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Today, Leigh Ann, from Intentional by Grace is back–posting on 7 ways to naturally induce labor! Be sure to check out her earlier post on birthing at a birth center and her post yesterday about why she chose not to induce labor.
photo by Lillian Prince Photography
Yesterday, I shared with you why we chose not to schedule an induction with our first child. However, because I was in first stage labor almost non-stop for a week, and was 90% effaced and 4 cm dilated at 39 weeks, we were ready to bring our baby into the world. It seemed to us that our baby was ready, and walking was getting even more difficult with a … well, baby dropping. Therefore, we opted to try a few natural ways to speed up my laboring process. Bring on second stage labor!
For others, it may be that your baby is incubating with no signs of being ready to leave his or her nest. By around the 40-42 week mark, some doctors and midwives will give the go ahead to encourage labor to begin. Of course, you will need to follow the guidance of your medical care and use your common sense before trying to naturally induce labor. But in case you get to this point, then I want to share with you some of the ways we used to encourage my labor to progress a little more quickly, as well as ways you can encourage labor to begin without the use of Pitocin.
7 Ways to Naturally Induce Labor
1. Pineapple. Tropical fruits like pineapple, mango and papaya contain a proteolytic enzyme called bromelain. This enzyme is said to help soften the cervix, stimulate muscle contractions, and for shortening labor (source). Pineapple has been used for years for other medicinal purposes as well. Eating large amount of fresh pineapple can also kick start your digestive system, which is also said to be a way to kick start labor. Not to mention, it just tastes really good.
2. Shake your groove thang. Dancing is a great way to get moving and encourage your baby’s descent. The swaying of your hips will help the baby to move down into your pelvis, but don’t pole dance. That could be a little much for your loose tendons and joints. My husband and sister cranked up the dance music when I could no longer sit still and get comfortable. They danced and had me bouncing to the rhythm of the beat the night I finally went into full blown labor. You know, our son has serious rhythm to this day. He came out dancing! Plus, we had a lot of fun and created a memory that none of us will ever forget. If dancing is a bit much, feel free to just walk around the block or hike up and down the stairs (source).
3. Raspberry Leaf Tea. Raspberry Leaf Tea is said to help tone the cervix and strengthen our entire pelvic region. Raspberry Leaf Tea may not help induce labor directly, but it should play a key part in your overall birth plan. It is full of vitamins and minerals that are essential to the health of your uterus, and drinking a double brew of this tea can certainly help move you along in the labor process and aid in recovery (source).
4. Nipple Stimulation. Stimulating your nipples can help release natural oxytocin hormones thus causing the uterus to contract. You will want to stimulate your nipples for several minutes at a time for this to be effective. You can do this through your shirt or bra. It is not necessary to do this directly unless you so desire. I am convinced this was the single most effective strategy at encouraging my labor to progress. For some, stimulating your nipples is uncomfortable (me even saying it might make you blush), but this is truly an effective natural way to induce labor (source).
5. Acupressure. Acupressure fascinates me. Being able to use pressure points to heal various ailments is amazing. There are also pressure points to help induce labor. The one I used was the thumb to the roof of my mouth. I just pressed for several minutes at a time off and on throughout the night. However, there are several other pressure points all over your body that could help induce labor as well as relieve labor discomfort. See this post for more information.
6. Shut the bedroom door. We’ve all heard that having sex can help induce labor. It is said that the sperm will help soften the cervix thus allowing labor to begin. Not to mention, you can throw in several other labor inducing techniques (see #1, #2 and #4 for ideas) (source).
7. Castor Oil. Castor oil should only be considered if you are overdue and as a last resort*. When taking the recommended dosage to induce labor, it can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea thus rendering you dehydrated and exhausted, which is not good for a laboring mama. However, it is effective and if it was between this and Pitocin, I would probably at least give castor oil a try. But like I said yesterday, it is your choice to make (source).
What natural ways to induce labor would you add to this list?
*Note from Erin: I agree with Leigh Ann on the castor oil. I would only use it as a last resort. I have heard some horror stories about women taking castor oil!
**Neither Leigh Ann nor myself are pregnancy or birthing experts. We simply write from personal experience and personal research. Please consult your trusted health professional before making any decisions regarding pregnancy or birthing.
Check out the other posts in this series:
- 5 Simple Tips for Combating Morning Sickness
- Reflections on my First Pregnancy
- 10 Reasons We Opted to Give Birth at a Birth Center
- Easing Leg Pain During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Posts Around the Web
- A Tale of Two Births: Medicated vs. Natural Hospital Births, part 2
- A Tale of Two Births: Medicated vs. Natural Hospital Births, part 1
- How to Achieve a Natural Birth in a Hospital Setting
- Real Food Pregnancy Cheats/Shortcuts
- OB or Midwife: Finding the Birth Provider Who Works for You
- A Comparison of Birth Settings: Home, Hospital and Birth Center
- Resources for a Natural Pregnancy
- 10 Things Never to Say to Pregnant Women
- What Every Pregnant Woman Wants to Hear
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Much More than Severe Morning Sickness
- Pregnancy Posts Around the Web, Take 2
- Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding While Pregnant
- Preparing for a Water Birth
- The Importance of Using a Doula
- A Sample Hospital Birth Plan
- Why We Chose NOT to Induce Labor
I’m linking up with: Simple Lives Thursday, Your Green Resource, The Better Mom, The Prairie Homestead, Growing Home, Deep Roots at Home, Time-Warp Wife, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Works for Me Wednesday,Fight Back Friday, Monday Mania
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I have heard that anything that irritates your digestive system can induce labor. None of the above worked for me…to include irritating food. I gave birth to my first daughter 10 days late and tried a few of the above tricks, but nothing seemed to help (with the exception of the castor oil, although all it did was make me cramp…not dilate). My second daughter was born 6 weeks ago — 13 days late. She had been hanging low for quite a while, but at 9 days over, I was not dilated at all. We had tried many of the tricks (and had a stretch and sweep) and nothing helped. I was determined not to have pitocin and finally decided at 13 days over to have my water broken. She was out 2 hours later. I am currently living in the UK and the midwives were surprised that nothing helped our little one along. Just a reminder to us that we can’t always force these things….
Very true–we can do what we can, but their birthdates are really in God’s hands!
I cannot believe that I am going to admit this on a website but, I found number 4 to work really well. I was 4 days late with my third and did not want to be induced like I was with the first, so I tried trick 4 on this list, it took about an hour, but it really kicked things into high gear. I found olive oil on the fingers helped me from not getting sore…. nipples. (another word I never thought I would type)
Victoria@Snailpacetransformations recently posted..Fitness and Life Goals: August 6th to August 20th
LOL! It’s good to know it at least works!
Honey, there are so many things I never thought I’d say “aloud” on the Internet. But I figured we all know how you got pregnant…haha! So what the heck?
Leigh Ann @ Intentional By Grace recently posted..7 Ways to Naturally Induce Labor
I tried SO HARD to like that stinkin’ Raspberry Leaf tea….I just cannot choke the stuff down. It makes me want to yak. Then again, I hate tea. Now I’m taking Raspberry Leaf capsules instead. MUCH easier for me.
I will say that closing the bedroom door is what did it for us last time – my water broke within just a few hours.
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents recently posted..Our Hospital Birth Plan
How can you not like tea? Oh my word…isn’t that like a cardinal sin in the south?
Can’t wait to see how your bean makes his/her entrance!
Leigh Ann @ Intentional By Grace recently posted..7 Ways to Naturally Induce Labor
evening primrose oil, and black and blue cohosh (only to be taken with your midwife present) are other alternatives that are on my list but only in an extreme circumstance.
I prefer using pilates positions and stretches cuz you can feel the baby move!
I actually have a bottle of liquid herbs with both blue and black cohosh in them, but I’m been a little scared to take them! I like the stretching idea!
the cohosh roots can speed up your heart rate but not more so than pitocin can, that is why you have to be watched very closely or monitored. the stretches are also great for pelvic, hip or back pain which i have had since week six; the more you do them, the stronger your bones and joints get which really help in the end! swaying your hips side to side and rolling them brings the most amount of release
Oh, I forgot about Pilates. We used that too!
Leigh Ann @ Intentional By Grace recently posted..7 Ways to Naturally Induce Labor
#2, #4, and #6 worked for me last time! Only instead of dancing I ran – yes, ran! – up and down 3 flights of stairs. I’m still amazed that I had that much energy; I think there was some adrenalin working there!
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy recently posted..Spelt Pizza Crust – Great Alternative for Wheat-Free Diets
Whew…I’m getting to the point where I’m going to have to tap into some of these “tricks”! LOL I’m sure my hubby won’t mind.
ROFL!
Leigh Ann @ Intentional By Grace recently posted..7 Ways to Naturally Induce Labor
Awesome tips Leigh Ann!! I am hoping that I won’t have to induce since the babies should come early! But once I am in labor they better not try and push Pitocin on me! I’ll have to store these tips for later! And I LOVE that picture of you dancing
Awesome!
Jami Leigh recently posted..We are having Twin… {The big gender reveal}
I have lots of dancing pictures…I’m sure my sister is thrilled to have this on the Internet.
Leigh Ann @ Intentional By Grace recently posted..7 Ways to Naturally Induce Labor
Ha ha…since it is an open forum…#6. Yes, we “shut our bedroom door” and I went into labor within 2 hours. It was awkward. Perhaps dancing would have worked better!
Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger recently posted..An Amazon Gift Card! {We want to…Bless Your Blog}
ROFL!!! When you’re that big, you most definitely have to get creative! Lots of pillows
LOL!! We were the exact.same.way with our first.
I’d heard of castor oil to induce labour, so when my second daughter was a week overdue and my doctor was threatening induction (simply because she had three other women due at the same time as me and didn’t want us all giving birth at the same time), I did some research. What I found made me decide I’d wait until the baby was ready. I don’t think the side effects of castor oil are worth it! I did buy a pineapple, as I like it anyway, and drank lots of raspberry leaf tea (though be careful with this one – some ingredients commonly found in teas shouldn’t be consumed during pregnancy. I think hibiscus is one, but you may want to check with your midwife or doctor).
Bonnie Way recently posted..World Breastfeeding Week
Yes, castor oil just makes me shake all over thinking about it.
I completely agree about castor oil!
my midwife talked about using castor oil but instead of ingesting it we rubbed in on the belly then used warming pads and warm towels.. aparently if it is going to work it works quick using it that way… sadly did not totally work for me… but it did make me have some contractions.
That’s very interesting! Thanks for sharing.
I’ve never heard of it being used topically like that! Interesting!
its amazing what we will do to speed things up.with baby #1 i tried cohosh, an enema (try to do that at 10 month pregnant for some good laughs) red raspberry leaf tea, nipple stimulation, EPO, my husband donated his services, i ate italian & mexican. nothing worked. baby # 2 i was 4.5cm dilated at 37 wks. i figured lets get the show on the road. i already took EPO and drank RRL tea. In the end acupuncture is what i credit for making my contractions start and making my labor super fast and effective. labor #2 was only 4 hrs start to finish instead of 37 hrs like the first time and labor #2 i only had to push 4 times in fact i had to stop pushing she came so fast. i also think walking about 2 miles a day helped get the baby into position and ready but who knows. also to ladies who think they may have a posterior baby please talk to your chiropractor. mine was able to looses a ligament in my groin when baby #2 started to flip posterior and my water broke 8 hrs later and baby was back in the anterior position.
Hmmmm…I’m 6 days overdue and haven’t tried acupuncture yet…may have to try it if she doesn’t come soon! I’ve been getting chiro care all during this pregnancy (for the first time), and I’m so excited to see what a difference in makes in delivery!!
my contractions started about 4 hrs after. i did have a few while i was there but there was no pattern. the ones along the sacrum REALLY make for powerful contractions. the lady mentioned to my husband to massage these during labor to help things along and when he tried that i was already having super intense contractions and had to slap his hand off.
That’s amazing! I credited a chiro adjustment with starting my second baby’s labor. I hadn’t been going the entire time I was pregnant but went for an adjustment and I had her almost exactly 24 hours later!
Evening primrose oil is a good one to. Especially if u cant have sex. Insert one in ur vagina at night and take one orally during the day.
Evening primrose oil capsules or forage oil capsules can also soften the cervix. Intercourse is probably one of the best ways if done often- no husband will complain about that as long as you’re into it! It makes it fun and a good reminder that just because you are overdue and possibly not feeling so much in the mood that your husband still has needs that you need to fulfill!
Supposed to be borage not forage…
Well for me itz very uncomfty my stomach tightens every 4 mins could this be labor? Im 35 weeks?
I would call your doctor or midwife.
I love this page. It inspired me to go bone my bf, while 39 weeks pregnant and eating pineapples and shaking my groove thang (just like #6 suggested), and had my little girl 5 hours later!
I will be 40 weeks tomorrow. Thank you for posting this. I didn’t know about pineapple, and never thought of dancing. Going to get busy right now. Thanks again for the advice.
Hope he/she comes soon!