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Charlotte Church Using Old Wives Tales to Induce Labor
Filed under: Bump Watch
Remember Charlotte Church? I don't really, either, but I think she has one of those fabulous voices and is a large sensation in the UK. Well, Charlotte is ready to give birth to her second child and can't seem to get that baby here fast enough. The songstress is allegedly trying any and all means (safe ones, of course) to coax her baby into the world. According to reports, Charlotte was spotted eating curry in an attempt to jumpstart labor. Curry and other spicy foods are an old wives tale trick to get things rolling. As someone who ate Thai food throughout both my pregnancies I can assure you that the chances are slim to none that spicy food will bring on labor. And I'm talking green curry Thai, not peanuts and noodles!
Still, these notions that certain things can jumpstart labor persist even into the modern day. I remember sitting with my OB going over the possibilities, and we both had a good laugh over some of the things recommended in the past for getting that baby train rolling. Having sex is a good one, as is eating castor oil -- gross! No, really, it's GROSS -- and the aforementioned spicy food. Another one is light exercise like going for a walk.
Dont Say This to a Pregnant Woman!
Pregnancy is an exciting time, so it's only natural that you want to join in the fun and chat with mom-to-be about her impending bundle of joy. Just watch your mouth, or you could sound like a jerk!
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"Was it planned?"
It sure doesn't matter now, does it?
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"How are you feeling?"
Pregnant women get asked this about 10,000 times a day. They are fine.
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"Whoa, you're still pregnant?"
Trust us, she's well aware that the baby is still in there.
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"Will you have any more after this one?"
This is not the moment to discuss future children -- one at a time, people.
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"I think a better name would be..."
Nobody cares. We'll ask what you think when you're the one carrying a baby around for 9 months.
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"I can see it [the pregnancy] in your face."
What you mean is "you have that pregnant glow," but what you're saying is "your face got fat."
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"I know a woman who worked/exercised/etc until she went into labor"
And now we feel like crap because we're not doing those things. Thanks a lot.
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"You've hardly gained any weight!"
Your heart is in the right place, but comments like this make women worry that there's something wrong with the pregnancy.
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"Are you having twins [or triplets]?"
Basically you're saying she looks enormous so there must be another baby in there.
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I think the only thing that will actually get labor started outside of nature is pitocin, and you can only get that in the hospital with your doctor's approval, generally when you're two weeks late. This may vary from place to place, but it's safe to say they aren't handing pitocin out over the counter. I have heard that sex speeds things along, but, really, when you're nine months pregnant the last thing you might consider is getting frisky!
Any wives tales that brought on labor you know of? Please share -- and send word to Charlotte Church!
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-08-2009 @ 1:53PM
K said...There are a wide variety of methods for bringing labor on, some work, some don't. One that does work is nipple stimulation. Doctors do not advise this because it can bring on labor fast and furiously. Stimulating the nipples makes the body release its version of pitocin, so it can be dangerous to try. There are also any number of herbal labor stimulants. I say let nature take its course and adhere to the advise of your health care provider.
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1-08-2009 @ 2:04PM
commonplaceiris said...I imagine she's trying to avoid getting pitocin at the hospital since she wants another homebirth.
I've heard all sorts of tips for inducing labor, but never yet got far enough along to need to try them. One of the OBs at the hospital I gave birth at talked about using acupuncture/reflexology to bring on labor.
Also just being physically active (keep walking), nipple stimulation, even blowing up balloons. There are various herbal approaches, and for foods I've heard fresh pineapple and black licorice both are supposed to help (seems like a good excuse to eat them anyway).
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1-08-2009 @ 3:01PM
Sarah said...Actualy sex did work for inducing labor with my first son. He was a week early. My husband decided to get frisky that night and as soon as we had finished -my water broke. LOL he rushed around panicking looking for the numbers to the doctor and my mom, while all I could do was sit there and cry because I had ruined the bed. My younger one was right on time, yet my doctor insisted on inducing me with pitocin. I was admitted in the morning, dosed and monitored, and the stubborn lil bugger said 'just one more day' so the induction was halted and resumed the next morning. He still waited till suppertime before gracing us with his presence :)
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1-08-2009 @ 4:13PM
Anne-Marie said...There are a lot of ways to induce labor, not just pitocin! Nipple stimulation and sexual intercourse both cause the body to release oxytocin, the natural hormone pitocin tries to mimic. Semen also contains prostaglandins that help ripen the cervix. As mentioned above, acupuncture and acupressure both have points that have been known to induce labor. I know of a massage therapist who specializes in pregnancy massage, and one treatment is specifically used for labor induction. There are herbal treatments as well, but those should only be used under a doctor's supervision.
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1-09-2009 @ 11:53PM
Taylor said...Wow - Charlotte has turned into quite the piglet!
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1-08-2009 @ 9:39PM
Tina said...Besides having my membranes stripped...I started drinking raspberry leaf tea 48 hours b4 my water broke, Along with some frisky time with the hubby, 4 hours later my water broke. I was determined to get my daughter out. She was due Oct 8th, but when I tried self inducing methods, she came Sept 26th. Still she weight 8 lbs 7.4oz 20.5inches long.
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1-09-2009 @ 12:03AM
Justme said...Why in the world would you try "self induce" your labor 2 weeks before your due date?? Sounds like you were trying before that! The due date is just an estimate and many babies are born after the date. The baby comes when its ready to, nature knows what to do! If not, your doctor can help the baby along the way. Being monitored, in a hospital, to make sure its safe for baby and mother. I think its crazy for anyone to try to "induce" their labor! Yes, I am a mother of 3 and I did have to have 1 induced. All 3 were late and I couldn't wait to deliver them but I would have never tried any "home" remedies and put myself or my baby at risk!!
1-09-2009 @ 12:41AM
SF said...I will never forget when my sister-in-law, a nurse, wanted to hurry up the baby's arrival. She and her husband drove their Jeep over the back roads with all the potholes in them, thinking that the jostling would want baby to arrive. It didn't work, and I don't think she realized that she risked her babys' life,what if the placenta had ruptured, and here she was 20 miles from town down some dirt road. I want anxious Moms to remember that those long days, when you feel bigger than a house, are your last days of having your baby all to yourself. Once Baby is born, everyone wants to hold him. Moms, Enjoy your pregnancy.
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1-09-2009 @ 12:46AM
Kitty said...I used to love to hear Charlotte Church sing with her clear voice. I wonder if she has continued singing now that she is a busy Mom.
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1-09-2009 @ 12:53AM
fergie166 said...SEX, always worked for me but it was indeed near my due date, two boys born on their due date though one took 36 hours getting here, the other only 7. Both girls right after sex as well, one was a couple weeks late wasn't really "feeling" the frisky but was going to be induced and hubby was thinking about that six week wait time..soo.... and by the time he's back asleep my water broke the baby (my first came in six hours) the second daughter was SEVERAL weeks early but I finally gave in as I was headed to the hosptial for an extended, probably until birth stay because of blood pressure and some other issues....water broke before I was due to check in the next morning.
BUT I've heard it's gotta be that really good toe curling sex not just the hurry up and leave me alone type.
All four of mine...sex = water break within about a hour.
BTW that NASTY HORRIBLE castor oil did NOTHING for the one that was late.
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1-09-2009 @ 12:56AM
ME said...Sex worked for me!
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1-09-2009 @ 1:30AM
Carla H said...My doctor tried the membrane stripping trick with my second child a week before he was due. I felt like I'd been run over by a truck for days afterwards and he was still a week late.
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1-09-2009 @ 2:57AM
JWilliams said...Well...I was 4 weeks late with my first baby and had walked hundreds of miles...no exageration there... and she wasn't coming. I did the castor oil thing anddidn't know to only take a few spoonfuls. Drank the whole (small) bottle. I went into labor a few hours after. So guess it does work.
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1-09-2009 @ 8:38PM
Tiffany said...I remember that one of my best friends told me to drink raspberry iced tea. LOL I drank so much of it that I thought I would turn into a Raspberry. Still my little boy stayed right in there until they said...We are going to induce...Two days later there he was!
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1-09-2009 @ 6:18AM
Ruth Rochel said...I had been due the day before, and the obstetrician told me after his routine exam that I was going to deliver the next day for sure. He said if I didn't go into labor, just show up at the hospital anyway. That night, I went bowling with my regular league. I tripped and fell flat on my face. Everybody else was panic stricken, but even THAT did not induce labor. The next morning, not yet having had any contractions, we showed up at the hospital. When I told them I was not having contractions, naturally they assumed I was insane, but I insisted that my OB had instructed me to come. Upon examination, I was 5 cm dilated! An IV of pitocin quickly started the contractions, and within four hours I was the mother of a boy. It would have take even less time had his HUGE head not got stuck in the birth canal; after calling in the head of OB at the hospital, they were forced to used forceps.
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1-09-2009 @ 7:50AM
ann said...castor oil worked for me. just typing this is making me gag
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