How Can I Make Myself go into Labor?

Natural ways to Induce Labor

If you're full term in your pregnancy and wondering, "How can I make myself go into labor?" you're not alone. By then end of their pregnancies, many women are ready to try almost anything to encourage their babies to be born -- as long as it's safe. There are a variety of methods used to make oneself go into labor naturally. But there's one catch: your body and the baby have to be ready for these natural labor inducers to work.

1. Try exercise, especially walking, doing squats, and prenatal yoga and pilates moves if you've been doing them throughout the pregnancy (you don't want to start a new routine at this stage). Walking and squats, combined with gravity, can help the baby move into a lower position and encourage your body to go into labor. You should feel some uterine contractions while walking or shortly thereafter. With any luck, or repeated stints, this can help jump-start your labor.
2. Experiment with foods thought to help you go into labor. Eating a whole fresh pineapple is one way, with anecdotal evidence suggesting it does work for some women. The scientific explanation is that compounds in this fruit help your body make prostoglandins, which soften and ripen the cervix for delivery. Spicy foods, such as hot chili, are also credited with bringing on labor.
3. Have sex, which has the double effect of stimulating uterine contractions as well as helping to prepare the cervix with prostoglandin-rich fluids, helping it to soften and efface more quickly.
4. Take a couple capsules of evening primrose oil (EPO) and apply one to the cervix when resting, again to help the begin the process of making the cervix ready for labor and delivery. EPO is high in prostoglandins.
5. Ask your midwife or doctor about herbs to start labor naturally. Blue and black cohosh are two herbs that work together to improve contractions and make them more effective. Blue cohosh is thought to strengthen contractions and black cohosh works to regulate them. Taken together in appropriate doses under medical supervision, they may be the trick to make yourself go into labor.
6. Use nipple stimulation to produce labor contractions. You can do this manually or by using a breast pump. Stimulating the nipples produces oxytocin, the "love hormone," and facilitates the birth process. The synthetic form of oxytocin is known as pitocin and is used to induce labor medically. Stimulating the nipples for natural oxytocin production is one of the most effective natural ways to induce labor.
7. Take castor oil, 2 TB to 1/4 cup mixed into orange juice, if you are really desperate. Some women don't find it effective but still have to endure the yucky side effects (lots of bathroom time). Others swear by this method to start labor naturally.
8. Have acupressure done. There are certain pressure points that may bring on labor very effectively. One is located four finger lengths above the inside of your ankle. Gentle but firm pressure in the right spot will produce a slightly unconfortable feeling and, hopefully, labor contractions. For further reading and instructions, see the Maternity Acupressure Guide.

Be sure to discuss these natural ways to induce labor with your doctor or midwife, and only attempt them at full term or when a medical induction is imminent. At your 37-38 week appointment, ask your medical care provider, "How can I make myself go into labor?" and see if they have any advice specific for you and your medical history.

Sources: Certified Nurse Midwife interview and research, including this article on Natural Labor Induction.