The Truth About Inducing Labor Naturally
What every mom wants to know in the third trimester when they feel like they have been pregnant FOREVER. How can I induce labor naturally and get this baby out????? The truth is that there are many methods that have been tried and raved about online, but how do we know if they actually work?
***********The following data is not medical advice and you should consult your doctor before attempting anything.***************
I was 39 weeks pregnant and miserable thinking my second baby was going to come out already and not knowing how to induce labor naturally at all. So I did what all moms do and headed to Google. And I also asked everyone I knew what they did and tried every single one of them. This is what I found out.
Can curb walking induce labor naturally???
Like myself and many other moms, the first thing I did was get outside and start "curb walking" to try to open up my hips and get labor going. As soon as I did this with my first, I went into labor a few days later. With my second, I did this for about a week. While I don't beleieve this caused me to go into labor, I do think it made for a really easy delivery with both of my kids.
There are two parts to curb walking which could naturally help your body start the process of going into labor. First, it has been rumored that exercise can cause labor. And walking around for hours or even minutes can stimulate your body. Secondly, the motion of stepping one foot onto the curb while the other is on the ground can help prepare your body and hips and allow them to begin the process by widening.
The VIRAL Starbucks Labor Inducing Drink
If you are a desperate mom looking to induce labor naturally, I am sure you have seen the TikTok videos of the labor inducing drink from Starbucks. When I tried this, I thought it tasted really good contrary to some other reviews. While this did not cause me to go into labor, it was delicious and I would reccomend it if you want to try it out. In my opinion, it was too sweet for me to drink more than once.
Order:
Venti Iced Passion Tea with +lemonade +pineapple base +4 pumps of liquid cane syrup +light ice
Acupunture or Pressure
Some randomized trials have shown that this is not an effective method for naturally inducing labor but some poeple swear by it. Many people beleive that the pressure points in feet or legs can cause preterm labor. In my experience, I received massages and foot massages my entire pregnancy and never felt any different. In this case, I continued throughout my second pregnancy with no adverse effects.
Raspberry Leaf Tea and Evening Primrose Oil
These remedies to naturally induce labor have been becoming more and more popular in this generation. Expert marketing teams have sold these methods as ways to prepare your body for labor. But the truth is that there is no evidence to support this.
Many moms who have tried this have said it works for an easy delivery. However, it is not compared to be able to know if that was the actual cause. In my experience, I did this with my first and it made me more sick and neasuous. I ended up being in labor for over 30 hours, so in my case it did not help. I say skip it!
Nipple Stimulation to Naturally Induce Labor
Many moms are told not to pump or collect colostrum because it can induce labor. The reason for this is that nipple stimulation causes a release of oxytocin. When mothers are lactating, this release causes the milk to flow out. It can also cause contractions. The reason for this is to signal the uterus to contract back to its normal size after birth.
Doing this during pregnancy can also cause contractions though it may not be the true cause of labor. It has been known to cause prologned and harsh contractions which can be harmful to your baby which is why it is not reccomended.
After I reached full term, I decided to collect colostrum for my baby and have an extra stash in the freezer. To do this, I needed to pump it out. I did this for four days and did not go into labor. However, I did experience contractions leading up to my second delivery which could have been caused by this.
Getting the membrane sweep
Whatever you do, don't go on TikTok and look at all of the videos about getting the membrane sweep. I did this and it made me terrified to get it.
What is a membrane sweep? Essentially, your OBGYN might advise to get a membrane sweep about a week before your due date. The process is relatively short. This is how my doctor explained it to me: inserting her finger and sweeping left and right along the uterine wall to separate the cells and signal to the body to begin labor.
Was it painful? It was certainly not comfortable, but it was less than a minute and definitely more comfortable than being so pregnant.
In my case, I started to go into labor the morning after my membrane sweep and I could feel my body preparing. The day after, I went into the hospital after losing my musuc plug and was admintted and delivered in under three hours.
If you are looking to go into labor naturally without a formal induction, I would suggest a membrane sweep. It is not comfortable and can cause cramping after, but you have to weigh out the options and which you would rather have towards the end of your pregnancy.
Eating Spicy Food
Why do so many people say to eat spicy food to naturally induce labor? Because spicy food can cause a GI imblanace and upset your stomach. This can lead to contractions which may or may not cause labor. The truth is that it rarely does actually induce labor and then you are left with an upset stomach.
The Truth About Inducing Labor Naturally
The truth is that there are a bunch of things that are likely old wives tales, not true, or caused naturally versus the method at hand. Your baby is going to come when they are ready. The baby signals the mother's body when the growing is completed and that's what should cause labor. Trust me, I get it. And I was extremely pregnant too and beggining for the baby to come out. But there is no magical way to induce labor naturally. It is a process that your body knows how to do on it's own.
With trying all of these methods, I had labor contractions for about a week before I went into labor. They were not super painful, but they were definitely not comfortable. There were even two very big hurricanes I was sure would send me into labor. But my baby wasn't ready to come out yet. They know when it's time, and they will let you know when it's time as well.