It’s been 40 weeks – and you’ve had enough. You want to meet your baby! If you’re overdue, there are a few handy, natural ways to help induce labor.
Babies often come when they are ready – and while it’s hard to be patient, they might just need a little more time to develop before coming into the world. However, if you’ve got an induction date looming, some of these suggestions might give baby the nudge to come on out.
They’re not guaranteed, but many women have seen success trying them (myself included – acupressure massage brought on labor for one of my babies!) As always, check in with your doctor to make sure they’re happy for you to give these things ago to try get your baby moving!
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Sex
No – it’s science! It might be the last thing you feel like doing right now, but Dad’s swimmers help soften your cervix, getting your body ready to induce labor naturally. A number of women report that sex seemed to be the trigger for them going into labor.
Have a cup of Raspberry Leaf Tea
It’s always a good time for a cup of tea. A cup of herbal tea is delicious at the best of times, and it’s even better if it helps you go into labor naturally, avoiding an induction. This herby tea can cause your uterus contract – which might bring you closer to meeting your sweet baby sooner rather than later! Make sure you don’t consume Raspberry Leaf Tea before you are full term.
Enjoy Clary Sage Essential Oils
Clary Sage is known to cause contractions that help induce labor, with many women choosing to smell it on a tissue, diffuse it, or have a partner rub it on their backs, stomachs and on pressure points. It’s also lovely to mix with other essential oils, such as lavender oil, for a calming effect. However – speak to your ob/midwife before playing with essential oils to make sure it’s safe for you.
Try a pregnancy massage with acupressure
Well, the worst case scenario is that you get a relaxing massage, with beautiful spa music in the background. The best case scenario is that the pressure being applied will bring on contractions – therefore labor. There are special points on the body that are helpful in bringing on labor. If you can’t afford to indulge in a massage right now, there are many tutorials on the fantastic world wide web that you can try at home, Mama, that will teach you how to apply pressure to the right points to help induce your labor.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture – traditional Chinese medicine – is absolutely amazing at helping all sorts of ailments, and it’s also pretty good at helping induce labor too. Small needles go into various trigger points – you start feeling calm and relaxed, and contractions can begin. Even if you don’t go into labor, acupuncture will help reduce things pregnant women commonly feel – such as back pain – so it’s still going to be well worth your time.
Go for Walk – or do some prenatal yoga
Exercise is awesome anyway, releasing those happy feeling endorphins. It also might help baby get a move on – baby’s head bumping your cervix releases more hormones, which could bring on contractions. Full points for anyone who willingly gets up and waddles around the neighborhood or jumps into a yoga class at 40+ weeks!
Eat some Pineapple
Pineapple? Yes! Pineapple is thought to have this cool enzyme in it that helps soften the cervix, getting you ready for labour soon. Eat it straight or make it a juice – either way, it’s a delicious healthy treat that might make a difference!
Chow down on some Liquorice
It seems liquorice can cause production of a hormone that brings on labor – meaning that you’re more likely to give birth sooner if you’re eating black liquorice. Yum!
Try Some Spicy Food
Is it evidence based? No – but lots of moms swear up and down that trying spicy food was the trigger for them going into labor. Sounds like an excuse to go out to to get Indian for dinner with your partner – delicious!
Bounce on a birth ball
They say that gravity from gently bouncing on an birth ball can help encourage baby to come into the world. It’s a great way to get baby position right and to help get your cervix get ready to go.
Good luck Mama! Whether you manage to help induce labor or whether you’re waiting, know that soon you’ll be meeting your baby before you know it (I know, it doesn’t feel like it when you are about a million years pregnant and uncomfortable). Keep an eye out for these signs that you might be in early labor, or will be going into labor soon!
