Most of the foods that are said to help induce labor naturally are old wives’ tales, but a few foods have properties in them that may help. The moist environment of the vagina will melt the capsule and disperse the gel throughout the cervix. Susannah holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco. Your water broke over 24 hours ago, but you haven't experienced contractions. It hasn’t been proven to be one of the most effective forms of induction, but it is an option. By using our site, you agree to our. © 2015-2020 BABY CHICK, LLC. [1] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source It contains bromelain, which may help soften and “ripen” the cervix. There's one caveat: Don't resort to this remedy if your water has already broken. What do I do if I'm having thick brownish discharge when I'm pregnant? Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Regularly drinking raspberry leaf tea can strengthen and tone your uterus and help those muscles in your uterus start to contract. Borage oil prepares the body for birth by softening the cervix and increasing the flexibility of the pelvic ligaments. Out of all the ways to induce labor at home, nipple stimulation is one of the most reliable options. You're more likely to need a C-section. Besides having sex, you can also give yourself a breast massage to release oxytocin, which can help start contractions. Some pregnant women say that it gave them nothing but a bad case of diarrhea. Another way to induce labor is to have sex, since there’s some evidence that an orgasm can trigger labor. This is why it is important to work with your midwife or herbalist. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. She obtained her MSN from New York University’s (NYU) unique dual degree program combining integrative and allopathic disciplines. Acupuncture and acupressure are other natural methods for inducing labor. Last Updated: September 30, 2020 Soaking in a warm bath may help to get labor going. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 710,992 times. As a licensed massage therapist, I have given many of these massages and have helped approximately 60-70% of them go into labor after just one appointment. With over 10 years of experience, Susannah specializes in adult primary care, holistic medicine, and women’s healthcare. Some practitioners believe that acupressure can help start labor. Several women swear that after one or two nights of inserting capsules near their cervix, they went into labor. Content is provided for educational purposes 
and does not constitute a medical consultation. To learn how to induce labor with medication, read more from our Medical co-author! FYI: I’d like to add that new research shows that babies are healthiest when they stay in the womb until at least 39 weeks, so I don’t recommend trying these natural induction methods until you reach full term or are past your due date. Even if it doesn’t work, you’ll stay hydrated. If you’ve reached your due date or have gone past it, your doctor may recommend a stretch and sweep. A woman should not try to induce labour on her own before 40 weeks of pregnancy. With acupuncture, a practitioner places fine needles at various points along the body to balance your energy flow. However, many midwives recommend it to their patients to prepare for labor. As you’re approaching your due date, you’re becoming more and more ready and anxious to meet your little one. Before you induce labor at home, talk to your doctor to make sure it will be a healthy option for you and the baby. Use the same time restraints as the first option. This massage allows you to relax your muscles around baby, and it sends signals to your body to start the labor process. If you’re pregnant and past your due date, you might wonder if exercising will help induce labor. Avoid exhausting yourself. Get a…. Contact your doctor if the flow becomes heavier than a usual period. 1. Scheduling an induction can be tempting since you can plan exactly what day you get to meet your baby and make it sooner rather than later. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. It’s best to let mother nature decide when your baby comes. Infants who are born after a full-term pregnancy also experience other benefits. I highly recommend it. Help induce labor naturally by pressing on these acupressure points along the body. Labor aided by oxytocin can progress even more quickly than natural labor, especially in first-time mothers. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 women in the US will have medically-induced labor. Walking stairs and doing squats have also been said to be very helpful. As you’re approaching your due date, you’re becoming more and more ready and anxious to meet your little one. If contractions start coming close together, take a break and let nature take its course. Get up and start moving! Nurse Practitioner. I then tell them that having an orgasm can also stimulate prostaglandins. At this point, damage to the placenta is a bigger risk than inducing labor. Out of all the ways to induce labor at home, nipple stimulation is one of the most reliable options. your baby right after delivery, this same stimulation is what will help your uterus shrink back to its original size. You should consult your doctor or midwife before considering herbs to induce labor. With over 10 years of experience, Susannah specializes in adult primary care, holistic medicine, and women’s healthcare. When deciding on a birthing plan, it’s important to be aware of your options and to create a plan that fits your needs. It’s also great to drink after you have your baby since it’s a uterine toner and strengthens your uterus. Soaking in the tub helps relax you. Your due date passed one or two weeks ago, and your water hasn't broken. Doing so can increase your risk for infection. The other is located just above your ankle. Even if this method doesn’t work, it’s a great way to relieve stress and keep your body strong for the task ahead. Let me first say. Remember, labor is a physically demanding process. Some herbs used to induce labor include black cohosh, blue cohosh, false unicorn root, and motherwort. My due date passed two days ago. But if you are planning on having a hospital birth and your doctor is not allowing you to go too far past your due date (most doctors schedule inductions at or just after 41 weeks), you may want to do a few things to try to get your body ready and get labor going. Pineapple is one fruit that may trigger labor. Is it OK to drink soft drinks while in labor? This causes you to lean forward at an angle, helping baby move in the right direction. Talk to your doctor before you attempt using any herbal supplements. If you’ve gone past your due date, you might be anxious to meet your baby-to-be. Eat pineapple. Acupressure is the same concept, but instead, fingers are used to apply pressure to pressure points. The exact way that acupuncture works is unclear. Evening primrose oil (EPO) might just be the thing for you since it can be used to help soften the cervix. It bothers some women more than others. Otherwise, you can try this method to your heart's content. Is It Safe to Use Exercise to Induce Labor? It helps your body. [1] X Expert Source Susannah Kerwin, ANP-BC, HNP Nurse Practitioner Expert Interview. How so? If you know you're planning to induce in the next day or two, take this opportunity to get some much-needed rest. Here’s when you might go into labor if you’re 1 centimeter dilated. Your doctor might use a finger to sweep across the opening of your cervix and help to separate the membranes. Master using Zoom and feel more confident online. More time in the womb can mean both you and your new baby get to go home from the hospital sooner. Be sure to wear a pad or have something under you while you sleep since it can leak. We know, that’s easier said than done when you’re 9 months pregnant. This can send signals to your uterus that it’s time for labor and can cause uterine contractions and the release of prostaglandins, which may jump-start labor. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Midwives often recommend drinking red raspberry leaf tea as your due date nears. NOTE: Speak to your healthcare provider before trying this option. Babies have a strong suckle when they are on the breast, so you want to imitate that intensity. You can get raspberry leaf tea at pretty much any grocery store. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Induce-Labour-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Induce-Labour-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Induce-Labour-Step-1.jpg\/aid1075987-v4-728px-Induce-Labour-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"