Hi Ladies

I thought this would be helpful for all the mums to be that are due soon and wanted to ask your advice.

I am nearly 32 weeks and know that over the next few weeks there are some tips that I will be following for example taking Rasberry Leaf Tea capsules or drinking the tea (depending if I like it or not). Birthing balls - when is good to start using one? (Pineapple, BDing, long walks etc when do we start those)

Are there any top tips you have? Please include when to start them too!

I'm nervous about the birth (first baby) and what to expect so thought concentrating on doing all I can in the run up to the due date will help me feel better - few of the DIF ladies will agree with me!

Hope everyone is enjoying their pregnancys!

xx

hi!

right...i started doing the following from 37 weeks.

rasberry leaf capsules
clary sage oil (in the bath)
pineapple (every day or every other day)
long walks

i started using my birthing ball from about 30 weeks as baby was back to back, from about 37 weeks i was spending about 3 hours a day on the ball, not all at once though.


hope all goes well!

ashy xx

My top tip would be relax, chill out and get lots of sleep! Ha ha - it used to drive me mad when people said that to me when i had ds1 but they were right.

I can't remember when i started using my birthing ball but i found it really good so would def give that a go.

All the things to bring on labour suppose you'd start doing may be around 36wks, don't want baby arriving too early.

Try not to be too nervous about the birth, i think the more nervous you are the more you tense up etc, i tried to remain as calm as i could and everything went very smoothly for me and wasn't half as bad as i expected (although i accept after reading other peoples stories i am one of the lucky ones!). Just remember how ever bad labour is you have a gorgous baby at the end of it and it is right when people say you forget about it very quickly.

Just continue to enjoy your pregnancy baby will be here before you know it! x

all i can say is just try and relax, baby will come along when they are ready. there is evidence that rosemary tea and clary sage dont do anything at all.

Thanks ladies - even if some are old wives tales it's something else to concentrate on so I'm sure will be a welcome distraction! x

I think I started those things around 37 weeks too. The raspberry leaf I think is more to strengthen your uterus so your contractions are more effective, rather than inducing labour. I tried all the things like pineapple, walks etc etc but still went 10 days over so don't have any faith that they do anything!! The birth ball is good to get baby in the right position and engaged, never too early to start as it's good for your posture anyway and easy to do whilst just watching TV or something. Also getting on hands and knees helps get baby in the right position - try doing something on the floor, such as a jigsaw puzzle if that's your thing or writing your Christmas cards, instantly gets your in a downwards and forwards position!

I agree with the others - relax and really just stock up on as much sleep as you can get! Difficult I know if you're uncomfortable. My other piece of advice with it being your first, is do loads of stuff you will find hard to do once bub is here - go to the cinema, go out on a date with your OH, meet up with your friends while you still can actually concentrate on what they are saying, have a manicure, have a lovely long session at the hair salon, read books, watch movies, spoil yourself as your life is about to change dramatically (obviously in a good way) and you won't get your old life back ever again - or when you do you will be loads older!!!!

hey G/C from DIM but i have a 4yr old aswell and remember my sons dad made me eat a hot curry then i went for a hot bath and a long walk i dont know if it was them or not but my waters went at 12 noon the next day and he was born at 4pm .. he was 15 days early xx

I ate fajitas and she came 6 hrs later!!
Walking all the time, dont stop.
Walk up and down stairs sideways to engage baby.
raspberry leaf tea from 36 weeks, I had 4 a day and my contractions and 2nd stage were very effiecient, I didnt have pain relief.

CHILL out, I didnt! I was running around as we moved house at 35 weeks and she came at 38.
just relax and have baths and eat lots xxx

I walked loads right up to birth, ate lots of pineapple. Had a hot bath then sex at bedtime, then waters broke 3am. But I was 6days over anyway so maybe he was just ready to arrive!!

I had a bit of 'special' time with my hubby and my waters broke half an hour later just as i was falling asleep so i don't know if it was just conincidence but i would definitley recommend this i was in my 39th week.

the usual raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, clary sage oil, spicy foods, copious amounts ofpineapple (needs to be about 7whole ones in a day though! i had 4 in one day and nothing just a burnt mouth lol)!) long walks, ball bouncing/rocking, sex!

i think i started most things with ds at 36weeks, everywhere says different though, nothing worked though, and tbh trying it all just stressed me out that he wasn't coming, so this time i've not done anything except walking and ball bouncing/rocking...honestly they come when they're ready, all of those things only work if ur right on the brink of labour anyway, they just help to tip the balance (although raspberry leaf isn't actually for bringing on labour, it's to help make ur contractions more effective)...oh and cleaning the floors on hands and knees, far side of the bath etc is supposed to tilt ur pelvis so baby is putting more pressure on ur cervix, this can help (i cleaned my kitchen floor at 11.30pm the other night in the vague hope lol)...just try to enjoy thelast little bit, before u know it, ur baby wil be in ur arms, regardless of what lotions and potions etc x