We spend the first few weeks begging for our belly to swell, the next several begging for kicks and punches and the next unbearable weeks wishing for this human being to make his or her grand entrance already!
If you are nearing the 40-week point of your pregnancy, there is a good chance that you are darn well fed up with everything.
Then your mind has an “a-ha” moment: What are 8 natural ways to induce labor?
(Spoiler alert: we added three bonus and unfounded ways that moms claim work)
- Acupressure/Acupuncture
- Bouncy car ride
- Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea
- Castor oil – try it if you can stomach it.
- Walking
- Eating pineapple
- Sex
- Nipple stimulation
A Word of Warning
You may hate being pregnant towards the end, but consider this: that extra one, two or more weeks in the womb for your wee one are crucial.
These last few weeks fine-tune your baby and properly prepare him or her for the outside world.
Any kind of induction techniques should only be attempted if the following two factors are satisfied:
a) Your doctor or midwife has given you the green light; and
b) Your doctor or midwife has approved of your plan and is available to you 24 hours a day (in case you go into labor)
Note The Theme Here:
PROFESSIONAL APPROVAL.
Because while “natural” approaches may not work in some instances, when it comes to stimulating that uterus of yours and having a baby, many of these natural ways to induce labor do actually work.
Table Of Contents
Our Top Picks For Inducing Labor
There are a lot of natural ways of inducing labor, but these are our favorite:
Acupressure/Acupuncture
Often covered under many health plans, acupuncture is a Chinese medicine that utilizes pressure points on a mother’s body to help induce labor.
Acupressure Points That Help to Start Labor Naturally:
As much as you may not enjoy the thought of pins being stuck into your toes and behind your ears, it can work in just one single treatment.
Bonus: it also promotes relaxation and it will help relieve tension during the labor process.
A Bouncy Car Ride
Set off for an adventure on desert dunes, on an old log road or on a road currently being worked on.
All of them can actually help induce labor.
The bouncing helps ease the baby further into the birth canal, and it can actually help correct your baby’s birthing position.
It’s worth a try.
Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea
If you have more than four 250ml cups of raspberry leaf tea, you may be able to trigger contractions in your uterus.
This method is a nice compliment to all other suggestions on this list, though stick near a toilet.
You’ll need to pee.
Other Common Ways To Induce Labor
There are other ways to induce labor, including the infamous:
Castor Oil
Many moms claim that this method works, but it isn’t without its setbacks:
- Castor oil is a sedative
- Castor oil makes you poop (attractive!)
- Pooping dehydrates you
Pooping aside, you need to be hydrated when you go into labor.
You may be sweating it out for several hours, and that poop of yours does not deserve to steal that hydration away from you.
Castor oil can also cause cramping and other painful ailments, making it not a great choice for most moms.
Does this work to induce labor, and is it safe?
Walking
Walk, walk, walk… chances are you have already been walking a ton (especially if you have other kids in the household) and you already know that walking is total BS.
Walking will not induce contractions.
But it will come in handy once the contractions start. Remember that.
Eating Pineapple
If you’re in the midst of an off-pineapple season this may really piss you off.
But even if it is in-season, you would need to consume a bloat-worthy amount of pineapple (which contains bromelain and can help soften the cervix) to make this one even remotely acceptable.
Sex
This one must have been concocted by the partners of pregnant women.
Sure, sperm contains prostaglandins which help soften the cervix, but there is little to no chance that your husband’s final “go-time” for the next 4 to 6 weeks is going to induce labor.
Sex should also be avoided if your water has broken or if you are bleeding.
Nipple Stimulation
Seriously? Another one coming the male camp (I assume).
Nip stimulation can trigger the release of oxytocin.
But the amount necessary to have that baby from your comfortable, warm and cozy womb requires three hours a week dedication – at least.
Contractions brought on this way may also cause unnecessary unborn baby stress.
Bonus Offerings
Really desperate?
Give these a shot:
- Spicy foods (while there is no connection between the stomach and the uterus, enjoying a particularly “hot” curry may get things going)
- Evening primrose oil (whatever this is, our bodies apparently turn it into prostaglandins – this may be a good alternative to sperm, but let us know)
- Cohosh (apparently this herb acts like estrogen in our bodies but it is not well studied)
- Go Natural – But Only If Your Doctor Is Down
image source: Pinterest Amelia Smith
Inducing labor naturally is great and far more comfortable than doing so medically if your OBGYN or midwife is on-board and your baby is darn well due (or past due – poor mama!).
- Choose a method which is approved by your doctor
- Rest, relax and stay hydrated
- Go-time is right around the corner
Did you try a natural way to induce labor? Did it work? We want to know! Share by posting your story below.
References:
http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/natural-ways-to-induce-labor
http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/photo-gallery/natural-ways-to-induce-labor.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/baby/inducing-labor-naturally-can-it-be-done
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