Natural Ways to Induce Labor

Updated on September 03, 2010
M.J. asks from Saint Paul, MN
15 answers

Anyone have any suggestions for natural ways to induce labor? Anything that worked for you in the past?

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So What Happened?

Thank you ladies. I appreciate all the responses. Some woman mentioned "full term" and I am full term. The doctor is planning on inducing me in 2 weeks. Just thought I would throw a question out there. I have heard nothing works and this is my second child. Thanks.

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S.L.

answers from New York on

If it makes you feel any better my first child was 22 days late! He was very healthy, very big, and starting sleeping thru the night at a week old!
with my second pregnancy I ate a greasy pizza and went into labor at 9 days late.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

There is a pressure point just above the back of the ankle that if massaged it cause the uterus to contract - you will go into labor. My husband rubbed my ankle and I went into false labor for 8 hours then had him 12 hours later. When he was rubbing my ankle the contractions started, when he stopped the contractions stopped. It was weird but it worked!

Do not try this until you are full term!

You can google pressure points for the uterus and a plethora of sites will come up... Good luck!

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

when i was ready we did the old wives tale trick with the caster oil. it worked with 3 of my 4 kids. take a small Dixie cup (5 oz size) put about 2 tablespoons of caster oil in the bottom. then fill the cup with root beer or orange juice. then slurp it down. within a couple hours you will be in labor. it worked like a charm for me. It does cause a bit of diarrhea which was gone as soon as the baby came out.

1 mom found this helpful

E.H.

answers from Kokomo on

I have read that using your breast pump is a pretty sure way of inducing labor.

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B.M.

answers from Chicago on

I have had 3 children and I can say that for me, nothing worked.

With my 2nd, I tried EVERYTHING...raspberry leaf tea, eggplant, spicy foods, sex, walking, nipple stimulation. He was born 2 days before his due date.

Your body knows when its ready. Don't force the baby out before that time. As much as I hate to say it (because I hated to hear it), but its true....don't rush this. Your body knows what to do.

Hoping for a quick a quick (and full term) delivery.

1 mom found this helpful

E.A.

answers from Erie on

Nipple stimulation ;)

S.A.

answers from Chicago on

If you are 37 weeks or more, your OB would probably agree to strip your membranes. I requested it at 38 weeks and went into labor that night. It has a very high success rate. It is a bit uncomfortable, more than a regular exam, but well worth it if you're desperate to be delivered! Good luck!

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K.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

With my third, I would have ripped her out with my bare hands if the following hadn't happened: I ate a bucket of spicy buffalo wings and took a looong walk around the neighborhood. Went into labor the next morning. I'm not kidding. At 9lbs 4oz, kid was ready to come out and I was MORE than ready to have her out. Did the spicy food and long walk induce labor? Who really knows...but to this day, of my three kids, SHE'S the one who loves spicy foods.

H.V.

answers from Cleveland on

I don't have any advice but THANKS for asking this...I was literally just thinking about asking the same question. haha

K.I.

answers from Spokane on

Never had to use it but I hear walking and having sex are your best bet!

Good Luck and congrats on the new baby!

K.L.

answers from Chicago on

I tried all kinds of stuff including walking, homeopathics and sex. OMG was the sex ever uncomfortable!! LOL Something I really regret now about baby #1 is letting the hospital pressure me into believing that I had to have my baby by a certain date. If I had to do it all again, I'd allow myself to go into labor naturally. You and baby are in no danger until at least 42 weeks. Just thought I'd share that. Stay away from the doc's office right now! Feel the baby moving? You're fine!

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

I know my pedicurist wouldn't let me sit in the massaging chair because of a reccomendation by the State Medical Board that it can throw women into premature labor. So vibrating back and foot massage is one way.

My dr wouldn't do a vaginal exam after a certain period because that might put me in labor - as my dr said - just the same way sex would. No ejaculation necessary. Just the pressure of sex or the exam. SO, when I was 2 weeks overdue and had eaten spicy foods, and drank castor oil, and drove over bumpy railroads just like all the old wives were telling me, I lied to my dr and told him I was cramping. I tricked him into doing the exam and guess what - I had my 1st contraction right there on the exam table.

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L.L.

answers from Hartford on

I have heard sex helps things along :) I also heard eggplant. I tried them both, lol, and still went past my due date.

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M.S.

answers from Appleton on

I tried everything when I was pregnant with my daughter....even went and got a pedicure by a lady that some women swore she put into labor. Nothing worked...until we went boating and I got heat stroke which made me sick to my stomach and put me into labor immediately!!! I do not recommend that! Lol! I ended up having a 27 hour labor with lots of pitocin & multiple iv's before she finally arrived! At least my pedicure held up....lol!

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