How to bring on labour

The pregnancy waiting game can be both frustrating and exciting for parents-to-be. You’ve waited 40 long weeks to meet your baby, and your ​hospital bags are likely to be packed with everything you and your baby need for labour and birth. As the clock ticks towards your due date, you will probably be on high alert to every twinge as you prepare for your baby’s imminent arrival.

As such, you may have lots of questions around how to bring on labour, particularly if your due date has come and gone.

It’s important to remember that there are currently no proven methods to naturally induce labour¹, and you shouldn’t try to bring on labour at all until you’ve passed your due date, and without consulting with your doctor or midwife first².

There are countless ‘remedies’ and old wives’ tales about how to induce labour naturally. Some are supported by doctors and scientific evidence, some not so much. From nipple stimulation to acupressure and other natural therapies, here we’ll tell you about some of the most well-known ways to induce labour, and how likely they are to actually work.

If you’re feeling up to it, s​​taying active during your pregnancy can bring with it several benefits. According to the NHS, regular and appropriate exercise can be very useful when it comes to avoiding problems later in your pregnancy and can help you to manage better during your labour².

There’s also research to suggest that it can be one way to induce labour. Let’s look at some of the different exercises you can try. 

There is some scientific evidence that walking in late pregnancy can help to bring on labour³. It’s thought that moving while you’re upright can help your baby get into the right position and put pressure on your cervix, helping to bring on labour naturally⁴.

Walking is a great form of gentle exercise to keep you active through all stages of your pregnancy. Even if it doesn’t help to bring on labour, regular strolls will help you stay fit, and potentially help you manage your labour and birth when the time comes².

Birthing balls are like exercise balls but slightly larger. You can get hold of birthing balls fairly cheaply and they can be a handy way of staying comfy during your pregnancy and labour⁵.  Sitting, leaning or rocking on a birthing ball can keep you moving and help your baby get into the right position for birth, enabling your baby’s head to move down into your pelvis⁶.

Some research has found that using a birthing ball can increase your chances of going into labour naturally without being medically induced⁷. Exercising on a birthing ball during labour can also ease pain and reduce the time you spend in labour⁸.

Ultimately, using a birthing ball towards the end of your pregnancy and during labour can be a great way to prepare both your baby and your body for a more active and comfortable experience.

From pineapples to spicy curries - you’ve probably heard a number of theories suggesting that certain foods can help with the induction of labour. 

Fresh tropical fruits like pineapple contain a substance called bromelain, which can help to soften the cervix in preparation for labour⁹. However, realistically you’d need to consume a lot of pineapple to see any impact, and such a large amount is likely to upset your stomach⁴.  On that basis, we’d advise caution with this possible method of inducing labour.

There is a theory that the digestive system and the cervix are closely linked, and it’s been suggested that if you give your digestive system a bit of a nudge with some spicy food, you could stimulate your cervix⁹. If you enjoy spicy foods, there’s no harm in trying it – but beware of the possible unwanted side effects of indigestion, heartburn or emergency trips to the loo¹⁰.

In some cultures, pregnant women are encouraged to eat dates towards the end of pregnancy¹¹. This is because dates contain lots of nutrients that are thought to help with the induction of labour⁴. There is some evidence that eating dates could help to bring on labour naturally¹¹ but a lot more research is needed before we can say for sure.

Either way, eating a handful of dates every day is a healthy snack, so there’s no harm in giving them a go.

As well as using exercise and food, there are a few other theories out there around how to bring on labour which involve the use of your mind and body. We’re exploring these below.

Having sex is one of the most talked about ways to induce labour. Sex can encourage your body to release the ‘love’ hormone oxytocin, which is also involved when you start to have contractions⁹. It’s also been suggested that sex may help to bring on labour because semen contains ‘prostaglandins’, which are also used in induction medicines¹.

Whilst having sex during your pregnancy (particularly in the later stages) can result in mild contractions known as Braxton Hicks¹², there’s currently no scientific evidence to definitively show that having sex has any effect on when you’ll go into labour¹³.

Unless you’ve been advised otherwise by your doctor or midwife, there’s no reason why you can’t have sex during your pregnancy¹². The important thing is that you want to do so. You should never feel as though having sex is something that you need to do to help bring on your labour, and rest assured that your baby will arrive when they’re ready.

Whether you’re aiming for the induction of labour or otherwise, you should avoid having sex during your pregnancy if¹²:

• Your waters have broken. Once this happens, your risk of infection is higher.
• You’re expecting twins or having a multiples birth.
• You’ve previously experienced early labours.
• You’re aware of any problems with the entrance to your cervix. It’s likely that your doctor or midwife will have discussed this with you if this is the case.

Some small studies have found that gently massaging your nipples can also release the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates contractions^{14, 15}. That’s because nipple stimulation ‘tricks’ your body into thinking you’re feeding your baby – clever!⁴

Some researchers have even found that using nipple stimulation could make you less likely to need a medical induction and reduce the time you spend in childbirth¹⁶, but there’s not enough scientific evidence yet for this to be a certainty.

There’s no clear scientific evidence that hypnosis can help induce labour¹⁷, but it can help to reduce any anxiety you might be feeling¹⁸.

Stress has been shown to reduce the levels of oxytocin in your blood, something which could lead to your labour and birth being longer¹⁹. As such, if you’re feeling nervous or stressed about giving birth (which is perfectly natural), or about anything else that might be going on, it’s important to allow yourself all the time you need to rest and relax. 

If you think or know that hypnosis can help, then it’s certainly worth a try.

As strange as it sounds, there’s a theory that the pressure placed on your abdomen from blowing up a balloon can help to start labour. If you’ve reached your due date, or you’re overdue, there’s no harm in giving it a gentle go!

Acupuncture and acupressure are two very well-known complementary therapies, but just how effective are they when it comes to the induction of labour?

Acupuncture is a complementary therapy based on traditional Chinese medicine. It involves inserting very thin needles into specific points on your body to help release natural substances like endorphins²⁰.

There’s not much evidence that acupuncture helps to induce labour​²¹, but pregnant women can have acupuncture to prepare for labour and birth, and to help manage some of those ​​common pregnancy symptoms, such as severe morning sickness and back pain²². If you do want to try acupuncture while you’re pregnant, make sure you talk to your doctor or midwife first and only use fully-qualified practitioners who have experience treating pregnant women.

Acupressure is like acupuncture but instead of using needles, it involves putting pressure on specific areas of the body (usually with the hands)²³.

Some NHS Trusts offer acupressure and other complementary therapies for women who have passed their due date without going into labour^{24, 25}. If you’d like to give it a try, check to see if this is something that your local NHS Trust offers. In these sessions, midwives use their fingers to apply pressure to areas like your hands, legs and shoulders to try to stimulate contractions²⁵.

There isn’t any clear research to show that acupressure is an effective way to naturally induce labour²³. But there is some evidence that it could help to reduce some of the pain once you get there, so it’s still worth looking into if you’re interested in complementary therapies²⁶.

Even though some mums swear by these methods, and you might have heard of some of them, these ways of trying to induce labour all carry potential risks for you and your baby. We would only recommend using these after you discuss them with your doctor or midwife first, and they don’t advise against them​⁴:

• Castor oil. Some people believe it brings on labour because it acts as a laxative. But it can also give you severe diarrhoea.  

• Raspberry leaf tea. Many expectant mums drink this during pregnancy because there is a belief it prepares your body for childbirth by helping tone your uterus muscles. However, raspberry leaf tea should not be used to bring on labour as the sudden stimulation can result in strong contractions which can be harmful to your baby​²⁷.

• Homoeopathic and herbal remedies. There’s not much evidence to support these bringing on labour, and in some cases they can cause harm to your baby, so best to avoid them altogether¹.

• Evening primrose oil. There isn’t much scientific evidence to suggest that taking evening primrose oil has any effect on bringing on labour, and we can’t be sure it’s safe, so it’s best to avoid it.

• Clary sage. Some people recommend using clary sage to naturally induce labour, but it’s not worth the risk of causing harm if it’s not used correctly.

Remember that it’s always best when labour comes on naturally, and without the need for interventions. However, if you reach 42 weeks, your doctor and midwife will offer to induce you​¹, and rest assured that you’re not alone, as plenty of women experience this.

If you choose not to take this induction, it’s advised that you let the doctors monitor your baby closely, as they could be at risk of stillbirth or other complications²⁸.

If you’re considering trying any of the methods mentioned above to bring on labour, please consult your GP or midwife first for their advice.