Thread: General Nipple Stim Questions

Anybody used this method to induce? What has been your personal experience with it?
When should you start?
How exactly have you been instructed to do it? I think in my Bradley Class I was told 5 mins on one side, then 15 mins off, then switch sides, but I can't remember.
Any other general info you would like to add?

I used nipple stim to get my labours going with #2 and #3.

With #2, I was already having many contractions that had a 'labour' feel to them. But they were irregular and refusing to get more intense. So I got out the electric pump and used it on one side at a time. 10 minutes on, 2 or 3 minutes off, then switch sides. With Mallory it took an hour of the pump to get the contractions coming every 4 minutes regularly, and stronger. It was 3 hours later that she was born.

With my 3rd I was at 41 weeks and not having contractions at that point. I'd had a good night's sleep though, and decided that it was a good day to birth. So at 7am I got out the breast pump and within an hour of the same regime as above, I had mild contractions coming every 4-5 minutes. After that hour I took a break from the pump and chatted with my neighbour. Contrax were negligible while chatting. Then my mom called to make sure I wasn't in labour so she could go to a wine festival. That's when my water broke.

I ended up using the pump (10 minutes on, 5 off) to get labour rip-roaring again. It worked awesome and my baby was born after 6 hours of active labour.

I think that the pump will only work if you are otherwise almost ready. If things get too intense then you can always just stop the stimulation and rest.

Ditto I think it will only work if you are pretty much on the edge of labour anyway. Being that I nursed my DD a few times a day all through my entire pregnancy and I didn't go into labour until my water broke. But even then, it was awhile (15hrs) before real labour kicked in. Though I do credit nursing my daughter for her nap to labour kicking right in.

Originally Posted by JorgieGirl

Ditto I think it will only work if you are pretty much on the edge of labour anyway. Being that I nursed my DD a few times a day all through my entire pregnancy and I didn't go into labour until my water broke. But even then, it was awhile (15hrs) before real labour kicked in. Though I do credit nursing my daughter for her nap to labour kicking right in.

Oh I will never forget the look on your face as you came downstairs after nursing V. LOL, only an hour later we met Fiona