How can I help bring on labour?

All natural methods – but still proceed with caution!

You’ve probably heard stories from other people about a range of different remedies you can try to help bring on labour. But before you try any of them please be really careful and talk to your health care professional before you try any of the techniques listed here.

Try getting active

Go for a gentle walk

• Taking a gentle walk is thought to help bring on labour because the movement of your body encourages your baby to get into the birthing position with their head engaged. Keep your walking pace relaxed and either go with someone or stay close to home, just in case labour starts.

Birthing balls

• You can get hold of birthing balls quite cheaply and they’re very useful during pregnancy and labour, providing gentle support for your body.
• Sitting and rocking on your birth ball can help get your overdue baby to get moving, as the natural swaying motion of your lower body encourages your baby to get into a good position for birth.

Get your hormones going!

Have some gentle sex

• Sex must be one of the oldest techniques in the book for helping bring on labour, but remember if your waters have already broken don’t try it as it raises the risk of infection.
• Sex can help bring on labour because during sex and orgasm the hormone oxytocin is released which stimulates contractions.
• For a comfortable position with a big bump try the spoons position, where you both lie on your side and your partner lies behind you.
• If your partner orgasms this can also help, as semen contains a hormone called prostaglandin that helps to soften your cervix so it can dilate.

Give your nipples a gentle massage.

• It’s thought that gently stimulating your breasts and in particular your nipples can stimulate contractions, again by releasing the hormone oxytocin.
• You need to gently massage the areola area with your palm for 15-20 minutes every hour for several hours each day for the hormone release to have an effect on your overdue baby.

Eat, drink - and give birth?

Eat spicy foods

• There’s not much evidence for the spicy food idea. The theory is that the cervix and digestive system are closely connected through the same neural network, so stimulating one will get the other fired up.
• If you enjoy spicy foods you can try it – but beware the possible unwanted side effects of indigestion, heartburn or emergency trips to the toilet!

Try making some raspberry leaf tea

• Although many claim that raspberry leaf tea helps to induce labour and you can safely sip it throughout, it’s actually much more effective in preparing and strengthening the uterus ahead of labour.
• It’s important that you don’t take any raspberry leaf tea until after the 36th week of pregnancy. If you decide to try it, you’ll find it in tea and tablet form in most health food shops but be sure to discuss it with your health care professional first.
• It’s advised to speak to your health care professional before using this tea if you are having an elective caesarean, have previously had a premature baby or if you have scarring from a previous caesarean.
• Although it’s not easy when you’re feeling uncomfortable with an overdue baby, remember your baby’s going to be with you very soon. Staying as relaxed as possible and conserving your energy is the most important thing, so don’t try and rush Mother Nature too much.
• The old wives tale of using castor oil is a major no, no. It can cause distress for your baby and should never be an option.