Natural ways to induce/speed up labor

Thorpe27 · April 2014

I am 39 weeks and my doc told me i'm barely dilated to 1 cm. I haven't felt any contractions or pelvic pains (apart from when baby is moving around and putting pressure on things). Had a growth scan done and he's just barely 6 lbs - so he's little, but not TOO little. Doc said i could start going for lots of walks to try to help speed along the process a little bit. Anybody have any other natural/easy at home methods that help speed up the process?

KarenEliza · April 2014

I can't say how well any of these things work but I have been using evening primrose oil and cranberry tea leaf tea. I'm "mostly effaced" according to my last visit but barely dilated.

JoelleOK · April 2014

When I was a FTM I was about 1 cm and 20-30% at 11 pm, I had my son the next day. 6 hours of labor and 30 min pushing.

Sitting and moving on a yoga ball can help open your pelvis as does sitting "Indian style" on a firm surface. Doing the hip tilt exercise helps baby move into a good labor position as well as strengthen your core for labor. Practice squatting to strengthen your legs for pushing, if your birth location allows that. Walking is always good.

JoelleOK · April 2014

And during that pregnancy I never felt BH contractions, but the monitor showed that I was having them. I feel them during this pregnancy!

Jenni0621 · April 2014

I know how stupid this is going to sound but I read pineapple can induce labor. I read that last Thursday and on Friday I ate 1/2 a pineapple, my water broke 7 hours later and 12 hours after that I had my baby girl in my arms!

AmberLiz99 · April 2014

Jenni0621 said:
I know how stupid this is going to sound but I read pineapple can induce labor. I read that last Thursday and on Friday I ate 1/2 a pineapple, my water broke 7 hours later and 12 hours after that I had my baby girl in my arms!

Actually, scientifically you would have to eat 7 entire pineapples to have enough of a reaction. Yummy treat though!