The Best Ways to Induce Labor

Here is a list of the best ways to induce labor naturally for those women who have gone past their due date. These suggestions were provided by experienced women and are what worked for them.

Natural Ways to Induce Labor

1. The night before I went into labor, I cleaned my entire house from top to bottom.

2. I tried drinking a cumin tea, because I was told that often helps.

3. I drank chicken broth with cayenne pepper.

4. I walked up hills, and I walked with one foot on the curb and the other on the ground.

5. Driving down a bumpy road.

6. I was also told to engage in sexual activity. I was told that having an orgasm aids in muscle contractions.

7. I read online that another way is to stimulate the nipples, but only to try that after consulting with your physician.

8. The most common method doctors use to induce labor is a Pitocin IV, commonly referred to as a "PIP drip."

9. For the doctor to break the water

10. I've even heard of ladies eating Greek salads to bring on labor; something to do with the feta cheese.

11. Other ideas are drinking castor oil, raspberry tea, or massaging certain areas of the hands and feet.

Overall it appears that strenuous physical activity or exercise is probably the best method for inducing labor. Whether it was cleaning the house, going for a long walk or engaging in sex, the more physical the activity the more likely it was to induce labor.

There are some words of caution regarding inducing labor. “These so-called "natural" ways to induce labor, work by possibly increasing the secretion of Oxytocin, one body hormone that can stimulate contractions. Nipple stimulation, irritating the wall of the vagina, and orgasm are all possible ways. However, they may or may not cause the opening of the cervix; and contractions without an open cervix can possibly harm the baby.

Induce Labor Medically

The three most common ways to medically induce labor are: 1) separating the amniotic sac from the cervix; 2) administering synthetic prostaglandins; and 3) inflating a balloon catheter inside the uterus. The purpose of all of these techniques is to stimulate the opening of the cervix and to start the contractions.

However, it seems that of all these best ways to induce labor, the most sure-fire method is for the doctor to break the water. Often this is what will be done in cases where junior is just not willing to vacate the premises.

So if you’ve reached the end of your pregnancy and are getting tired of waiting, check with your doctor, then go out and take a 5 hike, rearrange all the furniture in the house, call your husband home from work early for a session of hot sex…or just call the doctor and tell him it’s time to get the show on the road and ask him to break your water.