Honestly I do not think any of it really works. My first was a week early and I felt fine through the whole pregnancy I did walk a lot about 3 weeks prior to birth but not sure that it actually worked. Wouldn't hurt to try but I went into labor on my own after eating dinner at applebees you maybe could try that :laugh:

Ultimately, when your baby is ready to come, they will come, but there are some natural ways to help induce labor. Make sure that before using any herbs to consult with your practitioner, and castor oil is rarely reccomended. Sex was always my go- to labor inducer. I went into labor with my second and third within an hour of sex. There are prostaglndins in semen that soften the cervix. Good luck. I know, that the waiting game sucks, but remember, your babies lungs are brain continue to develop until birth, so your baby will come when that are all done cooking!

I ate a LOT of pineapples at the end of my pregnancy. Pineapples are suppose to soften the cervix. Mine was 90% soften when I went to get induced and I started dilating more. I was at a 1cm most of the time after 36wks and when I went to the dr to get induced I got to a 2.5-3cm, I did a lot of walking and pineapples. lol. I also worked on my feet all day up until 39wks, and my job required a lot of up and down on the stairs and lifting. NOTHING WORKED, but I am sure had I not gotten induced for medical reasons, I would have gone on my own within a week. My cervix progressed very fast with pitocin so she told me that i would have gone on my own soon. She also mentioned that if I have another baby and I get into labor to rush to the hospital cause I dilate very fast. I am hoping to go on my own. After I am full term, I will start doing A LOT of things to kick start it. good luck!!!

Off topic, but at this moment my co-worker is 4 centimeters and 80% and just workin' away....

I sat on the yoga ball for two days and ate a plateful of Buffalo Wild Wings Jamaican Jerk and Asian Zing wings...water broke in the middle of dinner

I feel your pain! Today is my due date. I'm scheduled for an NST and ultrasound for next Wednesday and we'll go from there. Unfortunately, because I'm trying for a VBAC, I can't have a 'typical' induction (increases risk of uterine rupture), so I have to go on my own or it's a repeat c/s for me (Well, if my cervix is favorable, they can do a foley catheter induction, but my cervix has to cooperate for that to be an option. Currently 1cm dilated and not effaced at all). My midwives have reiterated that labor is strictly hormonal. Walking, while it's good for you, won't start labor. It might help things pick up if it has started on its own, but walking itself won't start labor. Sex is best, as there are prostoglandins in semen that help soften the cervix (cydatek is the synthetic drug often used in inductions before pitocin to ripen the cervix), and oxytocin is released when you orgasm (pitocin, the main induction drug, is a synthetic version of oxytocin). Nipple stimulation also releases oxytocin, though it takes a LOT of stimulation to cause a contraction. I asked about using a breast pump, which will definitely get contractions going, but if the cervix isn't favorable or if labor hasn't already started on its own, they'll just be braxton hicks contractions, and you have to be careful to stop stimulating the nipples during a contraction, or the contraction can be very prolonged. So even with natural releases of these hormones, bottom line is if baby and cervix are not ready, they won't do anything productive for you. Bummer, I know.

At my appointment yesterday, baby was head down but very high, she wasn't on my cervix at all, and my midwife had difficulty checking my cervix because of it. Kinda discouraged by that, but hope is not lost yet! She recommended sitting on the edge of my seat and keeping my knees apart, sitting on an exercise ball, doing lunges, wiggling my hips (think belly dancing, LOL!), anything to help baby get down in there (as baby's head pressing on the cervix helps ripen the cervix). She could feel that my pelvis has plenty of room for baby, so there's no physiological reason she could tell for why baby isn't down.

And even though they're not hormone-related, I've been drinking raspberry leaf tea every day for weeks, and taking evening primrose oil for a couple weeks now. I'm a fan of herbal medicine, even if the evidence for its effectiveness is largely anecdotal. I'll try anything (except castor oil... that just sounds nasty) Good luck to you!!!

I'm pregnant with my first, but three people who recently had babies have told me that they went into labor within hours after having sex, so maybe there's something to that after all :-)

I went to the gym on my due date and walked on the treadmill at the highest speed my achy hips could handle, and while I got some contractions going, it didn't do anything (they died down shortly after I got home).

I agree with JulaMonster that it is hormonal. I knew for sure at 40w2d that it was "the day" based on how out of whack I was hormonally (I felt like I had major PMS x a million), and sure enough the bloody show started that night, then went into labour/delivered baby the next day.

I understand wanting to go on your own before being induced, but baby will arrive when he's ready! If there's no medical reason for inducing on the date they've selected for you, would your doctor be open to waiting a few more days to see if you go on your own? (Here it's 41w3d before they schedule anything).