Question:
Does walking really help?
NEW MOMMY OF '08
2008-02-11 07:21:07 UTC
Ok i have been walking and walking and doing stairs but nothing seems to help...... this is in responce to my last question. Ladies please help becuase its so not confi, also i am having hard time breathing and i feel so sick to my tummy all the time.
Nine answers:
sevenofus
2008-02-11 07:54:18 UTC
I am mom to 4 children who were all born past their due dates by 9 days, 11 days, 5 days, and 7 days. I fully understand the frustration of watching your due date come and go with no signs of impending labor. My doctors all said I could walk if I wanted to, but it may not do anything. Truthfully, I think they suggest walking more to give you something constructive to do than as a guarantee that it will help labor along. Walking seems to be most effective if you are already having contractions but are not yet in labor. I tried a lot of things to get labor moving, but nothing really seemed to be the trigger. Sex, nipple stimulation, squats, eating spicy foods, driving down bumpy back roads, walking up and down stairs, and scrubbing floors on my hands and knees didn't seem to bring labor on any quicker for me. Each of my labors started when I least expected it and I couldn't attribute doing any one thing that made it happen. It just was the right time when both my body and my baby were ready. No one stays pregnant forever even though it does seem like it. The discomfort you are feeling is normal and most pregnant women don't feel very well at the end of their pregnancy. The difficulty breathing is due to the baby taking up the last bit of space causing everything to push up against your lungs. One good sign will be when you feel like you can breathe better and this will mean that your baby is "dropping" in to the birth position and indicates labor is likely nearing. Nauseau, vomiting, and diarrhea are also very normal end of pregnancy symptoms. Again, the size of your baby is such that all your internal organs are vying for premium space and your stomach, intestines, and colon are feeling the sqeeze so food isn't settling and digeting quite so well.
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Mommy to GAIB!!!
2008-02-11 15:26:19 UTC
having a hard time breathing is normal... for a while you will have to breathe for two. and the tummy sickness is because of the baby... stairs and walking will keep you pretty elastic, i know it is TMI, but you will appreciate it during labor!
Invisible Pink RN
2008-02-11 15:25:43 UTC
Walking truly really does help, the gravity will pull the babys head further into the pelvis putting pressure on your cervix which will dilate and release the hormone prostaglandin which starts the contractions
ArielFelice P
2008-02-11 15:24:30 UTC
Report the breathing issue to your Dr. but it's probably just the baby taking up space.
dont no what to do
2008-02-11 17:18:14 UTC
i was due in october ....and i went a week past my due dat eso is tarted to do longer walks on the track it did hurt do to alot of preassure but the more walking i did the better

i went for a 2 hour walk and not even 3 hours later iw as in giving birth:)

good luck
2008-02-11 15:27:01 UTC
the breathlessness is probaly from all the walking and the baby does take alot of space and your lungs cant expand as much as they used to.but to be safe call your dr on that.walking does help it makes the baby drop and makes you dialate it helped for me.also my dr had told me to have lots of sex because there is a chemical in the semen that can initiate labor.lol believe it or not i tried that in one of my pregnancys and it worked.
Jamie G
2008-02-11 15:26:07 UTC
Those things are normal for late pregnancy, sounds like your baby hasn't dropped into place yet, so you aren't ready for labor anyway. Walking does help, to get ready for labor and to speed labor once it's begun.
becca
2008-02-11 15:27:46 UTC
Well this is what my sister did to induce/ bring on her labor at 37 weeks, i did at 39 weeks and my cousin did at 37 weeks and it worked for all 3 of us!! its a recipe from scalini's a restaurant in ga that guarentees if you eat this meal you will go into labor in 48 hours! it worked great for my sister and hey look at the plus it wont harm the baby, and if for some reason it doesnt work then at least u will have a great meal!! and if u r a sceptic here is the # to the restaurant call them and ask (770) 952-7222 and (770) 321-4343 and if that doesnt soothe ur mind google it!!

Ingredients



3 medium sized eggplants

1 cup flour

6 eggs, beaten

4 cups fine Italian bread crumbs, seasoned

Olive oil for sauteing

8 cups of marinara sauce (recipe below)

1/2 cup grated Romano cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 pounds of mozzarella cheese, shredded

2 cups of ricotta cheese

Directions



1. After you wash the eggplant, slice them into 1/4-inch thick slices. You may choose to peel the eggplant before you slice it. However, you may want to leave the skin on since it contains a lot of vitamins.



2. Place the eggplant slices on a layer of paper towels and sprinkle with a little salt, then cover with another layer of paper towels and hold it down with something heavy to drain the excess moisture. Let them sit for about an hour.



3. Working with one slice of eggplant at a time, dust with flour, dip in beaten eggs, then coat well with breadcrumbs.



4. Saute in preheated olive oil on both sides until golden brown.



5. In baking dish, alternate layers of marinara sauce, eggplant slices, ricotta, parmesan and Romano cheeses, until you fill the baking dish, about 1/8 inch from the top. Cover with shredded mozzarella cheese, and bake for 25 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.





Scalini's Marinara Sauce



Ingredients



2 Tablespoons of chopped garlic

3 Tablespoons of olive oil

8 cups chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned)

1 cup onions, chopped

1/2 cup of fresh chopped parsley

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper

1/8 cup of fresh chopped sweet basil

Pinch of thyme

Pinch of rosemary

One teaspoon salt

One teaspoon black pepper



Directions



1. Lightly saute the onions in olive oil in large pot for a few minutes.



2. Add garlic and saute another minute.



3. Add tomatoes and bring sauce to a boil, then turn heat low.



4. Add remaining ingredients, stir, cover and let simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.





Before you proceed, we should warn you that there is very little hard scientific evidence relating to either the effectiveness, or the safety, of any of these methods. The studies that have been done tend to be small and evidence is difficult to verify: if labour is due anyway, how do you know whether it was the curry you ate last night that actually brought it on? On the safety side, talk to your doctor or midwife at your next check up before you try any of these methods. This is particularly important if there are any complications in your pregnancy.



Nipple stimulation



Nipple stimulation is the gentle rubbing or rolling of the nipple to encourage the start of contractions. The theory is that oxytocin, a hormone that causes contractions, is released in the body when the breasts are stimulated.



Is it safe?

Nipple stimulation has been reported to produce very strong contractions and for this reason you should use it with care. However, a study of 719 women found that there were no problems of this sort following nipple stimulation.



Does it work?

The study mentioned above was thought to be too small to draw concrete conclusions from, but did show a significant benefit from nipple stimulation: 37.3 per cent of women who had tried it went into labour within 72 hours as compared to just 6.4 per cent of those who had not.



How do I try it?

The idea is to simulate the suckling of a baby so you need to massage the whole areola (the dark area around the nipple), not just tweak the nipple. Place your palm over the areola and move in a circular motion, applying a firm but gentle pressure. This may need to be continued for some time. The usual recommendation is 15 minutes of continual stimulation on each nipple each hour for several hours.



Castor oil





There are reports of castor oil being used to bring on labour as far back as the Egyptians, though how it works is poorly understood. The most commonly given explanation is that it acts as a powerful laxative, and when it stimulates the gut it also stimulates the uterus and so "kick starts" labour.



Is it safe?

Nausea is likely to be the immediate effect, followed by a bad case of diarrhoea and there is a risk that you will become dehydrated. For this reason, we would NOT recommend taking castor oil.



Does it work?

A study of 100 overdue women found that 57.7% began active labour after a single dose of 60ml of castor oil, as opposed to 4.2% who received no treatment. Another small study found that taking castor oil had no adverse affects on mother or baby. Neither study was of a large enough scale to be conclusive.



How do I try it?

This is one we would NOT recommend but, according to a survey of midwives, 4 fl oz of castor oil mixed with orange juice is the usual dose. It is revolting (very oily) to drink though some suggest that making it fizzy by adding ½ teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda helps. A second dose can be given 12 hours later.



Sex



Sex as means of getting labour started is thought to work in three ways: firstly the movement may help to stimulate the uterus into action; secondly, sex can trigger the release of oxytocin, the 'contraction' hormone; thirdly, semen contains a high concentration of prostaglandins which help to ripen, or soften, the neck of the womb (cervix) ready for it to dilate when labour starts.



Is it safe?

Sex is safe as long as your waters have not broken. Once this has happened, making love may increase the risk of infection. You should also avoid sex if you have a low-lying placenta or have had vaginal bleeding. Men often feel uncomfortable making love to their partners with a baby so obviously in the way but the baby will not know what is happening and will not be harmed.



Does it work?

Not enough studies have been done but, if nothing else, it will take your mind off the waiting.



How do I try it?

At this stage in your pregnancy sex is easier said than done. Try spoons, with your partner entering from behind or use the bed as a prop: your bulge isn't an obstacle if you lie on your back at the side or foot of the bed with your knees bent, and your bottom and feet perched at the edge of the mattress. Your partner can either kneel or stand in front of you. Alternatively, giving your partner oral sex may work better. It is thought that prostaglandins are absorbed more efficiently through the gut than through the vagina. (Note: you may prefer to keep this piece of information to yourself.)



Eating pineapple



Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which is thought to help to soften the cervix and so bring on labour.



Is it safe?

There is very little available research. Each pineapple contains only very small amounts of bromelain so you would need to eat as many as seven to have any effect. The most likely side-effect of eating large amounts of pineapple would be a severe case of the runs.



Does it work?

There is some debate about the role played by bromelain on prostaglandins, which soften the cervix to prepare it for labour. Some studies actually suggest that bromelain inhibits prostaglandin activity while others think the opposite. Regardless of this, eating large quantities of pineapple is likely to stimulate the gut and bowel and, as with castor oil, could kick-start the uterus into action by that means.



How do I try it?

The pineapple must be fresh: bromelain is destroyed by the process of canning or juicing.



Homeopathy



Homoeopathic remedies use highly diluted versions of more potent substances to treat the body. Pulsatilla and Caulophyllum are two commonly used homeopathic remedies used to stimulate labour.



Is it safe?

Homeopathic remedies are very safe. The Faculty of Homeopathy have researched their use in labour and not found any incidents of damage caused by them. The worst damage homeopathy can do is nothing - that is, the wrong remedy has been prescribed and is therefore ineffective.



Does it work?

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence from patients who found that homeopathy is helpful, but this has not been researched in a systematic way. One trial into caulophyllum found no difference between the women who took it and those who didn't, but the method of the trial was not thought to be reliable.



How do I try it?

Contact a registered homeopath (The Society of Homeopaths has a list). A Homeopathic Birth Kit is available from Helios Pharmacy which includes 18 remedies and a mini-guide.



Herbal: blue cohosh and black cohosh



Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) and black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosus) are herbs which should not be used in early pregnancy but are often cited as useful in bringing on labour.



Are they safe?

There are no scientific studies available. Many anecdotal reports suggest that they are safe to use in the final stages of pregnancy. However, we have also come across two reports in which the use of each of these herbs during pregnancy may have been a contributing factor to birth defects. Herbals are much stronger than homeopathic remedies and so should always be used under professional guidance. Given that there is a question mark hanging over them, you may decide that it is better to avoid these herbs entirely.



Do they work?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that they do, but there are no scientific studies to back this up.



How do I try them?

The N


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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