63. Redefining How Pregnant Women Think About Natural Methods To Start Labor

Are you wondering what natural methods can help you go into labor or prepare your body for birth? This episode will answer these questions, but also give you insight and support if a checklist of extra things causes more stress!

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• The importance of reducing stress: How staying calm and confident can naturally promote labor…
• Physical activities and professional help: The benefits of walking, prenatal yoga, and seeking assistance from chiropractors, massage therapists, and pelvic floor physical therapists...
• Home remedies and their effects: Insight into popular methods like red raspberry leaf tea, dates, and birth balls, and what they do for your body…
• Sexual activity and labor stimulation: How semen and orgasms can help soften the cervix and stimulate contractions…
• Mindfulness and mental preparation: The role of mindfulness techniques, diaphragmatic breathing, and meditation in preparing for labor…
• … and so much more!

Tune in as we explore these natural methods to start labor, ensuring you’re informed and confident in your birth journey. The bottom line though is that your body knows the optimal time for your baby to arrive. Trust birth!

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Welcome, friends! I am Beth, a certified nurse midwife, doula, and childbirth educator. My philosophy is rooted in autonomy, informed decision making, and positive mindset to help expecting parents plan for a beautiful, stress-free hospital birth. I am here to provide value to YOU through tips and practical advice, either to guide you through pregnancy or to help you prepare for childbirth, postpartum and beyond. There’s no fluff here - only info that adds to your positive experience and saves you stress and uncertainty.

Transcript

Welcome back to Your Birth Bestie podcast! Thank you for tuning in today to chat about natural methods to start labor. And I have to start by prefacing with the fact that I strongly feel that you do NOT have to do absolutely anything to force labor along. If you maybe are higher risk and have chosen an induction for medical reasons but are trying to avoid that from happening, this is a different situation that maybe you’d be more aggressive at doing these things, but either way, not to the point where you’re stressing over this checklist of things that is hopefully, maybe, going to kickstart labor.

I’ll share some ideas to help get labor started if you want to try them, but I think reducing your stress levels and focusing on confidence and comfortability, manifesting the best possible birth outcome is the most important thing. When you are feeling safe and calm, oxytocin levels are going to flow better than if you’re in fight or flight mode stressing to try to get your body into labor.

This calmness and confidence comes with preparation and a really good birth support team you can lean on. Because I am so passionate about birth education and trusting your body and trusting birth, I want to give anyone who is listening to this episode a special discount code to my online birth course, Fearless Birth Academy. It is a comprehensive 11 module birth course rooted in informed decision making, birth autonomy, and mindset, and has been crucial for so many moms to feel ready for their birth! Use the link in the show notes or promo code ‘TRUSTBIRTH’ at checkout, to dive into Fearless Birth Academy for only $1 due today, with two additional monthly payments of $49 on the payment plan option, or pay in full for only $99! I will be making changes and adding more resources soon that will more than double this price, so this would be a great chance to grab it.

I don’t know if you can relate to this feeling or have seen it before too, but in the last several months, I have seen so many posts in the facebook mom and pregnancy groups I am a part of about cervical checks being discouraging for moms. I wish I could personally talk to each of these moms, and I do probably overshare on some of my comments about the possibility of birth happening without a single cervical exam, which blows many people’s minds because that’s not the norm. But, here is an example of one of the many, many messages I respond to.

“I am 36+3 and my doctor checked my cervix and it’s still closed and not effaced at all. I know I’m only 36 weeks so there’s still time for it to change and my body to do what it needs to when the time is right it’s just a little discouraging. I’m really hoping I don’t need an induction. She said 41 weeks is the furthest she’ll let me go and at that point she will schedule an induction.” 

When I read this, I saw so many red flags that are examples of how women are being conditioned to think about birth. First, a cervical check at 36 weeks is unnecessary. Unless you’ve schedule an induction at that exact moment for medical reasons, why are we checking mom’s cervixes at 36 weeks. That’s usually the appointment the GBS swab is collected as well routinely, but also something you should receive informed consent about (episode….) and it’s often pretty common for providers to do the swab and then a cervical check right after. Some moms are given a heads up, I’ve heard of some that haven’t been, so please speak up to your provider and ask questions to know what the plan is during a visit, so you’re not blindsided.

This mom says “it’s still closed and not effaced at all.” As most cervixes are at that point because you’re not even 37 weeks, or full term, your cervix is staying closed to protect your baby. This makes it sound like she was expecting progress already 4-6 weeks before she has her baby, which isn’t usually the case. 

She then addresses that there is still time for it to change and for her body to do what it needs to but then she says “it’s a little discouraging and I hope I don’t need an induction.” Women should be gearing up for an amazing birth and being instilled with confidence and hope for the best birth ever, right?! Why are women feeling discouraged and already thinking about needing an induction at 36 weeks?! This is often due to the lack of education at prenatal visits and also the way in which many providers communicate things to their patients. I often hear providers say, “you’re only x amount of cm” or “you’re not at all effaced yet” or even talking about induction and scheduling one “just in case” is something that drives me a little nuts. The second you put those thoughts in a patient’s head, they can’t help but prepare for that and their focus completely shifts to having an amazing birth, in the way that hopefully they have already started planning, to trying to avoid an induction and focusing their energy on that and natural ways to induce from a place of fear and anticipation of avoiding that. Which probably doesn’t help labor start when those things are coming from a place of fear.

And then then last thing about that statement was a provider telling her “she said 41 weeks is the furthest she’ll let me go and will schedule an induction”, as if there is an expiration or time running out. Moms are put on the clock in labor right from the time you get to the hospital and often labor is forced along if certain progress isn’t made, or the time your water breaks is documented and strict guidelines are often followed to get things moving within a few hours, but now it’s like women are on the clock much earlier than that in pregnancy even.

Side note, I shared in a previous episode how I went in for my initial prenatal visit with my second baby after having a big first baby, and from the very first appointment they said the baby should be born by 38 weeks due to how big my first was. Literally that was the highlight of the appointment and I was instantly discouraged. I was like 10 weeks at the time, and already bombarded for an extra diabetes screen, told I would need growth ultrasounds, was told I needed to start chiropractic at 30 weeks to get things progressing and ready to deliver early, just all the things rushing me along from even my first trimester. 

But okay, let’s now get into some of the types of things you can try, or, the natural methods to encourage labor if maybe you’re well-past your guess date and feel like you need to do something, you’re trying to avoid a medically necessary induction, or you’re helping prepare your body for labor. But the key is, stress and fear cannot be part of any of these treatments or part of the equation at all because that block will likely stop labor from happening or not make these natural options as effective. 

So here is my list of all the things you can try to naturally prepare your body for labor and potentially encourage things along, even though remember I said you don’t have to. Trust birth first, but do these things if you feel it’s right for you and they are appropriate and approved by your care team.

So first thing would be staying active throughout your pregnancy including walking, curb walking to help your baby move into your pelvis and prepare for birth, gentle stretches, prenatal yoga, or strengthening exercises of your hips, glutes, inner thighs, and back. Some of the professionals that can help with optimal body functioning, reduce pain, and help you enjoy your pregnancy more when you’re physically feeling good are chiropractors, massage therapists, and pelvic floor physical therapists. I have done all of the above and would say physical therapy is the long game, preventative option that is highly effective when you stick with it little by little, so starting early is ideal if you can, and chiropractors and massage therapists in my experience have been great ways to maintain wellness and also help during flare ups. 

If you follow me on instagram I had a pinched nerve on my right side for a week and it was really awful and then one day something in my butt/piriformis is the more technical muscle that was specifically affected, but something happened and I couldn’t walk or do anything. I was crippled on the floor crawling around trying to figure out how the heck I was supposed to care for my other two children while my husband was at work. A few hours later is loosened up a little, but was still excruciating pain that I didn’t know what to do. I reached out to a friend who had a prenatal massage therapist recommendation and she happened to have an opening that afternoon. I was actually able to drive myself which I hadn’t been able to drive really the day before, but she did a few releases and pressure points and overall working out the knots in a few areas and I 1000% felt a difference and haven’t had any pinching or nerve pain since.

Treatments like chiropractic and massage are a great way to release tension in the body and won’t induce labor on their own, but hopefully make you feel the best you can in your pregnancy to encourage labor to begin when your body is ready and hopefully make the process more comfortable and efficient. 

Acupuncture is also something that can promote labor by stimulating specific points on the body. I don’t have any personal or professional experience with recommending this, but again, something to try for similar reasons as chiropractic, massage, or physical therapy.

The next few things are the most common ones women talk about. The first is sitting on a birth ball which is the same thing as an exercise ball. And I literally mean sit and sway back and forth, side to side, in circles, figure eights, big exaggerated motions of the hips or little ones too, all of these things can relieve some pelvic pain or back pain you may have and also help baby get into a good position for labor. It’s also super easy to do if you’re working on your computer at a desk or watching tv, definitely worth trying. What you should not do is bounce on the birth ball! This is not good for your pelvic floor so not recommended.

Red raspberry leaf tea is something women often drink as well as eating dates near the end of their pregnancy around 34 or 36 weeks. Red raspberry leaf tea is beneficial to help tone the uterus, which is a muscle, and help make contractions in labor stronger and more efficient at birthing your baby. So there is a potential that your labor could be shorter if you drank 1-2 cups per day in the third trimester. 

Dates can help your cervix soften in pregnancy which helps it become easier to dilate when labor does begin. Your cervix starts out really thick and firm which is hard to dilate and this is a good thing your body does to keep your baby inside of you until you are full term. As you get further along in your pregnancy, and also with the help of dates, your cervix can begin to soften and prepare for labor, allowing dilation to happen more quickly and smoothly for you. Again, another potential for a potentially shorter labor.

Talking about softening the cervix, another interesting thing that is proven is that semen contains prostaglandins, which help soften the cervix, and orgasm can stimulate uterine contractions. So sexual activity if you’re up for it, can be another way to help your body go into labor.

Also, practicing mindfulness techniques, diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, and overall training your mind and connecting your brain with your body to have control over how you react during labor can be helpful. The calmness and reduced stress can also help you go into labor when your body is ready because you don’t have that mental block and are accepting and surrendering to the birth process. Things like this are simple and often overlooked, but are so important of the birth preparation process. One app I like to practice mindfulness with is called Insight Timer if you’re interested in downloading the free version of that.

There is also evening primrose oil that some studies show can help ripen the cervix if inserted vaginally two times per day, where others say it has no effect on cervical ripening or labor. Reviews have shown it may shorten the pushing stage, where other research suggests that it can lead to a longer and slower labor. There are also side effects including nausea, headache, and diarrhea, and if you’re taking an anticoagulant it shouldn’t be used due to risk of bleeding. So maybe something to consider and chat with your provider about the use in your situation, but there isn’t much data to back that it’s useful. 

Castor oil is also something that comes up when women talk about inducing labor. This is a strong laxative and can cause nausea, diarrhea, cramping, dehydration, low blood pressure, and dizziness. Research does show it can be effective about 50% of the time leading women to start laboring within 24 hours of taking castor oil, but it also may increase the risks of baby pooping in utero before birth, which can cause other complications. And overall, not something that really sounds like that great of an idea, but of course every situation is unique so that’s every individual’s choice, but to labor with severe GI upset and diarrhea sounds really challenging if it can be avoided. So something to keep in mind as well.

And then a couple other things you can try that some people swear work, but there really isn’t much out there to prove these things right, but I know if you’re at that point in your pregnancy you want to be done, maybe it’s worth a shot… so eating eggplant parmesan, spicy foods, and pineapple are potential options. Also nipple stimulation with your fingers or a breast pump can also be something to stimulate contractions and oxytocin production to potentially kickstart labor.

There are many possible methods and trying what you want can maybe help your labor, but also isn’t something that is required to have a spontaneous, vaginal delivery either. If it stresses you out, then forget it! Some of these methods are not suitable for moms at risk for preterm labor and is why many are recommended after you are full term at 37 weeks, so checking in with your provider and doing your own research is important too.

Thank you so much for tuning in to Your Birth Bestie podcast today. Please remember that pregnant is an amazing experience and your body is perfectly designed to know when it’s time for your baby to arrive. It’s important to trust in the natural process of labor and I don’t want that message to be lost at all when suggesting a few things to support labor onset. So the main takeaways would be that your body’s timing is perfect. Every pregnancy is unique, and your body knows the optimal time for your baby to be born. Prioritize a stress-free environment. Stress can inhibit labor so relaxing and letting nature take over can promote a smoother, more comfortable labor. And then focus on maximizing your confidence. Trusting your body boosts your confidence and reduces anxiety, which is great for both you and your baby. This is why taking advantage too of my discounted Fearless Birth Academy course for only $99 would be such a great tool for you as you’re focusing on informed consent and birth autonomy to feel calm and confident going into your labor and delivery. I can’t wait to see you in there!

Thank you again for joining me today. If you do decide to try encouraging labor naturally, please do so gently and with the guidance of your healthcare provider. I will be here next week with another episode!