It's just a week until your due date. You're scouring the Internet for some way to coax baby out on time -- or maybe even a couple of days early. The message boards are full of suggestions for inducing labor
"naturally." They range from eating spicy foods to spooning down castor oil. But does anything really work? Childbirth experts say there's no good proof. The only
safe and reliable methods for starting labor involve medications given at the hospital. Only a couple of non-medical techniques show any promise, but the jury is still out on those. Most other techniques are rumors, unlikely to help at best, and potentially harmful. When it comes to inducing labor, the following
methods draw mixed reviews from childbirth experts. Either there's no evidence to support them or they might work, but carry risks. If you plan to try any of them, consult your doctor or midwife first. Acupuncture Acupuncture may help bring on labor. In parts of Asia, it has been used for centuries to jump-start labor. Some studies suggest it can help women who are 40 weeks or less pregnant, but may not help bring on labor in women who are post-term, or 41 weeks or
more pregnant. More research is needed. Sex Another strategy that gets positive reviews from doctors and midwives is inducing labor the same way you started your pregnancy -- by having sex. Although there's no proof sex can start labor, there is a good reason why it
might. Sex releases prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that are like the medications used to induce labor. If you’re comfortable with having sex, it won't hurt to try. Make sure your water hasn’t broken and your doctor or midwife has given you the green light. Other Methods If you pass your due date, your doctor or midwife may recommend inducing labor in the hospital. Women with high-risk pregnancies may be induced very close to or just before the due date. Some risks of complications require induction well before the due date. For low-risk pregnancies, your doctor may want you to go
to 42 weeks before inducing labor. Inducing labor usually starts with taking prostaglandins as pills or applying them inside the vagina near the cervix. Sometimes this is enough to start contractions. If that's not enough to induce labor, the next step is Pitocin, a man-made form of the hormone oxytocin. It stimulates uterine contractions. Pitocin should only be given once the cervix is open and ready for labor. As the due date approaches, many couples are eager for labor to begin so they can finally meet their little one. And though that's the most exciting moment of your life, you might want to slow down and not rush through things. Save your energy, rather than wearing yourself out with schemes for starting labor sooner. In other words, get some sleep while you can! Your due date is an educated guess for when your baby might make its arrival. While many women deliver perfectly healthy babies 2 weeks before or after this presumed due date, it’s recommended that women wait until at least 39 weeks for delivery. It’s best to let mother nature decide when your baby comes. In a 2011 study, 201 women who had recently delivered babies were surveyed about inducing labor at home. Of these women, 50 percent had tried a natural method of getting labor started. If you’re 40 weeks in, here are seven natural ways to get things moving along. Most of these methods are anecdotal and don’t have solid evidence that they work, so you should always talk to your healthcare provider before attempting any of these methods. Your midwife or doctor may not be able to confirm that they work, but they can let you know if it’s safe to try with your pregnancy. Exercise can be anything that gets the heart rate up, such as a long walk. Even if this method doesn’t work, it’s a great way to relieve stress and keep your body strong for the task ahead. Theoretically, there are multiple reasons why having sex could induce labor. For example, sexual activity, especially having an orgasm, can release oxytocin, which may help jumpstart uterine contractions. Also, for pregnant people who have sex with men, there are prostaglandin hormones in semen that might help ripen the cervix. Having sex is safe during the final weeks of pregnancy, but you shouldn’t have sex after your water has broken. Doing so can increase your risk for infection. Stimulating your nipples can cause your uterus to contract and may bring about labor. Nipple stimulations stimulate oxytocin production. Oxytocin is the hormone that causes the uterus to contract and the breast to eject milk. In fact, if you choose to breastfeed your baby right after delivery, this same stimulation is what will help your uterus shrink back to its original size. You or your partner may manually stimulate your nipples, or you can try using a breast pump. Solidresearch shows that breast stimulation can be an effective way to:
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years. The exact way that acupuncture works is unclear. In Chinese Medicine, it’s believed that it balances the chi or vital energy within the body. It might also stimulate changes in hormones or in the nervous system. Acupuncture should be administered only by a licensed acupuncturist. In a 2013 randomized trial in Denmark, more than 400 women were given acupuncture, membrane stripping, or both procedures before labor. Study results showed that acupuncture didn’t decrease the need for induction, but sweeping membranes did. According to research, the main benefit of acupuncture is increased cervical ripening. Some practitioners believe that acupressure can help start labor. Prior to applying acupressure to yourself, make sure you get proper instruction from a trained acupressure professional. If acupressure doesn’t get your labor going, it can still be an excellent way to alleviate pain and discomfort during labor. Drinking a little bit, like only 1–2 ounces (29.57–59.14 mL) of castor oil stimulates prostaglandin release, which can help ripen the cervix and get labor started. It’s recommended that this be done under the supervision of a midwife or doctor. People should be careful not to drink too much. Some research shows that eating dates in the final weeks of pregnancy
Most pregnant people at 40 weeks are likely ready to have their babies out of their bellies as soon as possible and in their arms. However, there are plenty of perks to waiting until your body naturally decides to go into labor — including recovery. Women who weren’t induced typically recover more quickly than those who were. More time in the womb can mean both you and your new baby get to go home from the hospital sooner. Infants who are born after a full-term pregnancy also experience other benefits. More time in the womb typically means:
Let your body do the work for a few more days and take the time to get as much rest as you possibly can. We know, that’s easier said than done when you’re 9 months pregnant. You and your baby will need all your energy soon enough! Before trying anything that might induce labor, speak with your healthcare provider to go over any risks or possible complications. Though some of these methods are popular folklore among pregnant women, little scientific evidence supports their efficacy. In most cases, it’s best to let baby set their own birth date, even if it means waiting another week or two. Can I induce labor at 36 weeks?The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) do not recommend voluntarily inducing labor before 39 weeks gestation unless there is a medical need to do so.
Can I start trying to induce labor at 37 weeks?Kenneth James, OB-GYN from Saddleback Medical Center, who says that pregnant moms should wait until their 39th week of pregnancy before they try self induction because of health and safety issues with the baby.
How early can you induce your own labor?(A note of caution: Doctors do not recommend trying to self-induce labor before 39 weeks, because the fetus's brain is still developing.)
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When can you start to induce labor
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