NaturalChildbirth.org

[luckyone]

My daughter was 10 lbs, 4.5 oz. She was about a week late. But all babies in our family are big. (at least nine pounds) Also, her collarbone broke on the way out, though she didn't get stuck. So, now that I'm considered "full term", I'm in favor of this baby being born sooner rather than later. As long as this could be done naturally and safely (and don't worry, I know natural does not necessarily equal safe. ).
Anyway, saw my midwife yesterday, she advised I start on veening primrose capsules, either 4 orally per day, or 2 orally, 2 vaginally (as close to my cervix as possible) each day. And this should help get my cervix softened and ready. She said closer to 39 weeks she'd be okay with me starting on black and blue cohosh, but because those work on the uterus, it wouldn't be good to get contractions started too much if my cervix isn't ready.
Any other thoughts or ideas? How long does it take for the evening primrose to be effective?

[Lindsey]

I've heard of good results with nipple stimulation and intercourse, but neither worked for me. Good luck!

[CFLhomeschooler]

Maybe after 38 weeks talk to midwife about stripping membranes, and consider what she has to say about it. If your body isn't ready yet than most of these things will just torture you and do little to start labor. I know, I'm the queen of trying to "get labor going". Google "Inducing labor naturally". Jot down the ideas you get then discuss them with your midwife (The ideas you find may be good for some and bad for others).
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Child of God my king, wife of a wonderful husband, and mother of 4!

Marital conflict is not husband vs. wife, but husband and wife vs. our common enemy.

[luckyone]

So... today is the day. I've started blue and black cohosh. I'm taking the 30c homeopathic of blue every half hour, and the tincture of black every hour.
I've been doing this since 10:30 am( for over three hours), and so far, not much! I really wish I could be walking, but it's supposed to rain here for the rest of the day.
Well...going to go experiment with highlighting my own hair- felt bad about shelling out that dough with the baby coming. So wish me luck with that, too!

[luckyone]

Nothing yet. In fact, I think I had fewer contractions today than previous days! I do feel some increased pressure down low, at times, so hopeful that that is a positive sign.
And the at-home highlighting- not impressed.

[CFLhomeschooler]

LOL home hair job!

Well like I said above unless your body is ready to go into labor most of these things will just torture you. What did your midwife say about membrane stripping? and keep having lots of sex- your DH will be happy to try that method again. and again and again.
_________________
Child of God my king, wife of a wonderful husband, and mother of 4!

Marital conflict is not husband vs. wife, but husband and wife vs. our common enemy.

[Alison]

Pushing labor before it's time short circuits your body's natural prep for labor. Especially is you are prone to having big babies, you need all the relaxin flowing through your body that you can get.

Trying to stir up laobr when it's not happening on its own is what I call "pushing the river." You can wear yourself out trying to "push the river," or you can wait and let it flow on it's own.
_________________
"The truth shall set you free, but first it will make you mad."

"And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"

[luckyone]

Charlotte- they did strip my membranes at 39 weeks(or 38 w 6 d). She said I was 2-3 cm then, but my cervix was up very high, and hard to reach. On Thursday, I saw a different midwife, who was not able to reach to strip anymore. I do miss seeing just one midwife.
Alison, I'm starting to come to peace a little more about when she's going to be born. I am afraid about her size, but one of the midwives said that more recent studies show that babies only gain 3-6 oz. in the last weeks, as opposed to the 8-16 oz. previously thought. I don't think I'm going to take any more cohosh stuff. I'll keep up the EPO.

[Alison]

I know it's so hard to wait. I was terrible at it with my middle four children. By the time I had the last one, I certainly wished he'd be born sooner, but I didn't try to make it happen until well after my due date. I'm glad you are finding peace. {{hugs}} It won't be long.
_________________
"The truth shall set you free, but first it will make you mad."

"And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"

[CFLhomeschooler]

Yep, if you're doing all that and still pregnant you're body probably just isn't ready. I like Alison's imagery of pushing a river. All you do is get tired!
_________________
Child of God my king, wife of a wonderful husband, and mother of 4!

Marital conflict is not husband vs. wife, but husband and wife vs. our common enemy.

[mom37]

I wish I had this advice when my son was born three years ago! The day after my due date I took a concoction for inducing labour (castor oil, almond butter, apricot nectar & something else), and it worked. BUT... and it's a big but... I ended up having a c-section after 27 hours of intense labour and my son never dropped down, had meconium in the amniotic fluid, and he started to stress. It was awful. And it was soooooo far from the natural birth I had planned. It really messed me up emotionally. It took me a few weeks to bond with him because I felt so disconnected from the whole experience of birthing him that it didn't seem real. Anyway, I've since realized I "pushed the river" as described by Alison, and my son was just not ready to come out yet. The whole birthing experience was just so disappointing and upsetting and I would NEVER recommend inducing labour because of it.

~Shannon
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WAHM passionate about non-toxic living and babywearing. I love Baby Carrier Wraps & Baby Carrier Slings