Exercise can also help build your endurance, which can make labor easier to get through. Staying active during your pregnancy is overall good for your and your baby’s health. Talk to your doctor about the right exercise routine for you.
Your partner can help stimulate your nipples as well. There are also pumps or patches that you can use to stimulate your nipples. Ask your doctor about using one of these devices.
A man’s sperm contains prostaglandin, which can cause the uterus to contract. This, in turn, can stimulate labor. [6] X Expert Source Susannah Kerwin, ANP-BC, HNPNurse Practitioner Expert Interview. 28 August 2020. Ask your doctor if sex late in your pregnancy is safe. If you have any complications, your doctor will probably tell you not to have sex. [7] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Don’t have sex if your water has already broken because there’s a higher risk for catching an infection. [8] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
One midwife recommends eating 6 dates a day leading up to your due date. Get whole dates instead of chopped ones, which are usually high in added sugar. [10] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Don’t try to perform membrane stripping by yourself. It’s possible to injure yourself or cause an infection if you don’t do it correctly.
Some of the most common herbal remedies include blue or black cohosh, raspberry leaf, and evening primrose. None of these are safe to use if you’re pregnant. [13] X Research source Spicy foods and pineapple are also popular home remedies to induce labor. These don’t work either, but they aren’t harmful as long as they don’t upset your stomach. [14] X Research source
Don’t be surprised if your doctor counsels you against inducing labor yourself, since most of the methods aren’t proven to work. [16] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
If your baby is breech, meaning their feet are facing down, then don’t induce labor yourself. Also if you’ve had a previous C-section or any issues with your placenta, then inducing labor yourself isn’t safe.
Some reasons your doctor might forgo inducing labor include if you have low blood pressure, a compromised immune system that leaves you more susceptible to infections, or a bleeding disorder that could cause you to bleed too much during labor. [20] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
