As any woman who is overdue for her baby knows, there are a lot of ideas out there about ways to kickstart labor. From eating spicy food to jogging up flights of stairs, there are many methods that people try out.
Biologically, there are plausible reasons that sexual intercourse could speed up labor. Semen contains a hormone-like substance that is used in synthetic form to induce labor, and orgasm produces the oxytocin that causes contractions.
Spicy foods
Many women believe that eating spicy foods can trigger labor, but this is an old wives tale. While spicy food may cause you to sweat, it won’t induce labor. It can, however, trigger heartburn or indigestion.
Semen is often credited with starting labour, as it contains prostaglandins – hormone-like chemicals that cause contractions. Some people also believe that having sex or an orgasm can induce labour, as it increases levels of oxytocin, the ‘love’ hormone needed in labor.
The truth is that there’s no evidence that sexual activity will stimulate your womb and start labor, but it is generally safe to have sex in late pregnancy as long as your waters haven’t broken. If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, make sure that you have sex only in a private setting and use gloves.
A Malaysian study involving 1200 women around 36 weeks into their pregnancies split them into two groups. Half of the women were told that sex was a natural way to safely expedite labor, and the other group was told that it wasn’t. Women in the first group had sex three times more than women in the other group.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the most powerful natural ways to kickstart your labor. Multiple acupuncture treatments (beginning around 36 weeks) can help your body prepare for birth, speed up cervical ripening and lead to an earlier and more efficient labor.
Acupressure on the nipples and genital area is another at-home way to induce your labor. This helps boost your oxytocin levels, the hormone that causes contractions. Semen also contains a hormonelike substance called prostaglandin, which encourages the cervix to soften and ripen. Doctors use synthetic prostaglandins in the form of a drug called pitocin when they medically induce labor.
Even though sex and orgasm may induce your labor, there just isn’t enough research to prove that it works consistently. For most women with normal, complication-free pregnancies, sex and orgasm don’t trigger labor unless conditions are ripe. That’s why your obstetrician or midwife might recommend a medical induction for you to start labor if it hasn’t started by 42 weeks, if your water hasn’t broken or if you have complications such as a low-lying placenta or gestational diabetes.
Massage
After nine months of aches and pains, many moms-to-be are ready for labor to start. And when the old wives’ tale of sex kicking off labor fails to deliver, they may turn to other at-home methods to get things moving.
There are a few reasons why some women believe that sex can induce labor, including the fact that semen contains prostaglandin, which helps to soften the cervix (the neck of the uterus), and doctors use synthetic versions of this hormone to trigger contractions during artificial inductions. Also, orgasm has been shown to stimulate uterine contractions.
Unfortunately, research shows that sex does not trigger labor in most women. And even when it does, sex may not work as well for some women closer to their due dates. In addition, sex isn’t recommended if your waters have already broken or you have a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia). If you have these issues, having sex may increase the risk of infection. Besides, it won’t help to speed up labor if your baby isn’t ready to come out anyway.
Exercise
Even if your baby won’t come on its own, you can try some natural at-home methods to kickstart it. Long walks, spicy foods, and sex can all help speed up labor, as long as your doctor has given you the green light.
The muscle contractions that occur during orgasm — along with the oxytocin produced — may actually help initiate labor. While these contractions can feel like Braxton Hicks, if they’re regular and don’t ease up when you change positions, you could be in true labor.
Besides orgasm, exercises that promote uterine contractions can be helpful in getting things going. The low-impact activity of walking is one such option, as it keeps your body healthy and may help your baby move down in preparation for delivery.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that any of these natural ways will bring on your contractions, as your baby will arrive when it’s ready to be born. Nevertheless, they’re worth trying as your due date approaches or passes. And if nothing works, your doctor can always provide an induction drug.
Sleep
It’s hard to believe, but even a good night’s sleep can cause labor to start. Semen contains a hormone-like substance called prostaglandins, which help soften the cervix. It’s a safe way to start labor as long as you are low risk and the baby is healthy.
Many pregnant women turn to folk methods to hasten the birth of their babies as they near or pass their due dates. But experts warn that some of these techniques may have unintended consequences.
One technique involves stimulating uterine activity by applying pressure on the webbing between your thumb and index finger or the inside of your leg about four fingers-widths above the ankle. This type of acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but it doesn’t involve needles. It’s also thought to work by triggering the release of the natural labor-inducing hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin, along with melatonin and other hormones, help to produce contractions. It is important to have a medically monitored pregnancy during the last weeks of the third trimester. The reason is that critical fetal development continues during this time, including a baby’s brain, liver and lung maturation.