What are the “guaranteed ways” to induce labor? Meaning, you try them and BOOM you go into labor — like magic. I can’t wait to share these tips with you!
Before we get going — how does someone on “Pulling Curls” know so much about labor? I have a second site called The Pregnancy Nurse®. I’ve been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of labor and delivery experience. I’m all about evidence-based education, so I’m excited that you’re here — this is one of the MOST asked questions I get. So, let’s get down to the nitty gritty.
The bad news, there is no “guaranteed way” to go into labor. Even the medications that we use in the hospital (which are tested and work on MOST people) don’t always work. Some people’s bodies still REALLY want to be pregnant, and there’s nothing you can do about that one. See my post on what happens if your induction doesn’t work for more info on that.
So, now that we’ve gotten “guaranteed” out of the way, let’s talk about your options.
First-off I debunked a LOT of things about going into labor — so I’ll put those here so you can check out those posts, and the data for it in case you wanted to try one of these:
- When Should I Start Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea?
- Can Curb Walking Induce Labor?
- Can A Hot Bath Induce Labor At 39 Weeks?
- Why Does Eggplant Induce Labor?
- Can Prenatal Massage Induce Labor?
- Can Coughing Induce Labor?
- Can Getting A Pedicure Induce Labor?
- Can Jumping Jacks Induce Labor?
Yes, you read it right — I didn’t find any evidence that ANY of the things listed above will induce labor. That isn’t to say that if you enjoy doing them, you shouldn’t do them. Peace and happiness can increase oxytocin — but that usually doesn’t do the trick to get you into labor.
Sex
This is the one you’ll hear a LOT. I actually haven’t written a whole post on this one. I clearly need to.
The idea has merit. Semen does have hormones in it, and we’re depositing it next to the cervix — similar to how we put medications in for induction in the hospital….
However, here’s what the data shows:
- This one had no meaningful data on it — they didn’t notice it putting people into labor (however, the sample size was small at 28 people).
- This one assigned people to a “have sex group” and a “no sex” group and there was no difference in gestational age between the two of them — it did not start spontaneous labor.
So, if you WANT to have sex, do it — it may stir something up in you — but overall it doesn’t seem to do anything.
If your partner desperately wants to get involved in all of this, I would recommend this instead. 😀
Eat Dates
Ok, this one has shown merit, but only when you start at 36 weeks, and eat about 6 days/day for those 4 weeks until you go into labor.
Meaning, they will not “put” you into labor, but it does seem to have some sort of cervical ripening effect when taken for that long.
Read my whole article on when to start eating dates to go into labor.
So, if you’re 39 weeks and just SO tired of being pregnant, this isn’t the one for you.
Midwive’s Brew
(Midwive’s brew’s most active ingredient is Castor Oil — the other things are there to help taste and mitigate some GI distress).
This one does have some possible things to start labor. However, I’m going to caution you two things:
- Make SURE your provider knows you’re going to drink it — you don’t want to “hide” this from them as it can have some consequences.
- It can make your stomach REALLY upset, that can cause dehydration in you, and it can cause baby to poop in the womb, which is why most people don’t recommend it.
I have a whole post on midwives brew if you want more info on it, but I don’t recommend it.
I’ve had patients REALLY regret taking it, for a variety of reasons (but mostly because of how much diarrhea they have).
Strip Membranes
This is where your provider takes their gloved finger between your amniotic sac and the cervix and then separate the two. The idea is that it irritates the cervix and stirs-up some hormones that may start labor. Most people find it somewhat to very painful, but it doesn’t last long — usually less than a minute.
This one showed in a Cochrane meta-analysis of several studies that there is some correlation of stripping membranes putting you into labor, and less need for an induction. I talk about that in my post on stripping membranes.
BUT it doesn’t work every time, definitely not “guaranteed” by any rate.
I think most professionals think stripping membranes may “bump” you into labor if you’re already quite close to it. However, it won’t “start” labor on its own, for the most part.
If you absolutely HATE vaginal exams, you’re going to extra-hate them stripping your membranes, there is also a chance of infection and them breaking your water with it.
I had it done on all of my pregnancies (I was overdue for each one) and on one it seemed to get things going (didn’t have him for another day though). The other two, less so.
Medications
I know you desperately want to get things going on your own. I value that, but I do want to say that medications, given under medical supervision, is the best way to get labor going. It is the most “guaranteed” and has proven to be the safest (when done with proper monitoring, etc).
In fact, you can also try something mechanical like a Foley bulb balloon. Some providers will insert them in the office and let you go home with it and bring you into the hospital the next day.
I have a LOT of information on medical inductions on The Pregnancy Nurse, and a deep dive into the Arrive Trial that started allowing elective 39 week inductions in The Bump to Bassinet Bundle.
If you’re past 39 weeks, your provider should be willing to offer you at 39 week induction, unless the hospital is too busy to take elective induction patients (an elective induction is one without a medical reason). I have a few posts on this:
- How To Ask Your Doctor To Induce You
- Can You Request To Induce Labor At 37 Weeks?
- Can I Be Induced At 37 Weeks Due To Pain
However, if you are asking for a medical induction it is really important that you understand what will go on at the induction. I made an induction question checklist to go through with your provider so you have the whole picture before making your choice.
Now, going into labor isn’t the ONLY thing that you need a total picture of. Understanding labor, the hospital processes, birth and then life after baby is born is SO important.
I recommend The Online Prenatal Class for Couples because it:
- Can be done in just 3 hours (the main part of the class)
- Is meant to be done with your partner to get you BOTH prepared.
- Is a “one stop shop” that includes labor, birth (including unmedicated, inductions, cesareans and vaginal births), and postpartum — no separate classes to get you confused.
- Is taught by an experienced RN who has seen all sorts of labor in thousands of patients.
Not sure we’re a good fit check out my free class — It’s your first step towards being your own birth boss.
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