This post gives 9 PROVEN ways to naturally induce labor. I used these methods to induce labor at almost 42 weeks pregnant. I had a 3-hr. labor with NO meds!
Today I wanted to give you some insight into how I avoided a labor induction at almost 42 weeks pregnant. I used the following ways to naturally induce labor! Go back to read part 1 of my 3rd baby’s birth here and part 2 here and read part 4 here.
As I said in part 2 of my third birth story, by the time I was over a week overdue, the OB office where my midwives practice began to talk about inducing me if I were to go the full 42 weeks.
I wanted to find ways to naturally induce labor.
Are you expecting your own little one? Get FREE week-by-week pregnancy updates here!For help with preparing for a natural childbirth, check out the #1 bestselling online childbirth course, Mama Natural Birth Course. You can watch the course in the comfort of your own home!
Don’t get me wrong. I do believe there are viable reasons for inductions. However, I believe that the majority of inductions that take place in the United States today are for convenience and not a medical necessity. At my prenatal appointment on Monday, August 20, my midwife (Lynn) told me that I would need to be induced no later than Friday, August 24 (a full two weeks past my due date) but that I could be induced on Wednesday, August 22 with my favorite midwife (Beverly, who delivered my second).
Lynn didn’t pressure me, but she wanted to give me options. There was also the slight concern about some trace protein in my urine–my one and only possible indicator or pre-eclampsia.
I left the appointment with Lynn that day and went straight to get acupuncture. It was my first time to see an acupuncturist, and honestly felt a little funny. I believe that there are benefits of both Eastern and Western medicine, but I know that some New Age thoughts, etc. can seep into Eastern medicine at times. As a Christian, I wanted to be on guard against this. I felt OK, though, seeing a professional acupuncturist in my area to see if she could help induce labor.
The appointment went really well. The acupuncturist was kind, and she basically inserted the needles and left me alone to “empty my mind.” Instead of emptying it completely, I lay on the table, releasing my fears and worries to the Lord about the impending labor and meditating on Isaiah 26:3. Over and over I recited in my head: “He will keep in perfect peace He whose mind is steadfast because He trusts in You.”
At one point I burst into tears and told my baby: “I love you! I do want you to come!”
Even though Lynn had checked me and I had not dilated at all, my hopes were that the acupuncture had helped to induce labor. The therapist sent me home with these little pressure point disks on a couple places on my feet, legs, hands and on my ears. These are all areas that may induce labor, so I kept pressing them. (The ears were for relaxing.)
After my appointment I called Lynn and scheduled my induction to begin the next night. Because I wasn’t dilated at all, I was supposed to go in on Tuesday night, August 21 and get cervidil to soften the cervix and get pitocin the next day. But I still wasn’t at complete peace with this. As petty as it sounds, I grieved not being able to go into labor on my own. I know that many of you reading this may have never gone into labor on your own, and I pray I don’t offend you in saying that. But I felt very disappointed–to say the least.
The next day I got adjusted at the chiropractor again and prepared to go into the hospital that night. I felt extremely tired and drained the entire day. I tried to rest, but all I could think about was the induction. The night before I was supposed to have collected a 24-hour urine sample to again check the protein. But I filled the jug (sorry for TMI!) in 15 hours instead of in 24. When I called to notify the office of that, they said the test was void.
Image courtesy Advanced Spinal Fitness
Sometime that afternoon the office called me and said that the OB overseeing my case and two of the midwives–Beverly and Lynn–were discussing my case and said that I did not have to come in that night for an induction if I didn’t want to. They felt it was safe for me to go the full 42 weeks–until that Friday.
(I later found out that when Beverly heard how fast I filled the urine jug, she knew there was nothing wrong with my kidneys–which is what the trace protein could have indicated! I believe the acupuncture might have released some toxins that my kidneys may have worked overtime to filter out because I could not stop using the bathroom!)
When I hung up the phone, a peace fell over me. And I almost felt giddy! And somehow I knew–I knew she would come on her own!
That night, my parents volunteered to keep our two girls, so I could rest. I sent with them the bag I had packed for when we would be in the hospital. My husband said: “Won’t they need that when we go to the hospital?”
“I’m sending it with them in faith!” I told him.
And in the next few hours I continued to try a few more things to get labor going. Now, I want to be clear in that I don’t think you really should do anything–even natural means–to bring a baby along before he or she is ready. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and at this point I was trying to avoid a medical induction (for non-medical reasons).
All within a 36-hour time frame, here is what I tried:
- Acupuncture (see above)
- Chiropractic Adjustment (which I had my entire pregnancy anyway)
- Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (which I had drank/taken capsules my entire pregnancy, but I made sure not to skimp at this point!)
- Trilight Health’s Labor Prep (I was wary of taking this before because it contains blue cohosh, which CAN BE DANGEROUS. I took far less than the recommended amount and just mixed it in my tea. Actually, my husband “spiked” my tea with it and didn’t tell me until later. 😉 Yes, he was just as ready as I was!)
- Relaxing Lavender Baths (Here’s a tutorial for a homemade lavender bath tea)
- Evening Primrose Oil (This may not work so late in the game, but I think it did help my cervix dilate. I used it both ways…sorry I’m not going to give any more details here…google it and ask your midwife!)
- Bouncing on the exercise ball/squats (but honestly not too much)
- Walking: My husband and I walked around our neighborhood three times, and I walked at the fastest pace I could!
- Time with my husband (and that’s all I’m going to say about that!)
So, which of these things truly worked to induce labor? Honestly, I don’t know if any of them did it, but as you will read on Friday, I can’t help but wonder if doing all this in the last 36 hours of pregnancy didn’t lend itself to the fast and furious way in which my baby arrived.
Check out these 7 more ways to naturally induce labor!
Have you ever avoided a labor induction? What did you try to naturally induce labor?
Are you expecting your own little one? Get FREE week-by-week pregnancy updates here!For help with preparing for a natural childbirth, check out the #1 bestselling online childbirth course, Mama Natural Birth Course. You can watch the course in the comfort of your own home!
*Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I am just a mom who likes to research and share what works for me. This blog is for entertainment purposes only. Please seek advice from your trusted healthcare provider. I asked my midwives about all of the above “induction” methods at some point in my pregnancy. One thing they advised me never to try was castor oil–and they gave me some horror stories!*
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents
I’ve enjoyed being with you through this whole thing – I’m glad we had each other.
Jacquelyn
I was given Pitocin with my first and was determined to never do that again. For my last, my final appointment was with a different practitioner at my regular OB’s office, and although I was still 3 days out from my due date, she tried to scare me into an induction with stats about stillbirth and whatnot. She had the receptionist make me an appointment for my due date so we could schedule an induction. I was furious but simply said I would not induce and I would plan only on coming to my regular appointment next week. In the mean time, I tried to self-induce by walking often and for long distances, having sex with my husband, lifting my other children, and talking coaxingly to my baby while drawing downward lines on my belly: “This is the path to get out, honey. I can’t wait to see you; please come out so we can play!” But most of all, I prayed. And she was born the day after my due date.
Christy
My first two came on their own, three and two days past due dates, resp. Baby boy #3 was just past due date but had a little help by “time with husband” and nipple stimulation. And, yes, it does cause a more intense labor. Baby boy #4 surprised us by coming 3.5 wks early. Baby boy #5 was a week past due date but came on his own time. My dr. talked with me about induction, but she knew I would hold out until 42 wks, if necessary, because my dh was deployed and due to come home around that time. As it turned out, dh came home when baby was 4 days old.
Amy {One Day Closer}
10 years ago, with our son, I was able to successfully induce myself under the advice of a midwife.
I started preparing 2 weeks before my due date. At that point I was doing a lot of exercises to ensure good positioning (lots of pelvic tilts, and washing the floors on my hands and knees.) I also gave up leaning back, completely. I mostly just used my birthing ball for a chair. To encourage dropping the midwife told me about “curb walking”. I am glad I had our 20 month old along so I didn’t feel foolish. What you do is walk down the street (had to go to my parent’s in the city, we live in the country – no curbs) with one foot in the gutter and one on the curb – all the way down the block. At the end of the block we turned around and walked the other way. Doing this opens up one side of the pelvis at a time and can sometimes get the baby to snuggle down in the pelvis a little further. I was also using Evening Primrose Oil. Both internally and topically (yes, TMI, ask your midwife).
At our due date I knew that our son was in a good position, engaged, a little dropped, and I was dilated about 1-2 cm. My ob was only going to let me go one week over, and I had my induction scheduled for a Saturday morning. The midwife that was advising me warned against using castor oil within 3 days of an induction – she said it is just too hard on the system and I’d be very uncomfortable. So on Monday (Tuesday?) night at 10 pm I took *2 ounces* of castor oil in a glass of orange juice. I just stirred like crazy, gulped, stirred, gulped… it was horrible. But I got it down pretty quickly. We took some last photos of me, and us together, and my huge belly and went to bed.
I got up at 5 to go to the bathroom, and again at 6, and then again at 7. Except at 7 it turned out to be a contraction! They steadily got stronger and closer. My husband went to work at 7, but I called him back at 8. I labored at home until noon, thinking my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart. Turns out I wasn’t recording it properly, because at the hospital they told me they were really 1.5 minutes apart. I was only dilated 4-5 cm at that point, but labored the rest of the day and our son was born at 9:56 after 1.5 hours of pushing. I was told it was pretty text-book for a first baby.
I plan on following the same course of action for the last two weeks with this one! :o)
JeanneS
When I was more than 2 weeks overdue with my eldest (nearly 25 years ago), and wanted to avoid an induction, since I was almost 2 cm dilated my midwife did something she called “stripping the membranes”. They basically put a gloved fingertip into the cervix and nudge the amniotic sac away from the inside of the cervix (without breaking the sac — my waters didn’t break until the baby was actually being born); it didn’t hurt and my midwife said it could encourage the flow of hormones to start contractions. 24 hours later I started having regular contractions (instead of the Braxton-Hicks contractions I’d been having strongly for 3 months!), and 22 hours after that, I was a mom! By the time she arrived, I was actually 17 days overdue.
Ellen
Both my girls were born within 24 hours of my midwife doing a “stretch and sweep”, or stripping my membranes. My first was 7 days over, my second was 5 days over.
I don’t enjoy the process of the stretch and sweep, but would do it again in a heartbeat next time!
My sister in law just had her second about 5 hours after a particularly effective membrane sweep. 🙂
Jil Andrews
2 oz Castor Oil (gross!) mixed with orange juice or something of the like..keep stirring as you drink! Relax in a warm bath and with in 45 minutes you’ll be pooping. :/ Shortly after that the contractions begin! Super simple and natural! I did this with my last two out of five kiddos!
Beth
This is an old post but I just read it. My first baby was born ten days past the EDD. I though for sure the second would come earlier, but I eleven days past I was only 50% effaced and not dilated at all so the midwife kindly “reevaluated” my dates. I was taking gentle birth formula because my first labor was pretty rough, and added some homeopathic cohash. I didn’t pay much attention when the midwife said women who she had given that to often had quick labors . . . Two nights later, after a day of walking and Thai food, I emailed my midwife at 8:30 to tell her not to wait up because nothing was happening. At 11:30 I finally crawled into bed and my water broke. I was freaking out because I felt like pushing on the first contraction and I was sure I wasn’t dilated! At 12:58 my mom caught my 9 lb daughter because the midwife was still 10 minutes away! I have no idea what did it, or if it was just time, but I wouldn’t mind taking things a little slower when this next one finally decides to join us!
June May
I heard taking castor oil,for one mom,her baby suffocated on he meconium and passed away! It’s not natural or safe be careful moms.
K
The meconium inhalation has nothing to do with the castor oil. That happens in
Many births , they give antibiotics and many babies are ok. It’s just an unrelated thing that happens.
Kimberly
I was brought into this world by castor oil. My Mom was very overdue with me. I don’t know why and neither does she but she wouldn’t go into labor. From the time they told my mom she was pregnant till the time I was born was a year. She finally gave up and took some castor oil which led to a bowel cleansing and then labor. After I was born they decided I was a 10 month baby. I had long hair, nails and my skin was peeling off. So when I was pregnant I made sure I had some in the house “just in case”. But my first labor started due to lots of walking and my second just started on its own!
Myla
My first child was premature because a resident accidently broke my water while examining me. And because I was considered high risk, a heart condition, I was given a mandatory epidural. I was then given Pitocin, but because the epidural was so strong, I never felt anything. Literally. After 18 hours of I delivered via assisted birth, forceps, stitches, the whole awful nine yards. I never wanted that again. With my second child, still considered high risk, and suffering badly from pre-eclampsia, I foolishly took black cohosh. Now understand, that I mean foolish only because I didn’t really check the risks. I was not anemic, so it worked out. It doesn’t induce labor per say, but when I started having contractions, my labor lasted about 2 1/2 hours start to delivery. I pushed one time and my son was born. With our third child, feeling more confident, I took black cohosh again, and almost the identical results. Labor started, and 2 + hours our daughter was born. No drugs, during or after labor, which was my goal. From what I understand, it makes the labor progression faster, it softens the cervix and they dilate and thin faster. But this can cause some spotting. Which is why it is important to know if you are anemic and if your placenta was presented, mine was not. I had an ultrasound the day before ,with both and both babies were in position and had dropped. Not a medical professional but just sharing my story.
Veronica
I thought raspberry leaf tea was to relax the uterus though? I’ve been using it for years as a menstrual pain relief method, and it works wonders to relax. So it actually seems counter-intuitive to take it when trying to make contractions happen.. ?
Rebekah
Good question. I thought it was great for anytime during pregnancy or not, but my midwife warns against it saying that overuse of it can lead to too much bleeding. So I’m laying off it!
“Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”
K
No it makes the uterus work better not just contract. It conditions the muscles really. So if they aren’t strong enough it helps strengthen it, if it’s too tight it loosens it. It’s adaptogenic so that it fits to your needs. But you have to steep a teaspoon in a quart of water for 15 min. But generally it just makes your uterus respond as it should. The uterus is kind of like a big tube of toothpaste and the baby is turned by it as it goes out being squeezed by the contractions. Some people get back labor because the baby’s nose should be turned toward the back of the mum to make it easierbevause your coccyx has moved and can make space for it. There is also a place on if you put your hands on your hips and press toward your navel it opens up your pelvis a tiny bit and can progress labor by opening it up a little. Things I learned as a doula. There’s more.
Sarah
It’s to help strengthen the uterus. 🙂
Laurem
I’m pretty sure I induced my BG on accident by cleaning the whole house with my mom the Thursday before my due date (4 days before.) XD I went into passive labor that night.
Erin
WOW!!! But how cool that that happened! You must have been on nesting overload!
Jennifer
Thank you for sharing your story. I am overdue with my fourth baby and hoping to avoid induction as well. All my prior deliveries were spontaneous and natural (though I delivered in a hospital and with an ob each time). I have never been this overdue with any of my babies and I am praying she will come on her own. I have a sonogram on Monday to check fluids and I anticipate them trying to scare me about her size. All my babies have been on the larger size and an overdue baby will only prompt more fear tactics. Your story and the scriptures you included are just what I need to hear. I know the Lord knows the exact number of my daughter’s days and I am trying to rest in that. I plan to stick to my guns and pray that the sono and NST go well.
Erin
Hi Jennifer! I will be praying for you! I have had a 4th baby since I wrote this. He is now 4 months old! I also went overdue with him–by 9 days. He was not induced, but he did end up being VERY large (10 lbs, 4 oz!). I pushed for a second NST with him because I was concerned about him running out of room. We have a happy infant now, but those last days were so hard! Update me when your baby is born!! Congrats again!!