Natural Induction Methods

[aunt_freya]

I swear it was the Indian food that put me into labor--all 30 hours plus, probably because my body wasn't really ready!

[lovejcec]

I don't believe in old wives tales and afew of my friends said castor oil made them so sick but ...being intimate with my husband alot around the time of my due date has seemed to work well! =o)

[GreysBumatomy]

I think the eggplant parm thing is hysterical.

[BabyBoyAce]

2 days after my due date i drank castor oil (yuck) at 3 pm on a Sunday, I started having contractions at 11pm that night, was admitted to the hospital and midnight and my baby boy was born at 8am I only personally know of 1 other person who has done it and it was my aunt, and it worked for her too.

[cinderella08]

My favorite resource - from Childbirth Connection:

WALK
Staying active and moving your pelvis can help the baby engage and encourage contractions to start or strengthen. Walk along a curb, one foot up on the curb and the other one in the gutter, then turn around and go the other way. Sounds strange but it can really work.

BUMPY CAR RIDE
The combination of movement and relaxation (someone else should be driving) can help the baby get into the right position for birth. You should have something on the car seat to protect it in case your bag of waters releases.

RELAX
Anxiety can delay the onset of labor. Fill the tub with comfortably warm water, turn the lights off, light some candles and play your favorite relaxing music.

VISUALIZATION
While you’re relaxing in the tub, imagine your uterus contracting as well as the process of labor and the joy of holding your baby in your arms.

NIPPLE STIMULATION
This is one of the safest forms of induction because it uses the mother's natural oxytocin. One popular method is to apply warm compresses to your breasts and alternately stimulate each breast manually or using a breast pump for 15 minutes each until contractions begin. Another, gentler method is to get into a tub of comfortably warm water. Soak a dish towel or washcloth in the water, and drape it over the breasts. Roll one nipple in your fingers, through the towel, for up to 15 minutes, or as long as it takes to make a contraction happen. When the contraction begins, stop the stimulation. After it ends, wait about 5 minutes before stimulating the other nipple, and repeat the process for an hour. Then, take a break for 3 or 4 hours, and begin again. This is not as hard on the nipples as using a breast pump, and may work as well or better.

ACUPRESSURE
The three main acupressure points for encouraging labor are: the roof of your mouth just behind the ridge behind the teeth; four fingerwidths above the inner ankle; and between the thumb and forefinger.

PINEAPPLE & SPICY FOOD
If you can tolerate it without getting heartburn, eating lots of pineapple and spicy food is said to begin labor.

CUMIN TEA
Place one teaspoon of cumin seeds in one cup of boiling water, allow to steep for 5 minutes, then drink. Do not drink more than one cup per day. Traditionally, a raw cube of potato is added to the tea, but the reason for this is not known.

SPICED TEA
Make a cup of tea containing cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Drink one small glass every hour for no more than 6 hours. If this does not trigger labor, stop for 24 hours then try one more time. Do not attempt more than twice.

SEX
Semen applied to the cervix and having an orgasm can both stimulate labor. Swallowing semen also works well, because the prostaglandins are absorbed much more easily and quickly through the stomach. It may be your last chance to have sex for a long time, so you might as well enjoy it.

BLOWING UP BALLOONS
Increases intra-abdominal pressure and can put more pressure on the cervix to move things along, if the baby is already in the optimal position for birth (head down, baby’s back to the left of your bellybutton).

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL CAPSULES
EPO capsules are thought to have natural prostaglandin properties. Inserted both orally and vaginally, they help to ripen the cervix. From 37 weeks, take 2,000mg orally, and 2,000-3,000mg vaginally daily.

Castor Oil
Take 60 ml castor oil, mixed with 60 ml OJ and a tsp of baking soda. Mix the stuff over the sink (because it foams once the baking soda goes in, which emulsifies the oil), and slurp it down fast.