12 Ways You Can Induce Labor Naturally

As you get closer to your due date, you’re getting more and more excited to meet your little one. Your back hurts, your feet hurt, and most of all, you can’t wait to see the adorable little face you’ve been picturing in real. And now that you’re almost there, you might be considering natural techniques to induce labour or considering scheduling an induction.

Inductions by medical practitioners

It can be tempting to schedule an induction since you can choose exactly when you want to meet your kid and do it sooner rather than later. This is why it’s referred to as “the seduction of induction.” Unneeded interventions, on the other hand, have been shown to cause unnecessary hazards. The major one being a C-section.

Of fact, inductions are sometimes necessary for the mother’s and baby’s health and well-being, but the vast majority of inductions scheduled nowadays are elective. Babies, in my opinion, arrive when they are ready. However, if you plan on having a hospital birth and your doctor won’t let you go over your due date (usually doctors schedule inductions at or just after 41 weeks), there are a few things you may do to prepare your body and start labour.

FYI: New research reveals that babies are at their healthiest when they stay in the womb until at least 39 weeks, so I wouldn’t try these natural induction methods until you’ve reached full term or are past your due date.

Here are 12 things you can do on your own to naturally induce labour

1. Stimulation of the Nipples

Nipple stimulation is one of the most reliable techniques to induce labour at home, out of all the methods available. It aids in the release of oxytocin, the hormone responsible for uterine contractions. (Oxytocin is often referred to as the love hormone because it is released when you are in love.) If you haven’t reached or passed your due date, don’t try nipple stimulation. If you’ve reached that point and wish to attempt nipple stimulation to induce labour, you have a few options:

• Your nipples can be rolled or rubbed with your fingertips. You want it to sound like a newborn suckling. So you’ll stimulate one breast for 5 minutes, then take a 15-minute rest to see what happens before moving on to the other breast. If the contractions start to fade after 15 minutes, stimulate the other breast. If they begin to grow, put a halt to it and let nature take its course.
• Your spouse can also massage your nipples by mouth. Option 2 is a good match for this. Use the same time constraints as option one.
• Alternatively, you can use your breast pump. Although using a breast pump is more effective since it is more energetic than you or your partner, some women find the pumping and contractions to be too painful and too fast.

NOTE: 
- Only massaging one breast at a time is recommended.
- During a contraction, do not stimulate the breast.
- After the contractions are 3 minutes apart or 1 minute long, do not utilise nipple stimulation.
- Take a pause if contractions become too close together and let nature take its course.
- You don't want it to be overly mild, either. You want to simulate the intensity of a baby's sucking when they are on the breast.

2. Sex

Almost everyone knows or has been told that having sex is a good method to get pregnant. Because sex can produce contractions, this is the case. Not only that, but semen includes prostaglandins, which aid in the ripening and effacement of the cervix, thus it’s great if he orgasms as well. This will get your body ready for childbirth. I know, I know, you’re not feeling very attractive at this point in your pregnancy, and you might not even be “in the mood.”

When I tell women about this, they usually grunt and say they’re feeling really uncomfortable right now, and they don’t believe sex will be any better. I then tell them that orgasm can stimulate prostaglandins as well. You can still experience an orgasm on your own to help initiate labour if you don’t feel comfortable having intercourse at this point in your pregnancy.

NOTE: 
- Having sex does not induce you to go into labour right away. Instead, it aids in the preparation of your body for labour and is something that you should perform on a frequent basis to see speedier benefits.
- If your water has already burst, do not have sex. You may become infected as a result of this.

3. Squats/Exercise/ Cardio/ Stair Climbing

Take advantage of gravity. Get up and move around! Physical exercise allows your baby’s head to go down lower in your pelvis, putting pressure on your cervix and encouraging it to dilate. Every day, go for a 30-minute walk. Even better if you can walk up a steep slope! As a result, you will lean forward at an angle, assisting baby in moving in the appropriate direction. Stairs and squats have also been suggested as beneficial exercises. So go ahead and start pumping your heart!

4. Foods that cause labour

The majority of the foods that are supposed to help naturally induce labour are urban legends, but a few foods do have qualities that may help. Pineapples, for example, are supposed to help ripen the cervix because they contain an enzyme called bromelain, which can do just that. Spicy foods, as well as foods containing basil, oregano, and/or ginger, may trigger labour. Spicier foods are the most effective since they stimulate your colon. If you didn’t know, diarrhoea is a symptom that you’re about to go into labour. You experience bowel movements when your intestines are aroused or inflamed by the spicy meals you ate. The cramps in your intestines can extend to your uterus, causing you to have contractions and enter labour.

5. Tea with Raspberry Leaf

Raspberry leaf tea can assist to strengthen and tone your uterus, as well as help those muscles in your uterus begin to contract, if consumed on a regular basis. Raspberry leaf tea can be found in almost any grocery store. It can be served hot or iced, allowing you to enjoy it all year. It’s also beneficial to drink after giving birth because it acts as a uterine toner and strengthens your uterus. Here are ten ways to drink raspberry leaf tea. Up, up, and away!

6. Massages for Labor Induction

A labour induction massage is an excellent approach to start contractions. I’ve given several of these massages as a registered massage therapist, and about 60-70 percent of them have gone into labour after just one treatment. Women will wonder if this massage will help them go into labour in less than 24 hours, but I assure them that it will happen in less than 48 hours. They should return for another massage if nothing happens. This massage relaxes your muscles around the baby while also signalling your body to begin the birth process. It comes highly recommended from me.

NOTE: Confirm that your massage practitioner is familiar with labour induction massages.

7. Baths with warm water

Bathing in a warm bath may assist in the initiation of labour. What do you mean by that? Bathing in the tub might help you relax. Stress and agitation may prevent you from going into labour, according to research. Massages and baths are also effective in this regard.

8. Evening Primrose Oil

Are you seeking for a labour inducing oil? Evening primrose oil (EPO) can help soften the cervix, thus it might be a good fit for you. The molecule in EPO is converted into prostaglandins by the body. Some doctors advise against use because studies on whether EPO successfully induces labour has been inconclusive. Instead, because sperm contains prostaglandins, they normally advocate intercourse over EPO.Many midwives, on the other hand, promote it to their patients as a way to prepare for labour. Several ladies claim to have gone into labour after one or two nights of putting capsules near their cervix.

You can use EPO by breaking the capsules and rubbing the oil on your cervix at night, or by inserting the capsules vaginally before bed. The vaginal environment is moist, so the capsule will dissolve and the gel will disseminate throughout the cervix. Because it can leak, make sure you sleep with a pad or something under you. Another alternative is to take it by mouth.

NOTE: Before attempting this alternative, consult your healthcare provider.

9. Castor Oil

First and foremost, allow me to state. Castor oil is not one of my favourites. It is a highly contentious induction method. The reason for this is that castor oil contains a large amount of ricinoleic acid, which is absorbed in the stomach and induces severe intestinal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea due to its laxative properties. It also has a revolting flavour. Many people, however, believe that castor oil causes labour. Some midwives advise against it, while others swear by it. Some pregnant ladies claim it only caused them to have a nasty case of diarrhoea. It’s not a good time. If you’re desperate and have spoken with your doctor and received approval, here’s how you can get it rather than taking a shot:

• 2 oz. castor oil in a glass of orange juice, promptly consumed, or
• Mix 2 ounces of ice cream with it. The flavour might be difficult to swallow slowly, and some women are more sensitive to it than others. Just wanted to give you a heads up!

10. Membrane Sweeping/Stripping

This one can be a real pain in the neck. Although it hasn’t been demonstrated to be one of the most successful methods of induction, it is a possibility. At one of your prenatal visits, your doctor or midwife could conduct this for you. Your doctor or midwife will perform a vaginal exam and reach up to your cervix to check for effacement and dilation. They will run their fingertips over the edge of the amniotic sac and the uterus if they feel you have made some progress. They will then attempt to gently detach it from your uterine wall.This can indicate to your uterus that it’s time to start labour, causing uterine contractions and the release of prostaglandins, which can help to speed up labour.

11. Acupuncture & Acupressure

Other natural approaches for inducing labour include acupuncture and acupressure. Acupuncture is the insertion of tiny needles into various spots on the body to help balance your energy flow. Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, only it uses fingers to apply pressure to pressure points. During labour induction massages, these are also pressed. Contraction is supposed to be caused by a couple of pressure sites. One can be found between your thumb and forefinger in the webbing. The other can be found slightly above the ankle. Applying pressure to one of these two pressure sites may aid in the onset of uterine contractions.

12. Tinctures & Herbs

Before using herbs to induce labour, speak with your doctor or a midwife. Herbs are not controlled by the FDA and might be harmful if not consumed correctly. This is why working with your midwife or herbalist is crucial. They’ll tell you when to use them and how to use them. Black cohosh, blue cohosh, fake unicorn root, and motherwort are some of the herbs used to induce labour.

There you go!

There are a total of twelve distinct ways to naturally induce labour. Even these approaches, I will say, are interventions, and it is always preferable to eat correctly, exercise, rest, and enjoy those last few days of pregnancy as much as possible, because spontaneous labour is the safest and healthiest. But, if you’re a lady who needs a little more help getting started, I hope these options are helpful!

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