Natural Ways To Kick Start Labour
Natural Ways To Kick Start Labour
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You’ve been waiting 40 weeks with unbridled anticipation to meet your bundle of joy. But the due date has been…..and gone! Or perhaps you’re in the initial stages of pregnancy and want to try and avoid being induced when the big day comes and goes.
Luckily, there are a few natural ways that could get the ball rolling. Don’t hold your breath, though. These aren’t 100% guaranteed to work. Although, you’ll definitely have some fun trying them out.
Most importantly, get advice from your midwife before trying anything to induce your labour.
Exercise
The thought of being 40 plus weeks pregnant and doing exercise can be enough to bring anyone out in cold sweats. But don’t worry. We’re not talking a 40 minute HIIT session here. Exercise is literally anything that’ll bring your heart rate up. Walking is excellent. Plus, being upright will help your baby move down onto your cervix.
And if the exercise doesn’t help speed up labour, there are loads of other benefits. It’s a great stress reliever, keeps the body strong and will help you sleep better — all things you might be needing at this stage of pregnancy.
Spicy Foods
There’s no definitive evidence that this works. But some mums absolutely swear by it. The theory is that the spice stimulates your bowels and in turn, stimulates your uterus. If you’ve experienced lots of heartburn or indigestion during your pregnancy, maybe avoid this one!
It could be an excellent excuse for a takeaway in front of a good movie, though. Or how about convincing your partner to rustle you up a fancy dinner? Chilli oil is a brilliant place to start. It’s versatile and tasty! Why not find out more about Chiu Chow Chilli Oil and really spice up your evening.
Complementary Therapies
With complementary therapies, we’re talking massage, reflexology and acupuncture. A study showed that complementary therapies helped reduce the numbers of epidurals and caesareans, suggesting an increased number of natural births. As with all of these suggestions for inducing labour, there’s no concrete evidence that they work.
But even if it doesn’t work, it’s a nice relaxing treat. And relaxation can mean you produce Oxytocin more easily. Which is a crucial hormone for birth. Always remember to chat it through with your midwife before you go ahead with any of these therapies. They can help you find practitioners and treatments suitable for mums-to-be.
Sex And Nipple Stimulation
Ok, so you might not be feeling like getting busy when you’re overdue. You’re probably feeling tired and uncomfortable, but sex could really help. Sexual activity can release the all-important hormone oxytocin — the very same hormone that causes contractions in labour. Your body also produces Oxytocin when your nipples are stimulated.
And this might be too much information, but for pregnant people who have sex with men, semen is rich in prostaglandins. They’re chemicals used in hospital inductions used to kick start labour. So sex could soften your cervix and help get you started. If you’re feeling up for it, it might be worth a go!
Pineapple
Pineapple is a tasty treat, pregnant or not. But did you know it could help things along with your labour? Pineapple contains an enzyme called Bromelain. This enzyme has historically been used to induce labour. Obviously, it takes tremendous amounts of Bromelain to start delivery, but even ingesting the small quantities found in Pineapple could help. Don’t go too ham on it though. Too much and Pineapple can have a laxative effect.
If you like dried fruit and Pineapple doesn’t work, try eating dates. Dates help stimulate the release of Oxytocin. (Yes. It’s our old friend Oxytocin again. What can we say it’s vital in birth!)
Disclosure: collaborative post
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February 19, 2021