When can i start trying to induce labor at home

Around 38 weeks into their pregnancies, I start to see a shift in my expecting patients. The excitement of being pregnant has worn off. They are sore, uncomfortable and often feeling a great deal of pregnancy fatigue.

Table of Contents Show

1. Exercise
2. Spicy foods
3. Sexual intercourse
4. Acupuncture and acupressure
5. Nipple stimulation to induce labor – discouraged
6. Castor oil to induce labor – highly discouraged and potentially dangerous
Be patient, and remember these methods for later
Natural Ways to Induce Labor
Possible Ways of Inducing Labor Naturally
Inducing Labor in the Hospital
Can I induce labor at 36 weeks?
Can I naturally induce labor at 38 weeks?
How can I induce labor at home today?
How can I induce myself early?

This is also usually when I start getting questions about natural ways to induce labor.

“Is it true that eating spicy food will get things going?” “Does drinking castor oil really work?”

Some of my expecting moms are willing to try just about anything at this point, and the internet provides endless ideas. However, I always caution that very few methods have been proven effective in getting labor started. And some methods can actually be dangerous for both mom and baby.

Here are six natural ways to induce labor that I get questions about from my patients, and the advice I share with them. I recommend that you first get your doctor’s permission before trying any of these methods as a way to induce labor.

1. Exercise

Walking and exercise often make it to the top of the list of things to try. While there’s no research that says it will induce labor, 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five times a week can be helpful in any stage of pregnancy. And, it’s safe to use a birthing or exercise ball to stretch and help relieve some of the pressure in your pelvis, hips and back (unless you’ve been instructed otherwise by your doctor). Staying fit can help improve sleep and your mood. It can also decrease your risk of cesarean delivery and gestational diabetes.

2. Spicy foods

Spicy foods can make you sweat, but they won’t induce labor. That’s an old wives’ tale. Research has shown that eating spicy food can trigger heartburn and indigestion, but as for labor, there has been no documented research to prove this theory.

3. Sexual intercourse

You might be wondering “How would sex induce labor?” For starters, it can release oxytocin from the brain – the same chemical that causes contractions. And it can also release prostaglandins, which help the cervix naturally soften and prepare for labor. Be sure to ask your doctor whether you have the go-ahead to give sex at this time a try. If you’re given the okay, it’s certainly one of the more fun ways to try and get labor going.

4. Acupuncture and acupressure

Using acupuncture, acupressure or massage to induce labor is somewhat controversial. The belief is that stimulating certain pressure points in the body can release oxytocin and induce labor. While the effectiveness of this method is still up for debate, a foot massage is still enjoyable, especially at the end of pregnancy. And massage therapy can help treat the hip, back, ligament and musculoskeletal pain you might feel while pregnant. Both are very safe as long as the care professional has experience in taking care of pregnant women. Here at Park Nicollet, we’re lucky to have massage therapists specifically trained to work with pregnant women and their much more loose and relaxed muscles and joints.

5. Nipple stimulation to induce labor – discouraged

Some of my patients ask me whether using a breast pump can help start labor. Similar to sex, nipple stimulation can lead to oxytocin release. However, there is no research that shows using a breast pump to induce labor is safe or effective, so I discourage my patients from trying this method.

6. Castor oil to induce labor – highly discouraged and potentially dangerous

Castor oil can cause uterine contractions. But, the contractions may or may not be labor. The theory is that castor oil stimulates the bowels, which irritates the uterus and causes contractions. This can lead to side effects like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting – all of which can lead to dehydration. I highly discourage my patients from trying this method.

Be patient, and remember these methods for later

At the end of the day, your baby will come when they are ready. But once you’re in labor, some of the things listed above may actually help it progress. Walking, acupuncture, massage and more can also be used as natural ways to manage labor and delivery pains.

Until then, try to stay comfortable and be patient. And know that, if needed, your doctor can help you get your labor started safely and effectively.

Natural Ways to Induce Labor

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.

Possible Ways of Inducing Labor Naturally

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

Long walks: Going for a walk is good exercise but experts don’t think it will help bring on labor.
Spicy foods: It's a popular theory, but there's no direct connection between the stomach and the uterus. So, there's no reason to think a particular type of food will bring on contractions.
Castor oil: Some experts recommend taking a small amount of castor oil after the 38th week. But castor oil brings on diarrhea and could cause dehydration.
Cohosh: Some women try starting labor with cohosh, but doctors caution that this herb contains plant-based chemicals that may act like estrogen in the body.
Evening primrose oil: This herb has substances that your body changes into prostaglandins, which soften the cervix and get it ready for labor.
Red raspberry leaf tea: Some people think this herbal tea helps bring on spontaneous labor. The verdict is still out, but the tea is chock full of iron and calcium, which can be healthy for mom and baby. Studies show it’s safe to drink during pregnancy.

Inducing Labor in the Hospital

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!

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.