I am 40 weeks and 2 days, I am only 1 cm dilated is there anything I can do to kick start labor?

Hi there,

I was in your position six months ago! With one exception, which is that I am based in the UK, and here the doctor won't induce you before 42 weeks, unless there are underlying medical issues. So it might be worth just refusing to undergo induction - they can't insist that you go through it if you don't want to...

Anyway, I tried hot spicy food (the heartburn wasn't worth it, and it didnt do anything). fresh pineapple (I genuinely don't think that did ANYTHING, but it tasted good) and BDing - which was fun, although a bit embarrassing as I was so huge... but again, didn't do anything!

Finally, I tried walking - I started walking in the field behind my house on Sunday, (my due date), going out for around 15 minutes at a time and resting when I was tired - then I did the same for much of Monday (40+1) - then I had a midwife appt on Tuesday morning (40+2), she did a sweep and said I was 1cm dilated - I went home and started walking AGAIN (this was about 10.30am) - at about noon I started feeling strange (I had already been having some braxton hicks, but these were much more regular, and getting quite strong, though not painful) - at 2pm I called my partner to come home from work (and I stopped walking!) - and I was admitted to hospital around 6pm at 4cm dilated.

So, sorry for such a long answer, but I recommend walking :)

GOOD LUCK, and I hope you have an easy birth, a happy healthy baby, and minimal stitches :)

Lots of Sex is what my doctor said, with my first child i drank castor oil and it started my labor and i did all natural but it was a long labor and i had to be put on pitocin, lots of people say the baby will come when its ready and nothing really works, its great you are dilated to a 1 and are 60% effaced and this is your first baby so thats awesome and if you have to be induced i think it will go pretty fast for you, best of luck

38 weeks pregnant with baby #2

I was 40 +3 days when I went to the midwife and was 2 cm dilated. She told me to keep on my feet. What worked for me was an exercise ball. That made labour come on fast. Good luck

I'm 39w3d and I tried doing the spicy food thing last night, because I've been in prelabor for almost two weeks and I'm sick of it. So far, I'm nauseous, but my contractions hurt worse. They're still fairly irregular, but I think they're progressing. I'd say it's worth a shot, but just keep some milk or tums handy. It'll probably work better for you since you're further along. Best of luck!

walking helps alot. Just make sure you wear good shoes or your feet will kill you. Also, sex can help induce your labor. Its a big cause of premature labor for some women.