweeps, acupuncture multiple times, raspberry tea, ball, dbd twice, nipple stimulation, etc) including driving 30 minutes to eat this famous labor starting eggplant Parmesan. Nada. My second came at 37 weeks so was super over it by 41 weeks. I was dilated for weeks. I had a light induction at 41 weeks and she came that day. </p> <p>The end is so hard. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849238 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:20:38 +0000 lindseykaye 2849238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was at 40+5 days for my daughter and was doing many of these things listed. The last thing I did before bed the night before going into labor was have a really long good hard cry. No clue if the two were actually related but it felt like I might have been holding in the emotional side of waiting for labor. Releasing all that tension was cathartic either way.</p> <p>And of course, it could be that I cried because hormones were shifting and labor was imminent.. so hard to tell! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849235 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:08:20 +0000 Mommy Finger 2849235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pitocin......both times...... :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849232 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 12:43:31 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2849232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it just happens when it happens, but being consistently very active helps. Like not a walk, but being active all day long kind of thing. Pretty sure that's how my younger two were born a little earlier. I think some of the tricks would just give me stomachaches and a slight chance of labor by upsetting my stomach enough. 😩<br /> Also, I vote staying away from mommy groups. HB is great but honestly I find that mommy groups tend to foster this expectation that babies come early! I think by the end everyone is just uncomfortable to miserable and the beginning of the month group has given birth already (the month before) it just starts to feel like you're behind. So I think staying away from that at least mentally feels a little better. Hb might not be too bad because it's smaller but I'm looking at you, thebump and the like. This is so physically demanding but also a special time you'll probably look back on, so if you can even just have a few great snapshot moments to focus on hopefully that will get you through! </p> <p>Good luck, hoping you don't wait much longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849220 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 11:43:31 +0000 Silva 2849220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a super intense membrane sweep (I screamed profanities in the office), and then walked around for a couple of hours. I did have spicy food the night before I went into labor both times, but it was definitely just coincidence (and I eat spicy food fairly frequently!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849218 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 11:32:44 +0000 LCTBQE 2849218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@muffinsmuffins: omg, I cringe even thinking about the membrane sweep of the century :shocked: congrats to you both though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849217 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 11:31:57 +0000 LCTBQE 2849217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiRunner: my OB told me they're all useless old wives tales except for nipple stimulation (i.e. pumping I guess?) and sex, which have a tiny bit of merit because both nursing and semen *can* (but don't always) cause minor contractions. she stressed that in her opinion these things don't work except to tip the scales if you were basically already hovering on the edge, anyway. </p> <p>in late August I begged for an induction and was mercifully granted one and it was a fantastic experience, daughter was born on her due date :) if you're interested, do you think your doctor would be game? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849199 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 10:19:42 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2849199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DW bounced on a yoga ball and took long walks with the dog but nothing worked until she had ‘the membrane sweep of the century’ on a Tuesday aft. Thursday morning we dropped our son at kindergarten for his first day and she started having contractions right after. DS2 born early Friday morn. I think it was the emotions of that day and the sweep! She was 40+3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849165 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 08:27:48 +0000 YogiRunner 2849165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SupernovaJ: 10 miles :shocked: I just needed to sit down after doing the dishes! You’re inspiring me... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849163 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 07:58:52 +0000 SupernovaJ 2849163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stayed pretty active during both of my previous pregnancies but on the day/day before I went into labor, I cranked up my activity level. I walked 10 miles the day I went into labor with my daughter. With my son, I did a really intense, steep speed walk on my treadmill for a couple of hours. Went into labor that night. I'm a big believer in "walking that baby out". But who really knows! With both I was 39 + 3. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849144 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 06:57:44 +0000 Ajsmommy 2849144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing worked for me until they inserted foley bulbs :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849135 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 06:07:24 +0000 buttermilk 2849135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sex worked for me. We were doing it frequently in the last couple of weeks but nothing started until baby was ready. I woke up with milk cramping 4 days late and after it stalled out we had sex that night and it started for real 2 hours later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849133 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 05:14:32 +0000 Alba4 2849133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Membrane sweep, walking, yoga ball bouncing, evening primrose oil... oh and labor starting to really kick into gear after a hot shower and lots of puking (that part was involuntary). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849131 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 04:18:12 +0000 Ms. RV 2849131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Having a huge meal worked for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849100 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 21:31:13 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2849100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m eating 6 dates a day, using evening primrose oil, have acupuncture scheduled for tomorrow and Friday, and am bouncing on my yoga ball a lot. Last time I didn’t dilate until I was pumping in labor during my induction- I plan to do that again if induced. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-worked-to-kick-start-labor#post-2849087 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 20:30:09 +0000 YogiRunner 2849087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all! Seems like I’m on the right track and doing what I can. I’ve been having stronger contractions today and tonight and they’re slowly getting closer together, so we’ll see...</p> <p>If nothing happens tonight my plan is to make a smoothie with dates for breakfast, brew some raspberry leaf tea and bounce on the yoga ball during my son’s gym class. I loooove acupuncture (so relaxing) so might have to try that at some point too.</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: you’re so right about all these expectations for #2 to come early! It really gets in your head. And the lobster suggestion is definitely the most appealing yet :wink: </p>