Seeking at Home (Healthy) Remedies to Help Induce Labor Naturally

Congrats! I know this doesn't help much, but I wanted to comment on some of the previous posts. My mother is a doula and when I was pregnant with my daughter, I asked if walking would help induce labor. She said that all walking prior to labor does is make you tired. She did say that walking helps progress labor, but you already have to be in labor for walking to be beneficial. Just a thought before you go walking miles & miles & miles. One more thing that really helps progress labor is warm baths & relaxation. Unfortunately, I don't have any good induction suggestions. Good luck! I bet you are sooo excited!

Stop trying to induce labor and let mother nature do her job. Pregnancies last 40 weeks for a reason. Developing fetuses need every moment in utero they can get.

I know you're probably anxious, but you still have a week left. I do know that sex, nipple stimulation, walking, squatting, and red raspberry leaf tea helps too. Remember, it is not a due date but really a due "month". Baby could come two weeks before or two weeks after your due date. Good luck!

The solution I used with my 2nd pregnancy wasn't NEARLY as much fun as the suggestions that you have been getting!! First off I am going to tell you, dont do ANY of these things that have been suggested to you ( other than the walking) without talking to your doctor first. We have no way of know what your precise circumstances are, and you Doctor is the one who should have the final word.
My husband was only home on weekends, when I was pregnant with my 2nd child and if I wanted him to be there for the birth it HAD to be on a weekend. ( The Military doesnt CARE that you are in labor!!! They have a job to do!! ) My solution...a very warm enema...by the 2nd one I was in active labor!! I was about a week past my due date and when I checked with my doctor his response was "If you are ready it will get things started, if you aren't ready it will just clean you out". BUT..check with your doctor first!!!!
I also know that when my daughter had her 1st child in a birthing center last year, they used nipple stimulation to strengthen the contractions.
Good luck and I hope you have a smooth, uncomplicated, QUICK delivery and a perfect healthy little bundle to love!!!

i know i'm talking to a "room" full of moms who all seem to have more kiddos than me (one! lol) but i thought it was actually supposed to be 40 weeks? all the old wives' tales about bringing on labor made me laugh when i was pregnant...i knew with my luck i'd try all those things, and he'd come when he decided to anyway, and it "might" coincide with someting i did to try to hurry things along! anyway, i was almost a week late with mine, i was scheduled to be induced (they thought he was a "big" baby - 8 lbs!) on monday, and since we had just moved to the area, on saturday we decided to drive the 435 loop just to do it, and *voila*, after an hour or so in the car on saturday, sunday morning at 7 am my water broke. just my experience...lol. good luck and congrats in advance. one thing for sure he'll be here SOON! little boys are great :)

Have sex! I heard about this "remedy" to inducing labor even before I had my children. Only needed to use this once and it did put me into labor within 2 days!
Best of luck to you!
V.

Look up evening primose oil. You can use capsules as a vaginal suppository, kind of icky, but it works. Also try drinking red raspberry leaf tea. Tastes gross, drink with LOTS of honey. Nipple stimulation and sex also help. Give the baby time. He will come when HE is ready. There is no need to induce just because you come to your due date if you are both healthy and doing well. Check our gentlebirth.org

Castor oil doesn't really work anyway, I tried it with my first (I wasn't being patient, I learned my lesson), all you get is a sore bottom!

There is no such thing as "inducing naturally". :) I would say that you are well on your way already. I know that you are anxious, but it may be better to wait until the baby is ready. I "naturally" induced and had the longest most painful labor of all, after having very short easy labors for the first two. Of course, that baby was on her due date, and my others have been 10-26 days overdue. You can use safe things like Evening Primrose Oil internally and by mouth, but you are already quite dilated. Hubby time is helpful, but again, you may break your waters too early by doing that, and that will put you on a timeline. I would not use ANY cohoshes, those are dangerous. Making a day that requires lots of walking. Don't overdrink and make sure you aren't constipated, as that can delay labor. HTH

I'm due on Friday and just posted a request you may want to read those as well.I'm 50% effaced 1 cm dialted as of Tuesday and been that way for 2 weeks,my other kiddos were a few days early and was hoping this would be the same.Anyway I plan on carrying out this pregnancy as natural as possible I see my O again if no baby next Wednesday and possibly get my membranes stripped,I don't prefer to go into induction unless baby is in stress and my bloodpressure goes up.It's all a matter of waiting and the due date maybe off a day or two so that'll by some time as well.Today I plan on getting all the laundry done maybe vaccuum the entire house again.But right now rest is the most important on my list and have been taking advantage every chance I get.It'l all change for me soon will 3 kiddos.Best of Luck and thye say nipple stimulation releases Oxytocin a chemical/hormone that is released to encourage contractions but so far no luck with me.

Hi T.,
I just had my son 2/10/09 (my actual due date) and like you was anxious to meet him. I was full term and refused to go past my due date. My situation was very similar to yours and what we did was have sex! Yes, sex. It was highly recommended by my girlfriends and when I asked my doctor was it still okay, he said yes. We began around 11pm on 2/9 and by 2am I was in active labour. So check with your doctor first to make sure it's okay for you. It should be as long as your water hasn't broken and you haven't seen your bloody show.

I now have a healthy precious 1 month old son who is absolutely perfect! He is an absolute joy and we love on him constantly! I'm so happy he's here, I don't even mind the lack of sleep due to frequent feedings (just finished our regular 3am feeding).

Best regards and I pray you have a smooth uncomplicated delivery that produces a beautiful healthy baby boy!

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but just have patience and wait it out. It sounds like you'll go into labor soon on your own (based on what you wrote) and with two active little ones already, just relish in these last few days with them alone. It will come soon enough. My only advice for making it come quicker is to walk alot and have sex. It is definitely a faster, easier labor when you go naturally rather than by induction (my first was induced - 18 hours, and my second went on her own - 5 hours) but the biggest thing is to relax and enjoy your last days before the 'new baby haze'. Good luck and God Bless!

I 33yrs old and a mother of 3. I have no idea what you have tried and I worked in an OB/GYN ofice and we woyld tell our expected mothers to walk. Maybe go to your local mall and walk around it a few times. Has the Dr. stripped your membranes yet. I have seen that helps alot with the walking.Congradualtions and good luck.

Good Morning T., Congratulations first and foremost.

We we did with our first daughter in law ( they lived here ) was we walked every night up and down our street, when the contraction started up to 2 minutes apart she rested in a squat then we timed how long. Usually about 15 sec. We walked more. I know T. it is a back killer but it worked for her really quick. She was dialated at 3 with 50% also for over a month, with Tia. As we got closer to due date we walked at least 30 minutes twice a day if she didn't get to tired.

Walking kind of forces the little ones down into the birth position is what we were told. Worked three times for her.

*Laughing* I do remember my mom telling everyone how stubborn my brother was to be born, Castor oil and long drives over bumpy country roads. She went to the hospital 3 times before that critter got here. He will be 54 This month..lol still stubborn critter :)

God bless you with a Healthy wonderful little Prince very soon, with an easy delivery.
K. Nana of 5

With two of my four children I had problems becoming dialated, finally a friend of mine that was a nurse made this recommendation with my pregnancy during my third child. Two weeks before my due date she recommended cutting out all breads with the exception of 2 slices of whole grain bread at breakfast. She further explained to me, that by increasing my fruit and vegetable intake and lowering my meat, bread, pasta I would be forcing my body to cleanse itself naturally and that it would help prepare my body for labor, as well as being healthy for me it would help bring labor about more effectively because you are inducing the contractions by keeping your bowel movements regular and soft.

While I was in the hospital and things had stalled, my doula had me sit on a big exercise ball and bounce up and down. She pressed on some spots on my legs too, but I couldn't tell you where exactly...

Moving around and walking seems to help too, unless it makes you tense.

Mr. Dr's office told me that the effacement has to happen before progress.....so if you are only 50%, you need to get to about 90% before you can expect "labor" to really start. They also told me that sex will do it. Hubby was thrilled to hear it....LOL I was 90% effaced and only dialated to 2 when we got to the hospital.

I watched a show (I think it was 60 minutes or something like that years ago) and they said that eating spicy food can sometimes bring on labor. They spoke about a restaurant in particular, but I can't remember where that was. They said foods like Indian spicy food could work too.

But sex sounds good too. ;)

I am pretty much in the same spot as you, except that i'm 40 weeks today and as of tuesday was only 1cm and 20% effaced. I've been told that long slow walks help, and I have been walking like crazy all week and it has made the baby drop considerably. I wish I had the answer to your question, but I thought it would be at least a teensy comforting to know you arent the only one super duper anxious to meet your new little guy!!

I have had 5 pregnancies, and each have been induced.

The best way, is to take Excedrin or some type of Sudafed to increase your heart beat. This is safe, as it only really effects you, That will help. speed up everything.

REMEMBER he won't come until he is ready.

So, go enjoy that last fattening cheese burger with real bacon, and chocolate shake (the real kind, not that low fat junk) and have a nice long nap, you'll feel better if you are rested. When he is ready.

OH, by the way,on the topic of hunger...if you tend to have slow deliveries, make sure you EAT, even on the way to the hospital.. if you have to. No need to tell them how much you ate,in the car just before waddling in, you'll have a better delivery if you are not starving of hunger.

The reason they say to not eat, is because of the standard set of nothing in the system before any type of major surgery. I have had lots of things such as Wendy's, on the way to the hospital! you'll be fine, and not as cranky if you are full! (Wendy's just happens to be across the highway from SMMC)

Remember you can always insist on being induced, with you already being at a 3, you could honestly go into labor quickly. DO NOT TRY TO BREAK YOUR WATER, I've heard of traumatic stories that start that way.... If the Dr wants to break it, he can safely.

But do rememeber every extra moment he has inside, the healthier he will be in the long run! I know it has been a long 8+ months, but he is worth it!

Good Luck,
Mommy of 5 in a 7 year span. (all single births)All very healthy and bright!@

Sounds odd but my doctor told me that having intercourse sometimes induces labor. Can't get much more natural than that.

This may have worked because I was 6-1/2 cm and fully effaced, but, I went to the hospital with my 2nd, at the insistance of my husband, because I was very uncomfortable and I had a lot of clear discharge and he was worried that my water broke. well, my water had not broke, but I was dilated and effaced as mentioned before and I was having contractions but didn't know it. The mid-wife came into my rom and did an exam to see if I was "just having contractions" or if she could throw me into labor. She did what she called an aggressive exam and wow, it caused labor almost immediately and I had my son less than 6 hours later. Basically, she was poking around at the entrance to the uterus and stretching muscles, your husband could probably do it for you if you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself, but make sure that he has sterile gloves on. It is basically the same as having sex to bring on labor, but this way actually is poking and prodding at the spots that cause labor. But, remember, if he isn't ready, he's just not ready and he is better off to stay where he is. Good luck!

Do you have access to horses? A good long gallop around the pasture was my great aunt's favorite way to induce labor. It must have worked pretty well. She had 9 kids. I've also heard that a good long ride on a motorcycle can induce labor. I don't know anyone whose tried it, though. My best friend's doctor told her to take a long walk. She did, but didn't go into labor until 2 days later.
Good luck!

if you already haven't had your baby, have you tried soaking in a tub...when I got in the tub my contractions came 3 minutes apart, I just rocked bach and forth, but then I got scared that I might have the baby IN the tub so I got out..Just make sure someone can help you out of the water.
Also, could the dr have calculated wrong?? Trust me, the baby won't stay inside forever, sooner or later he must come out!

Its funny to say but I heard it works- make some intimate time with your hubby! That should helps things move along! Also walking around the block every day helped my sister in law who was dilated for two weeks without any change- she walked as much as she could and finally dilated her enough to go into labor. Good luck!

Well, I see others have already beat me to the punch. I was going to say walk, walk, walk, and then walk somemore!