List of Things We Have Tried

[callistra]

1) Tinned Pineapple.
2) Fresh Pineapple. (Apparently it's the bromide or some sort of enzyme in pineapple, so it has to be fresh to help the labour start. Something. I read about that at about 3 in the morning, so it's a bit hazy.)
3) Curry. (We went with LLBatt a week or two ago.)
4) Spicy Food - well, there was lunch today. And I have bought some fresh chilis for tonight's and tomorrow's meals..
5) Sex
6) Nipple stimulation (apparently 10 - 15 minutes each side. For a while.)
7) Long walks.
8) There's an "accupressure" point between the thumb and forfinger. Bit dubious, but at 3 in the morning you try anything. :-) There's another one on the bottom of my feet which I can't get to for obvious reasons and one inside the ankle and one inside the pelvis somewhere.
9) Squats
10) Bumpy drives.
11) Chocolate. (Hey, why not?) :-)
12) Lots and lots of standing.
13) Internal Examination by Dr.
14) Hot showers. (I don't do baths. At least, not very often. Spa would be nice but I don't think that's the thing we're looking for here.)

I think that covers everything we've tried so far. But most of it has been in the past few days. Sometimes things respond fast, sometimes they don't, and basically, the baby will come when s/he wants to come, regardless of how much chili and chocolate we eat.

I will admit, I have NOT tried jumping up and down. *giggle*

Ooo, and I'm tempted by having Matt and Lucretiae cook for me again... except I really just want to hide under a rock...
:-) I was going to ask Sheldon but that would require him to respond to emails occasionally. Or exist. Or something. :-)

Comments

[divaflip.livejournal.com]

try raspberry leaf tea. you aren't allowed to have it in the first trimester as it induces miscarriage. but I guess you are well and truly past the risk of that now ;-)

you could also try a massage blend with almond oil and rose essential oil (*not* a fragrant oil). rose oil helps with contractions during labour, so it might help stimulate everything.

or look up any of the essential oils that you can't take during pregnancy due to miscarriage risk. they are the ones that are good for regulating the cycle - clary sage, roman chamomile, jasmine, juniper, ginger, cinnamon, myrrh, rosemary, peppermint. Pick two or three you like the scent of, and put a blend of *maximum* ten drops per 20 mls of sweet almond oil. These all have emmenagogue properties, and should never be used undiluted.

massage into abdomen, lower back, and even burn a blend of them in an oil burner. by the time you are breathing and absorbing them through the skin, there might be some results.

[callistra.livejournal.com]

Raspberry leaf tea I am supposed to have been drinking for the last month or so, culminating in three or so cups a day at this point, so I think I might be a bit beyond that one.

:-)
I don't really want to go down the essential oil or herbal path because I'm not qualified, and I don't have any one over here I trust to talk to about it.

I could go and visit my naturopath, but I haven't seen her in years and she's 40/50 minutes drive away. I don't want to go that far away right now!

[divaflip.livejournal.com]

the aromatherapy 'bible' is called The Fragrant Pharmacy, by Valerie Ann Warwood.

there is a whole chapter on giving pregnancy / birth, which I tend to photocopy and hand out as required :) I haven't heard any negative reactions so far, and it might even help.