Membrane sweep

What it is: When a doctor uses a finger to separate the amniotic sac from the uterine wall to release hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins that can help with cervical dilation and uterine contractions. This is offered in-office when an expectant mother is at least 39 weeks pregnant, and it’s kind of like an aggressive cervical exam.

Can it work?

Yes. The data shows that this is one of the few things that can actually work, with about a 50% chance. The cervix does have to be dilated and the baby needs to be head-down. You would know typically in 24 hours if it works.

Spicy foods

Suggestions include: Sriracha, hot peppers and buffalo sauce.

Can it work?

There is no solid evidence that spicy foods work to induce labor, but if that’s what you’re craving, you are always welcome to try it. It just wouldn’t be recommended for people with reflux, which can definitely worsen in the third trimester.

Curb walking

What it is: Curb walking involves walking with one foot on the curb and the other on the street. It’s thought to shift the pelvis and help get the baby engaged in a good position for labor.

Can it work?

Maybe. Some people swear by this as part of the 90-minute Miles Circuit, which is a series of positions and movements meant to induce labor. Instructions include stretching in an “open knee chest” position, stretching in an “exaggerated side-lying” position and then moving via lunges or other upright positions that open the pelvis asymmetrically. While there’s no hard evidence that this circuit induces labor, it could realistically help during labor to get the baby better engaged in the pelvis and into a more optimal birthing position while also relieving low-back pressure.

Massaging trigger points on the feet

What it is: When massaged, specific spots on the feet are believed to release hormones that support labor. For example, the spot below the ball of the foot and on the big toe could release oxytocin, which causes contractions. This method is part of reflexology, a therapy that applies pressure to certain points on the feet, hands or ears, based on the idea that they connect to different body parts.

Can it work?

There’s no hard evidence that this induces labor. But reflexology massage in general can actually help with labor pain. Also, some people are concerned that massage during pregnancy can cause preterm labor. But unless a patient has medical reasons to avoid it, massage at any point during pregnancy should be OK. It is important that a pregnant person is not flat on their back after 20 weeks, and it’s recommended that they schedule an appointment with a massage therapist with a prenatal certification. Also: there’s no evidence that a pedicure can play a role in inducing labor.

Eating dates daily

What it is: Internet recommendations instruct women to eat six to eight whole, pitted dates every day. In theory, their natural compounds could help soften the cervix, increase dilation and start contractions.

Can it work?

There’s no evidence that eating dates can induce labor. Some research shows that eating dates can make the first stage of labor shorter, but it won’t start the labor process. Dates also contain a lot of sugar, so it’s not a good option for women with diabetes or gestational diabetes.

Exercise ball

What it is: Gently bouncing, rocking and rotating the hips in circles on an exercise ball to relax and contract the pelvic floor while encouraging the baby to move down.

Can it work?

There’s no evidence this can work. You’ll find an exercise ball in just about every labor and delivery room at Novant Health hospitals. Using this can help get the baby better engaged in a more optimal position and it can help the labor process feel more comfortable, but it won’t start labor.

Castor oil

What it is: Castor oil is a vegetable oil made from the seeds of the castor plant and it’s actually an FDA-approved laxative. This ingredient is often included in induction “cocktail” recipes on the internet and is considered an old household remedy for labor induction.

Can it work?

Maybe. But while a study has shown that quality-controlled castor oil can be safely used in a hospital setting for inducing labor in women who have already birthed a child, other studies have had inconsistent results. Using it at home isn’t recommended. Castor oil can cause uterine contractions, but largely because it causes diarrhea and dehydration, which could create an imbalance in electrolytes and potentially fetal distress.

Intercourse

What it does: Semen can contribute prostaglandins, which can help with cervical dilation and uterine contractions.

Can it work?

Maybe. Because semen contains prostaglandins, this theoretically has science behind it for why it could work. But there are no actual studies to prove its effectiveness.

Nipple stimulation

What it is: Some resources suggest using a breast pump or rubbing or rolling motions to stimulate the nipples and trigger the release of the oxytocin hormone in order to get the uterus to start contracting. There are also ample warnings online that this can ramp up labor fast and could be risky.

Can it work?

Yes. Nipple stimulation can definitely cause uterine contractions, but if your cervix isn’t ripened, or prepared for labor and delivery by softening, thinning and dilating, the likelihood of actually going into full-blown labor is low. It’s still not something that is recommended for a person to do at home or before 39 weeks – it does reliably cause uterine contractions, and it can stress the baby.

The safer approach would be trying this in the hospital with a breast pump or a wet towel on the breast, where the patient can be on a fetal monitor. Some people do prefer trying this first, before moving on to using Pitocin to stimulate contractions.

No matter what you decide to try to naturally induce labor, it’s important to understand that several things need to happen in order for the body to effectively go into labor:

• The prostaglandins need to release first in order to ripen the cervix.
• The cervix needs to be soft enough to respond to uterine contractions.
• The uterus needs to contract frequently and strongly enough to cause the cervix to dilate.
• The baby needs to be in the right position for contractions to be effective and to push the baby out through the cervix.