The Lazy Girl Guide to Kick Starting Labour

Natural ways of inducing labour

What can I do to start inducing labour. I started writing this blog at 38 weeks pregnant. Sooo pregnant that this baby needs to be born soon, but far too pregnant to get up off my lazy arse and do something about it! So I have compiled a list on things that can be done to kick start inducing labour that doesn’t involve hiking hills.

1. Raspberry leaf tea

This is something that can be drank from about 34 weeks pregnant. Lots of women say that it helps with inducing labour; raspberry leaf tea** is something that tones the uterus. What some research shows is that it makes your pushing stage shorter. I’m guessing because your uterus is so toned from drinking all that tea that your contractions may be stronger. Either way this one is always worth a try as you can drink a cuppa whilst sat down scrolling Instagram. Plus you don’t even have to leave your house for it, I got mine on Amazon Prime!

**Not to be used by women who have scars on the uterus from previous caesareans or surgery.

2. Dates for inducing labour

Another one that can be taken from 34 weeks. So 6 dates a day for 6 weeks prior to your due date and some research has shown that this means that you are less likely to have an induction and also less likely to have a hormone drip in labour. Again, for this one you can just sit down, chill out and eat dates. To make this one really lazy you could even send out hubby to the supermarket to get them.

3. Clary Sage for inducing labour

Another age-old recommendation for inducing labour. Do you know how to use clary sage to bring on labour? Just mix a couple of drops in some oil and you can rub this one on your bump, or you can put some drops in a cup of milk then mix it in the bath. Clary sage is a utero tonic, which means that it can stimulate the uterus to contract. This one should only be used from term and shouldn’t be used if you’re having a VBAC or if you have had any previous uterine surgery.

4. Bouncing on a birth ball

In front of the TV , reading a book, watching your online Birth Chapter course.  This will get baby into an optimum position to navigate through your pelvis. Also, remember U.F.O- being Upright and Forward means your pelvis is Open an extra 28%. it also means that gravity is lending a helping hand encouraging baby’s head to put extra pressure on your cervix. Avoid leaning back on your sofa, as this encourages baby into a less optimum position for birth.

5. Stair walking and curb walking

So if this is too strenuous (this is the Lazy Girl’s Guide after all) a squat or a little lunge can also be beneficial. Think of baby’s head and your pelvis like a jigsaw puzzle, sometimes you have to wiggle it around a bit to get a perfect fit. This is very similar to the above bouncing on a ball, a baby in an optimum position for birth is more likely to put an even pressure on your cervix to help it dilate, so moving, rocking and opening your pelvis can help fit the puzzle pieces together to kick start labour.

6. Nipple stimulation

One of the most effective ways to kick start labour. Stimulating your nipples makes your body produce oxytocin, which is the hormone that causes contractions.

7. Hot curry

Order this by take out if you can’t be bothered to cook. There is some truth in this old wives tale. A curry may irritate your bowel, which may then have a knock on effect to your uterus. If you like curry, then you have nothing to lose.

8. Pineapple

There’s thought to be hormones in a pineapple that act on the cervix to soften it. Yet, you would have to eat a truck load of this to get to an amount that it would have effect… and then it’s probably going to give you a jippy tummy so would work in the same way as a curry. Again, if you like eating pineapple you have nothing to lose.

Can I eat pineapple when pregnant?

9. Sex for inducing labour

They say that these methods of inducing labour were invented by a man… Sex and a hot curry.. hang on a minute?! But sex is the most effective way to induce labour as it releases oxytocin in your body, sperm also has prostaglandins in which softens the cervix. Prostaglandins and then oxytocin are the drugs used in a medical induction, but the artificial forms.

10. Reflexology

I had a wonderful reflexologist who would come to my house to do my treatments. So I could sit in my PJS in the middle of the day and she would come over and do her thing.

11. A relaxing bath

Anything that you do to feel relaxed will tell your body that you are ready to give birth. It’s a primal thing, if we are feeling too stressed the message we are giving to our body is that we are not in a safe place to give birth. So do something that keeps you calm, whether that be a bath, massage or listening to a meditation audio.

12. Hypnobirthing for inducing labour

Would it be mad if I told that you that you can use your hypnobirthing techniques for inducing labour. Anything that’s going to chill you out is going to help your labour start. Head here to read more about how can hypnobirthing induce labour?

Edited to add in an update… After trying all of the above, all week, with my contractions starting in the evening and then stopping by the morning. I was cancelling plans for the following day as each night I thought that night was the one. Any how, the day I actually went in to labour was the day I left the house. I thought to myself, I am not going to spend another day at home waiting for this baby to arrive. So, I met a friend at Wagamamas and felt great for getting out the house and not wishing myself into labour. After putting my other children to bed instead of sitting on a ball with clary sage I had a nap. It was that evening it all started! Probably a combination of all the above, but mostly no. 10.. just chilling out.

You can read my birth story with gestational diabetes.

Good luck to all those waiting for your baby to come!

Beth

x

What next?

If you’re reading this and thinking that it’s too late for antenatal class but you’re close enough that you are realising that you want to know everything about what’s in store for you for labour and birth then not to worry, we have you covered. You can find out all about birth and tips on how to make the process smoother with midwife, Beth’s online hypnobirth course. 

You can binge watch the whole course in an afternoon, or spread it over the next few days (it is yours to keep forever) and start practising the techniques right away to get you feeling pumped, calm & focussed for birth.