A Guide to
Natural Labor Inducing Remedies

When you’re pregnant, chances are you’ll be anxiously counting down the days to your labor and will probably be especially uncomfortable during the last few days or so of your third trimester. But this is not inevitable.

If your baby is two days overdue, most doctors won’t advise you to induce labor. However, after this mark, it’s probably time to lure him out. In addition to the nagging discomfort an overdue baby can cause on his mother, the longer the baby stays in the womb – the greater his risk is of health complications. Similarly, if your health or the baby’s health is vulnerable for any reason, doctors may recommend induced labor early on – or a cesarean section.

So, if you’re baby is intent on making a late entrance but you’d prefer not to go through a medically induced labor, here are some natural labor inducing remedies.

If you’ve begun to dilate, then there are a number of things you can do in the comfort of your own home to induce your labor.

One of the most curious natural labor inducing remedies is to eat spicy foods! Pineapples are also recommended.

Other remedies, however, make a lot more sense and they include simply walking about. The movement will cause the fetus to press down on your cervix and possibly initiate labor. Acupuncture and massage all have a reputation for inducing labor as well.

Intercourse is a commonly used natural labor inducing remediey as well. When a woman has sex, a hormone called oxytocin is released and this causes her uterus to contract. Simultaneously, a man’s semen is released, softening the cervix.

If you’re not up for sex, which is understandable if you’re over 37-weeks pregnant, having your partner stimulate your nipples can have the same effect as intercourse. On that same note, if you’re still breastfeeding another child, this can also serve to stimulate your nipples and induce labor.

A grittier way to induce labor is to have your doctor or midwife stretch out your uterine opening membranes – once you let this done, you might find yourself in labor within 48 hours.

Other natural labor inducing remedies are a little less hands-on and include a diet of tea, like Red Rasberry Leaf Tea, and/or administered herbs, like blue and black cohosh. You can mix oils like Clary Sage Oil with lotion and rub them on yourself too; these oils are often very effective in either promoting contractions or beginning labor. Drinking Castor Oil helps as well, but it’s not the tastiest.

Remember that even herbs can have side effects, however.

But remember that most babies aren’t eager to come out even if the doctors say they should, so don’t worry if your baby is hanging on past his due date. And keep in mind that all the natural remedies in the world don’t add up to anything if you haven’t dilated yet or your baby is simply not ready to be born. Patience is a virtue!

DISCLAIMER
The material provided in this site is provided for personal, non-commercial, educational and informational purposes only and in no way should be considered as an offering of medical advice. You should regularly consult a licensed health care professional in matters relating to your pregnancy, labor and health in general and particularly in respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.