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Moms will agree that waiting to meet their baby is that hardest part of being pregnant. You have to wait nine long months with no guaranteed day of labor to mark on the calendar. Physicians have never been able to and may never be able to give moms an exact date of when labor will happen or what causes it to happen. All they can tell you is that labor will happen when your body is “ready”. This is usually anytime after your baby has reached a gestational age of 37 weeks. To get your body ready, doctors will tell you the first thing you need to do is relax. To ease stress moms can try simple such as warm (not too hot) baths with gentle aromatherapy, relaxing belly or professional pre-natal massages, or reading books on pregnancy and childbirth. You can also try meditating in a quiet room or setting up your baby’s nursery.

Any of these techniques can help you get your body ready for inducing labor at home. Your physician will most likely advise you to use caution with all at-home techniques and to only try them if you have reached or passed your due date. Most of these techniques can be safely performed anytime after 37 weeks though it is best to follow your physicians instructions.

Physical Stimulation Sex is a very popular and easy method of inducing labor at home. While many women are uncomfortable with the idea of having sex so late in pregnancy, others are willing to try it because of its high likelihood of success.. A man’s semen contains hormones called prostaglandins, which help the cervix thin and soften. The longer the semen is in contact with the cervix the better because it will help the cervix dilate and become ready for active labor. Another advantage to sexual intercourse is the possibility of uterine contractions when the woman experiences an orgasm.

Nipple stimulation is a type of physical stimulation a lot of women are embarrassed to try. This technique can cause the release of the hormone oxytocin, which will prompt contractions. Nipple stimulation requires you to rub the nipple between your fingers for an average of 15 minutes several times a day. If you are uncomfortable with this technique, you can try placing a hot towel on your breasts to help trigger the release of oxytocin. Doctors will suggest that you only use nipple stimulation if you are at or passed your due date because of the risk of the strong, painful contractions that may result.

Walking has long been recommended by physicians as a method of naturally and safely incuding your labor at home. Walking puts pressure on the cervix, rocks the pelvis and helps the baby “drop.”

Diet Changes, Herbs, and Oils Eating spicy food is also known to help women naturally induce labor. Spicy food helps stimulate the bowels which will in turn can stimulate the uterus and bring on contractions. Some tropical fruits such as kiwi and pineapple contain special enzymes that are rumored to trigger the uterus to mildly contract.

Evening primrose oil and castor oil are natural oils that can also be used to naturally and safely induce labor. Medical studies have yet to prove the actual effectiveness of these oils but many women can attest to their results. Mixing a dose of castor oil with another liquid or food makes it easier to drink and digest. This oil is said to help stimulate the bowels and uterus. Primrose oil is found in gel caps that can be taken orally or inserted vaginally for greater effect on cervix softening and thinning.

An herbalist can provide you with plant roots called cohash. Blue and black cohash have been said to aid in inducing labor but, like primrose and castor oils, there are few studies or facts to actually prove they are effective.