Natural Inducment....

I found that nothing really induces labor, unless the time is right, however you can try to help soften things up down there and prepare it. I drank raspberry tea and took evening primrose oil which are just little helpers according to the research I did, but not even castor oil in a weak moment did anything for me (at least nothing helpful). I did end up being induced at 39 weeks with all three of my babies and that was the only thing that worked. Be patient and the time will come before you know it. Seriously though, sleep as much as you can now!

Hi A.,

Congratulations on your new baby!! :)

There are a variety of things you can do to induce labor naturally, however is there a reason for it? If you aren't due until November 8th-11th, I would wait to try anything. Most pregnancies can safely go to 42 weeks. I'm currently overdue, and the wait sometimes seems like its never going to end, the best thing for you baby is to stay in until he or she is ready.

There are a number of websites that will tell you how to start labor, but in all honesty, very few methods will work unless your body is ready anyway. Eating certain foods is a misnomer, and typically any contractions that result from eating a super spicy or greasy meal are from dehydration. There are "natural" supplements that are supposedly good for natural induction, but nothing is truly "natural" until your baby signals to your body that it's ready to be born.

If you're really concerned I would talk to your midwives about inducing, but chances are they will tell you the same thing. Enjoy the last little bit of time you have with your husband, and realize that before you know it, you will be super busy with your new little baby :)

Take care!
C.

I'm going to start acupuncture 2 weeks before my due date. Acupuncture stimulates the hormones that get your body ready. From what I've heard, women's bodies (especially with first babies) often just don't always get ready on their own. The right hormones have to be flowing and tension or stress can suppress them.
Best wishes!

My midwife told me that what got you in this perdicament is the same thing that will cure it =]. This was also confirmed by the OB on staff....have a fun week!!!!!

My midwife stripped my membranes when I was 11 days post due and that did the trick for my body. I'd talk with yours about it and see if it's likely to work. From the info I've learned, it won't make a difference if your body isn't ready to give birth anyway, so it's not like pitocin that forces labor on an unready body. It's not the most comfortable sensation, but it's not terrible either. Kinda like a pap but a little more uncomfortable.

Sex is also supposed to help but that didn't work for me.

My daughter uses castor oil. Not sure exactly how much, but I think it's 2 tablespoons- swallow by mouth. She's used this 2 times (and will do next week when the baby is due) before and swears by it. Her doctor advised her of this and it is safe and non toxic. Hope it helps. Good luck!! T. B.

I 2-3 weeks overdue (the actual due date was a bit off in my calculations). So, I went to an acupuncturist, twice and that helped me tremendously with the energy flow DOWNWARD....instead of upward (to my brain which is usually the case with me...I am a teacher so I think a lot, and I think about thinking, and you get the point, too much in my brain and not enough "in" my body). I had a natural homebirth, and I never thought I was ever even going to have a baby. My best friend (who is a lactation consultant and nurse) had 2 and so she convinced me to do it and it was the best thing (hardest too) I have ever done. Good luck!

I went to the chiropractor the day before I was due, I was having issues with my sciatic(?) nerve. I told him I was done being pregnant and he did a couple of pressure point adjustments. I also ate really spicy chili and had sex twice that day ;) I had to get my husband ready for 6 weeks with nothing!
Not sure if any of this helped for sure but it is now the joke to all of our friends to eat Jeffs chili if you want to go into labor (our friend makes really spicy chili!)
Good luck and try to sleep now...

I agree with Charissa. If you want the birth to go as smoothly and easily as possible, you will wait for the baby to tell you it's ready. I also had both my babies at the Birthing Center with midwives and doula. With both babies, my water broke 3 days before I went into labor. The first time I drank a castor oil milkshake to induce labor and had the most awful contractions starting so early on that I was almost traumatized. I found out later that castor oil can have a similar effect to pitocin in making contractions more painful and intense. My second one, I waited for nature to do its thing and the birth couldn't have gone more smoothly and beautifully. Congratulations on your new baby to be!

Congrats on your first baby! Remember, first time moms go an average of 10 days past their due date. That's the 'average' so many women even go past that (myself included - 17 days). I tried all the natural labor induction ideas starting around 41.5 weeks(acupuncture, primrose oil, cohosh, castor oil, walking, spicy food, sex, nipple stim, etc., etc.) and nothing worked. If your body is not already showing signs of labor starting, these 'tricks' will not be effective.

I know how anxious you can be, but like others have suggested, it's important to trust that baby will come when they are good and ready. Enjoy this special time when they are inside of you and you are so connected - literally. It all changes so quickly! Best of luck to you! [I am due just before Thanksgiving!]

Dear A.,
I don't think you should do anything. You are due on November 8th, which means that your baby could be ready to be born anytime between now and November 22nd. Babies come when they are ready. Going past your due date does not mean the baby is late.

My 1st baby was born 1 week past my due date. My 2nd baby was born 6 days before my due date--he got almost 2 weeks less time in the womb than my 1st, but he weighed almost as much (a few ounces less) so he was just ready to be born earlier than my daughter was. Does that make sense??

You're body will go into labor, it usually doesn't need anything special to help it along!

congrats on waiting to be surprised on the sex of the baby. I did that for all three of mine and never regretted it. Keeps it new and exciting. As for starting labor, my mom who had seven kids found that having sex was the best way to induce labor. I wasn't in a rush and never tried to start it myself.

there are trigger points on your feet, go to a masseuse .....congrats

A.,

Congrats on your first baby!! :) I do not have children of my own but, I know if you push on an area (I don't remember off the top of my head but I will get back to you on where) on the bottom of your feet, it will help you go into labor. Your Midwife or Doula might know. If you are interested, I'll see what I can do to help. Good luck with everyting and I hope your delivery is a good one.

Is there a reason you are pushing to naturally induce? Birth dates are estimates meaning you can add or subtract a couple weeks to your due date. Personally I believe the longer the better for gestation. As soon as your baby's lungs mature, it'll release hormones to trigger your labor. So it's safer to allow your baby to indicate induction than to try to force it. Plus you will have a better and more productive labor if your body is ready and not forced before it's time. Meaning it will work more efficiently and hopefully go a lot more smoothly. Just enjoy these last few days with your husband as life is about to change drastically and I know you are anxious to meet your baby, but you will soon find yourself missing your husband and he will miss you as your lives will revolve around this little for quite some time!

I had a beautiful waterbirth with my daughter and enjoyed it very much. We are looking forward to the arrival of our twins at a home waterbirth in December. I loved having midwives!

Just wait patiently and enjoy the sleep that you're getting now. Take some time with your husband to relax and prepare for your new life. Most of those natural "induction" aids only really help move labor along, not the imputus. Your body and your baby will let you know when it's time. Don't try to force your body into something it's not ready for.

And like another comment said, your "due" date is an estimate that can swing by TWO WEEKS. Don't push it, Mama. Your baby is still right where she needs to be. (My babies came 10 days past their "due date", and were just right.)