When you first got pregnant, you probably worried about giving birth. As you near your due date, though, the idea of being pregnant much longer may be more scary. If you feel this way, you’re not alone. In fact, a 2011 study from researchers at Ohio State University found that 50 percent of women tried one or more nonmedical methods to get labor going, and some of these strategies are a little odd.
Here are five weird ways to induce labor. But first, know that these methods may not be safe for you, so see your health care provider if you have any concerns:
- Eat Spicy Food
The eggplant parmesan from Scalini’s Italian restaurant in Georgia is said to help induce labor, based on hundreds of reports from women who ate the entree late in pregnancy. The restaurant’s website even features pictures of 80 babies whose moms say the food got labor going. Not in Georgia? The restaurant offers the recipe for free. One theory behind the spicy method is that pungent foods give the digestive system a kick, which may help make the uterus active. A spice like saffron is said to have oxytocin-like activity, according to one study, which can help stimulate labor.
- Experience Big Emotions
“I watched sad and funny movies for the emotional releases of crying and laughing,” says Melissa Furioli, the mother of two and a Hypnobabies childbirth hypnosis instructor. Those emotions can help you let go of tension, which can be keeping contractions at bay. Past research has shown that stress may prevent labor from progressing, so forgetting about the unknowns surrounding your future for a little while may be just what you need.
- Use Coffee Grounds
This is one of the stranger ones, but there’s likely to be little harm in trying: Give yourself a coffee steam bath. It’s supposed to help your body open up and encourage your cervix to dilate. Start by putting a plastic bowl in your toilet, then adding a cup of regular coffee grounds. Pour hot water over the coffee, then sit on the toilet and let the steam work its magic on your body.
- Enjoy Acupuncture and Acupressure
“Acupuncture is one of the best, natural ways to induce labor. It is a gentle treatment that encourages blood flow to relax the uterus,” says Kerry Boyle Jenni, a licensed acupuncturist. “It also encourages a release of serotonin, which gives mom a relaxation response … Results of acupuncture induction can vary between a few hours to a few days.” A 2009 review of 10 labor induction studies agreed, noting, “acupuncture may be beneficial in labor induction.”Sarah Prince of the My Natural Baby Birth blog says she tried several things to get her labor going, including acupressure — similar to acupuncture, but without needles. She says she tried long walks, sex and “pressed on a some acupressure points on my hands, feet and in my mouth that I learned were connected with stimulating birth.” She went into labor at 4 a.m. the next morning. “Who knows what worked and what didn’t, but the combination sure upped my odds, and I know it made a difference,” she says.
- Walking, Dancing and Driving
Brisk walking, dancing and driving over bumpy surfaces are among the most popular ways to induce labor. They have the same goal: Use movement and gravity to settle the baby into the pelvis, putting pressure on the cervix. Prince says she took a two-hour walk to get labor moving, while Furioli hiked up and down steep hills.
Or Just Keep Waiting
No matter what, have faith — one way or another, your baby will be here soon.
“I know how challenging the waiting game can feel when you’re at the end of pregnancy and feeling emotionally and physically exhausted,” says Furioli. “But if I had that first pregnancy to do over, I would have spent those last two weeks getting a massage, taking long baths and enjoying as many naps as possible. Being relaxed and rested going into your birthing time is so much nicer, and sets your body up for success.”
Want more ideas? Try these 15 Natural Ways to Induce Labor.
And if you are in need of helping with little ones you already have running around, check out Care.com’s list of mother’s helpers near you.
Nancy J Price is an Arizona-based mother of four, as well as a writer, editor and web developer. One of the original co-founders of SheKnows.com, she now writes for several websites, including Myria and Click Americana.
