How To: Encourage Labour Naturally?
Fresh Pineapple - Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which is thought to help to soften the cervix and so bring on labour. Some cultures swear by it but there is a lack of research into whether it really works. Regardless of this, eating large quantities of pineapple is likely to stimulate the gut and bowel and, as with castor oil, could kick-start the uterus into action by that means.
Castor Oil - BIG NO NO! Many women try this to bring on labour and alot even say that it works, but it is not safe to use during pregnancy (which is why they won't sell it to you in a chemist while you are pregnant!). It can have many side affects- one being that it can cause the baby to pass a bowel movement while inside your womb which then can be iinhaled by the baby and lead to serious problems such as pnemonia. 30% of babies first bowel movement happens inside the womb- which is scary enough without the added risks. It can also cause distress to the baby among other things, so steer clear of this suggestion Please!
Raspberry Leaf Tea- From week 34 onwards drinking a couple of cups a day can help prepare the womb for labour. This is frequently recommended as a way of getting labour going, but in fact is more of a uterine tonic, acting to strengthen the uterus, to be used in the final weeks of pregnancy to prepare your uterus for labour, rather than a means of actually initiating labour itself. it can help with contractions it's not recommended that you drink raspberry leaf tea before for the final trimester of your pregnancy, and many doctors recommend not drinking it before week 34.
Spicy Food/ Curry - This is one recommendation you'll probably hear frequently and one often recommended by midwives, despite there being no clear medical evidence to back it up. If eating a hot curry or similar does help to bring on labour it might do so by stimulating the gut and bowels, which can have a knock-on effect on the uterus. This is probably one to avoid or to try with caution if you've been suffering from heartburn in pregnancy, or if you're not used to hot foods.
Sex - It might be the last thing you feel like doing, but sex can help to get labour going in a couple of ways once your baby is at full term and you're ready for labour. Male sperm contains prostaglandin, the hormone that is naturally produced by the uterus lining to ripen the cervix and stimulate the uterus to contract. You don't need to have full sex to produce an effect, massage and masturbation (for the woman!) can also help because female orgasm releases oxytocin, another hormone that stimulates contractions. In normal circumstances it's fine to have sex in the final stages of pregnancy, however, if you're suffering from certain pregnancy-related health conditions your doctor may advise abstinence. Once your waters have broken then you shouldn't have intercourse, as your baby is no longer protected from infection by the bag of waters.
Relaxation - A relaxing bath or massage - using one or more essential oils that can act to relax you and/or stimulate the uterus (clary sage, jasmine and marjoram) may help. If you're overdue, it may be that some stress or anxiety is preventing you from going into labour, so at the very least a relaxing bath or massage should help clear any mental blocks to the start of labour, regardless of whether the oils help with contractions.
Exercise - Exercise can help too so take a long walk. Various forms of activity are often recommended to jump-start labour and walking is thought to work largely through gravity - your baby's head is encouraged downwards to exert pressure on the cervix and so prompt the release of prostaglandin. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the suggestion that walking can help labour along, again, once your body and baby are ready.
Also try walking up and down stairs side-ways or walking along a ledge or gutter with one foot up on the leadge and the other on the ground- Be extra careful or cars etc, if you are doing this on the side of a road (we all know how clumsy pregnant women can be!). This is said to help guide the baby's head into the right position in the pelvis for birth and also help stimulate labour if it is building up.
Power walking may also help speed thingsa up! If you do go for a walk to encourage labour then be careful not to overdo it, if you're successful then you're going to need plenty of energy to get through labour and birth!
Any other suggestions and ideas- Please comment!
I hope this is helpful : )
