How can I help bring on labour?

There’s lots of advice you hear about different methods to help bring on labour. Having sex and taking exercise can all help stimulate your body either physically or hormonally into the start of labour.

But these methods of inducing labour will only work if your body is ready. For further help and advice speak to your midwife or doctor.

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. Please be really careful and talk to your doctor before you try any of the techniques listed here.

Try getting active

Go for a gentle walk

Taking gentle walks 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. Remember to always ask your midwife or doctor whether they’re happy for you to use it.

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.

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 loo!

Try a drop of raspberry leaf tea. Although many claim that raspberry leaf tea helps to induce labour its actual benefit is strengthening the uterine muscles to make the second stage of labour more effective. 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 midwife or doctor first. It’s advised not to use this tea if you are having an elective caesarean, have previously had a premature baby or if you had a previous caesarean. Speak to your doctor before using it to be sure it’s safe for you.

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.