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Hi everbody

am due today, i was in hospital last night as i was in alot of pain all day, they have said that i am having mild contractions but my cervix has not started to dilate yet, and today the pain is not nearly as bad, iam scared that its all going to stop, my daughter is 2 and i do not want to ruin her christmas as she is so exited, any advice to get me started would be much appreciated

xxxx

Hi Abby,

I'm no expert on this but some old wives tales I've heard are lots of sex, eating curry, a nice bath, and gentle exercise. Not all at once though! I'm sure there are lots of ladies on here with proper advice as they've been through it before. I'm just on baby number one due beginning of June so I've got a little way to go yet.
Anyway, lots of luck. I'm sure your Christmas be wonderful and after all, even if you end up giving birth on Christmas day isn't that the most wonderful present you can give to your daughter, a new brother or sister!

Wishing you all the best
Kerry
xxx

hello!

from what i've read, sperm contains a prostaglandin which is similar to the stuff they use to induce you, so thats why the sex is a good idea! helps to soften the cervix, although it needs to stay in contact for a while - not sure how easy you will find it to elevate your hips at term! also, (and i'm not being a weirdo here!) if you get DH to twist and tweak your nipples that also releases prostaglandins to get things going - although apparently you need to do this A LOT for it to work...but good training for breastfeeding i guess! Final thing is eating pineapple..not sue how that one works. Oh and i think if you sit and gently bounce ona birthing ball that helps babies head to stimulate cervix.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! sounds like you're in for a kinky, bouncy couple of days!!!

tallgirl
xxxxx
(6+6...its a Looooooong way off for me)

Hi there, so sorry to hear your predicament - my second child is due 31st May and my son's birthday is on June 7th. My son was a week late so the baby is scheduled for arrival on his birthday so I totally understand your fear of ruining your little ones Christmas. But as Kerry said, there's a good chance you could turn it around and tell your little one that this is Santa's special pressie for her if the baby comes on Christmas day. Visiting is really lenient in maternity wards so she could probably spend most of Christmas day with you once you were in post-natal and perhaps your partner could bring your daughter and all of her pressies into hospital to open with mummy! You could even buy a special Xmas outfit for the new baby (although if you're anything like me you'll already have one!) and put a big ribbon on the cot at the hospital and a gift tag saying something like..."To my big sister, Santa brought me especially as your best pressie".

Hope this has been abit helpful.

Good luck - and Kerry's right I think about the sex...lots of that should get things moving, or maybe ask your midwife for a membrane sweep if that's possible.

[][:I]

hi have also heard that clary sage bath is supposed to be excellent and raspberry tea.......

x

Hi Abbymay

Hewre's a list of things you could try -
Rasberry leaf tea - tastes gross but does help.

Lots of sex - I know u probably don't feel like it but it does work.

Nipple stimulation - this gets a bit tiresome for DH as you are meant to do it for 10 mins every hour - so it'll have to be a DIY job probably

Very spicy Curry/ or big meal - should get things going.

Bumpy bus ride - this one if your bump is large can be a bit painful down there.

Caster Oil and Orange juice - my friend swears by this and went into labour a few hours after but ....yuk [xx(]yuk[xx(] yuk[xx(]

Birthing Ball - sounds odd , but with my last one, I did this a lot, and hey presto after 3.5 hours of constantly bouncing on it like a 2 year old , I went into labour.

Walking and going up and down the stairs is also a very good way to get things moving.


All the best, but please remember your little bubba will meet you when he/she's good and ready and some of them are far happier being in their nice warm mommies tummy than making an appearance when they should.

Good Luck


Maybe
x

Hi everyone

Thankyou for all your tips.

Well I have had a curry for my supper that was really quite hot, i have had a warm bath and have been bouncing about mad on my exercise ball, but nothing yet. my next line of attack is to get my DH to bed, but that is not going to be easy either as i dont think he is very keen. if things have not kicked of by morning i will be trying everything that you ladys have listed including the nipple thing, i will let you know if any of theese work, keep your fingers crossed xxxxx

Hi

I tried most of the things already mentioned with my second (first was 2 weeks early - second a week late). The things that worked for me were....

1 I had an appointment to go to hospital to discuss being induced the next day (only to discuss it - the fear of even the discussion i reckon started my fat baby off)

2 My husband hadn't had a drop to drink for 3 weeks just in case he was needed to drive me to hospital (and the rest [xx(]). The night I went into labour was the night I told him to down a bottle of wine!

Hi ladys

am still here, but i am getting the odd pain so it could be the start, am still going at it on my ball, had some sex (sorry tmi) this morning, much to my husbands disgust. also been to asda to do my shopping and drove round the car park a few times going over all the humps. hankypants that sounds like the things that would work for me, we will see how it goes during the day before i promise my dh a drink tonight. oh well back to my ball.

will update later
x x x x

Try and relax-do something fun alltogether-for the last time as a 3!!! try going for a walk or to the park-DO NOT sit around waiting as time will pass very slowly and your body will be too tense to go into labour!!!

Good Luck...My DS was born Dec 29th 1996 but was due on xmas eve so I kind of know what you are going through x x x

Hi Abbymay,

Good to hear that things are starting.

And I hope that I don't sound like a real fuddy duddy, so here goes.

Contractions start by the stimulation of hormones. The two most prominent for your hormones is OXYTOCIN. This hormone is at its height when you are making love.

The other hormone is PROSTAGLANDIN. This is for the softening of your cervix for dilation.

The best way to keep your contractions strong, is find an area in your home where you feel calm and relaxed and make that area warm too, that really helps. Your body has to be calm and relaxed (like when making love). Make it dark and quiet, these hormones are better stimulated in this kind of environment (like when making love). Yes I am focussing on the lovemaking part because these hormones really make you feel on a high, and totally relaxed that is the kind of feeling you want.

In that area, keep upright as much as you can, walk, squat, kneel, on all fours etc breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth with every contraction.Making sure you relax your shoulders with every contraction, as best as you can. This enhances the hormones to be well stimulated.

If however, you are contantly distracted and anxious etc, the hormone adrenaline will come up, and it INHIBITS the hormones to produce properly.

So be calm, and relaxed, make sure you are nibbling on foods that can stay down, PLUS make sure your are DRINKING, that is so important. As you will be going to the toilet constantly to pee. And you need to replenish what you have lost OK?

Tune inot your body and baby, dont just wait for it to start. REMEMBER keep calm and realxed. And this should help.

Stay blessed and all the best.

Any news?

dont want to be a pest but...do we have a babe yet[?][?][?] []

It looks like something may have happened.

Patience is certainly a virtue.

[]

Looks like something has as she has not been online.