10 Ways To Induce Labour Naturally
Are you due next week and still don’t have any signs of labour at all?
Almost all pregnant women fear this situation and when this happens, it makes the expecting mother really anxious and worried. After all these months of going through your pregnancy, the expecting mother may tend to loose her patience and just wants labour and childbirth to happen already!
In normal cases, the doctors tend to ask the expecting mothers to wait for some time till the expecting mother starts feeling some contractions. However, if you don’t wish to wait longer, there are some remedies to induce natural labour. Please note, there is no medical proof of any of these remedies successfully working for all expecting mothers.
Some methods may work for one pregnant mother and the same method may not work for the some other expecting mother. Different women try different methods to induce natural labour.
Some of these methods are described below:
1. Sexual Intercourse
Sexual intercourse is a commonly known method of inducing natural labour in pregnant women and is also suggested by many health practitioners. However there is no proof that intercourse can induce labour but a large number of expecting mothers have found it to be quite helpful in inducing natural labour.
During sex, you release ‘prostaglandins’, a substance that works just like the medicine which is suggested in hospitals to induce labour in women.
Having said that, being careful and staying safe is really necessary as you are now almost at full term. Your doctor can guide you further depending on your pregnancy condition on how safe is sex for you during this time. Otherwise you can try it as long as it does not hurt you and your baby is safe.
2. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a therapy or alternative form of medicine. It is also called ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine’. It is used in a diverse range of situations depending upon different philosophies, at different places around the world.
Acupuncture is also used as a method to induce natural labour.
In this therapy needles are inserted into the women’s body at particular spots. However you must consider going to some well-known professional/ expert practitioners of acupuncture while considering this strategy to induce natural labour. Once again there is no proof by experts that acupuncture can guarantee you labour and contractions.
3. Walking
Walking is generally good for everyone but it is especially healthy for women during their pregnancy. Walking during pregnancy not only helps you stay healthy and help you avoid putting extra weight, but it can also helps in inducing natural labour.
It has been observed that women who regularly walk during their pregnancy tend to have timely contractions and observe positive results for their labour such as inducing labour and having natural vaginal baby birth.
However, although walking is generally said to be healthy during pregnancy, excessive walking during pregnancy should not be practiced. Being exhausted by excessive walking is not healthy for the pregnant mother. Regular walking for around 15 minutes every day is considered good enough during pregnancy.
You should try walking more often during the last month of your pregnancy to help induce labour.
4. Hydration and Relaxation
Stay Hydrated Proper hydration is crucial throughout pregnancy, and it becomes even more important as you approach labor. Staying well-hydrated can contribute to overall well-being and may help in maintaining energy levels during labour. Relaxation Techniques Engage in relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or prenatal yoga. A calm and relaxed state may support the body’s natural processes and contribute to a smoother labor experience. 
5. Castor Oil
Using castor oil to induce natural labour is a very old and traditional remedy to use to induce labour. How it is done is by in-taking small amount of castor oil around your last month or 38th week of pregnancy. Taking castor oil can start bowel movements for the pregnant mother which then puts pressure on the uterus and in turn helps you induce labour contractions.
However, yet again, there is no real proof related to this theory.
Further, an important thing to note before using castor oil by pregnant mothers is that it can result into dehydration and in some cases may cause severe diarrhoea. Therefore consulting your doctor before using castor oil is essential.
6. Spicy Foods
Some expecting mothers also tend to have spicy food during their last month of pregnancy to induce labour. This method of inducing natural labour is widely used in Asia and Africa and is traditionally recommended to many expecting mothers there.
However, in the modern western countries, it is not recommended by doctors and health professionals as much since spicy food can have it’s own health negatives.
Regardless you love to eat spicy food or not, and regardless of how well it used to go with your bowel system before pregnancy, always be careful before having too much spicy food during pregnancy and especially during the last few weeks of your third trimester. Having spicy foods during pregnancy tends to upset your stomach and you might end up getting diarrhoea.
7. Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh, also known as ‘magic cohosh’, is a strong herb which is said to work as a tonic for your uterus and is also said to stimulate labour contractions in pregnant women. It is traditionally used in some countries a herbal treatment used for inducing natural labour in pregnant women.
Being a strong herb, Black Cohosh also helps in dilating the pregnant mother’s cervix so that your baby is able to slide out easily. However once again there is no evidence available to support the use of Black Cohosh for the purpose of labour induction.
Further, one must be careful before using this herb since, upon use, this herb releases a chemical which works just like estrogen. Estrogen is a female sex hormone and many women use Estrogen in the form of medication for the development of female reproductive system.
Although helpful in developing the female reproductive system, there is not much literature available regarding using this herb for inducing natural labour.
It is always best to consult your medical expert before using this herb, especially during pregnancy for the health and safety of our baby and yourself.
8. Primrose Oil
Primrose oil is another type of herbal product and because of it’s natural benefits is sometimes called ‘evening primrose oil’. Primrose Oil upon usage, tends to soften the pregnant woman’s cervix and in turn makes way for the baby; and shortens the overall labour duration as it contains a substance called prostaglandins. Primrose oil usually comes in the form of capsules. A single capsule of primrose oil contains Vitamin E, linolenic acid, and gamma linolenic acid.
Although all these ingredients have huge benefit for an individual, however, before you try anything out of the ordinary during your pregnancy, it is always best to consult your doctor. There is no point giving new products a try first and in case it has adverse effects and then approaching the doctor! You never know how serious a damage can some products cause you during the most sensitive phase of your life.
You can buy primrose oil over the counter and some women start with small doses daily after the 38th week of pregnancy in an attempt to have a timely natural labour.
9. Pineapple and Papaya
Bromelain in Pineapple Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme thought to soften the cervix and trigger contractions. While eating pineapple is a delicious way to potentially encourage labor, moderation is key due to its acidic nature. Papaya’s Papain Power Papaya, rich in the enzyme papain, is believed to have similar effects to bromelain. Including ripe papaya in your diet might contribute to cervical ripening. 
10. Red raspberry leaf tea
Red raspberry leaf tea is seen to help in inducing natural labour. Having small quantities of red raspberry leaf tea helps increase contractions of the uterus in the pregnant mothers.
It is generally said that, the strength of the contractions determines the length of your labour. Better the quality of contractions, the shorter will the duration of labour be. Normally, pregnant mothers start taking a cup of Red raspberry leaf tea daily after the 38th week of pregnancy to induce labour. However yet again, no scientific study supports that Red raspberry leaf tea can be used for induction of labour.
Pregnancy is the most sensitive phase of a woman’s life. All the remedies mentioned above are generally observed to be ‘safe’ for pregnant mothers; however it depends upon woman to woman.
NEVER use anything out of the normal before getting expert advice by your doctor/health professional.
It is not worth the risk! Foods and stuff you may have safely used prior to your pregnancy may or may not be safe during your pregnancy! Therefore, consult your doctor on whether any of the above mentioned remedies are unsafe for you.
Helpful Tip(s)
It is highly recommended to wait for the right time and do not disturb the natural process of your delivery.
It is highly advisable to consult your doctor or health practitioner before considering any method discussed above, as we are not giving any medical advice here.
Different methods works differently for every pregnant women and effectiveness of methods mentioned above cannot be guaranteed.
Methods like Acupuncture should be done under supervision of some expert and there is need of getting proper and complete information to use it for this purpose.
These methods may or may not have adverse effects on your and your baby’s health if not used properly. Therefore it is highly advised to consult your doctor and get proper suggestion as per your health. Whether that a particular method is suitable for you or not. Your health should remain always your highest priority.
