Has anyone tried nipple stimulation to bring on labour?

Question

i'm now 10 days past my due date, due to be induced on monday... but i would still love for things to happen on their own. Has anyone tried nipple stimulation and did it work for you?... also how long do you do it for and how many times a day?

Answer 1

Its best if your husband does it. If you do it, it may not work as well. Its only purpose is to make your uterus contract, which may or may not bring on true labor. Basically, allow him to turn you on. Nipple stimulation and o****m are two sure fire ways to gets some contractions going. Also, s***n is a natural cervix softener. Have as much s*x as you can handle is my advice.

I'd say, a minimum of 3 times a day. And not just letting him do his thing. You have to accomplish the o****m and be turned on for this method to work!

I'm afraid of s*x sometimes right now. I'm 36 weeks and the contractions o****m brings are sometimes too much for me to handle! Good luck to you.

Answer 2

I would skip the induction even though you are presumed to be 42 weeks.  I would just continue watchful waiting and NSTs.  But I did a lot of research before I reached that conclusion, and it is one each mother must make on her own.

If nipple stimulation combined with s*x doesn't work its a pretty good indicator that your baby simply isn't ready.

If you do consent to an induction you MUST know your bishop's score and its implications, and you MUST understand the risks of various induction methods.

http://www.kellymom.com/nursingtwo/artic...

The well-protected uterus

The specter of breastfeeding-induced preterm labor appears to spring in large part from an incomplete understanding of the interactions between nipple stimulation, oxytocin, and pregnancy.

The first little-known fact is that during pregnancy less oxytocin is released in response to nipple stimulation than when a woman is not pregnant.5

But the key to understanding breastfeeding during pregnancy is the uterus itself. Contrary to popular belief, the uterus is not at the beck and call of oxytocin during the 38 weeks of the “preterm” period. Even a high dose of synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) is unlikely to trigger labor until a woman is at term.6

Instead, the uterus must actively prepare in order for labor to commence. You could say that there are two separate states of being for the uterus: the quiescent baby-holder and the active baby-birther. These states make all the difference to how the uterus responds to oxytocin, and so, one can surmise, to breastfeeding. While the baby is growing, the uterus is geared to have a muffled response to oxytocin; at term, the body’s preparations for labor transform the uterus in ways that make it respond intensely to oxytocin.

Many discussions of breastfeeding during pregnancy mention “oxytocin receptor sites,” the uterine cells that detect the presence of oxytocin and cause a contraction. These cells are sparse up until 38 weeks, increasing gradually after that time, and increasing 300-fold after labor has begun.6,7 The relative scarcity of oxytocin receptor sites is one of the main lines of defense for keeping the uterus quiescent throughout the entire preterm period—but it is not the only one.

A closer look at the molecular biology of the pregnant uterus reveals yet more lines of defense. In order for oxytocin receptor sites to respond strongly to oxytocin they need the help of special agents called “gap junction proteins”. The absence of these proteins renders the uterus “down-regulated,” relatively insensitive to oxytocin even when the oxytocin receptor site density is high. And natural oxytocin-blockers, most notably progesterone, stand between oxytocin and its receptor site throughout pregnancy. 8,9,10

With the oxytocin receptor sites (1) sparse, (2) down-regulated, and (3) blocked by progesterone and other anti-oxytocin agents, oxytocin alone cannot trigger labor. The uterus is in baby-holding mode, well protected from untimely labor.4

Natural or Non-Pharmaceutical Induction

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/nati...

A Timely Birth

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/t...

What is a Bishop's Score and How Does it Relate to Inducing Labor?

http://www.amazingpregnancy.com/pregnanc...

Induced Labor and Informed Consent in Canada

http://www.ican-online.org/pregnancy/ind...

Misoprostol (Cytotec) for Labor Induction: A Cautionary Tale

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/c...

Answer 3

I was told never to do this unless under dr supervision.  I didn't do it, but have read that it can cause serious contractions, but doesn't necessarily bring on labor.  And the stress of contractions isn't good for the baby unless they're ready.  That's all I know about that.

Good luck!    

Answer 4

I am 39 weeks and I'm thinking about doing the same thing. I asked my doctor and she said go for it. Good Luck girl and God Bless

Answer 5

Yes I"ve tried it.  I used my breast pump...but it didn't work for me.  It did cause some contractions, so in my case I think baby just wasn't ready.  I hope it works for you!  good luck and congratulations

Answer 6

I have tried it but it did not work, I even tried having s*x, that did not work either, what i believe is it will come when its ready, I was over due for a week too, went to get induced but had to have a c section, dont worry, and hope for the best! Good luck!

Answer 7

no, sounds fun though

Answer 8

I tried this with my breast pump and it didn't work to bring on labor.  However, it is potentially a very effective way to induce labor if your body is ready.  I just don't think my body was ready, although I was having more intense contractions while doing it.  Good luck!  

Answer 9

Ya, it didn't work. There are a lot of other ways to try and induce labor yourself. and if you are that far past due, I'd do it. lol.

Fresh pineapple or mango, raspberry leaf tea, s*x, walking a lot, castor oil.

To do nipple stimulation you would probably have to do it for a few hours twice a day.  

Answer 10

Never heard of this one, sorry

Answer 11

no but i tryed nipple stimulation to come