You're overdue, uncomfortable and just want that baby out! There’s a never-ending list of things that are rumored to help pregnant women induce labour. It’s rather common for pregnant moms to try these old wives’ tales out as a desperate attempt to get labour started.
Before we take a look at these options, know that I am not a doctor or health care professional. It is imperative that you speak with your doctor or midwife before you try any of these methods for the health of you and your baby.
With that, here are 8 of the most popular old wives’ tales for inducing labor are:
1. Sex: Semen contains prostaglandins, hormones that can help ripen (soften and open) the cervix, possibly leading to contractions. Similarly, an orgasm releases the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the muscles of the uterus to contract
2. Nipple Stimulation: Gently rolling, rubbing and massaging the areolas for an hour, three times a day is said to trigger oxytocin and lead to uterine contractions, much the same way nursing produces the same effect.
3. Spicy Food: The spice fires up your uterus. It is believed that feasting on pad Thai or chicken wings smothered in suicide sauce may fire up your digestive system and bowels and, consequently, your uterus.
4. Pineapple: An enzyme in the fruit softens the cervix. Bromelain is a combination of enzymes found naturally in fresh pineapple. When eaten, it is thought to soften the connective tissue of the cervix and bring on labour.
5. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea: Drinking copious amounts of red raspberry leaf tea — more than four 250 ml cups a day — when you are close to your due date is said to trigger contractions.
6. Castor Oil: This unpleasant-tasting vegetable oil is essentially a laxative. The oil causes uterine muscle spasms, but mix it with juice because it tastes awful. When taken orally—you can try disguising the flavour by mixing the oil with juice — it can cause cramping in the intestines (which surround the uterus during the latter stages of pregnancy). This is supposed to lead to uterine muscle spasms and labour.
7. Walking: If you're in labour, a stroll can help speed things up. It may not start labour but walking aids its progression once contractions have begun. Walking makes your hips sway from side to side helping to correctly position the baby for birth and uses gravity to guide the baby farther down into the pelvis.
8. Acupressure: Acupressure is a form of touch therapy used in Chinese medicine. The therapist targets specific pressure points on the mother’s body, causing the baby to descend, press onto the cervix, thereby ripening and dilating it and initiating contractions. Some acupressure techniques are designed to directly stimulate contractions.
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