As beautiful as pregnancy is, toward the end you might find yourself counting the days until birth. There are almost endless home remedies that are said to help trigger your baby’s arrival. From raspberry leaf tea to climbing stairs, the list goes on. But what really helps? We’ve gathered the most important information on inducing labor for you.

From when can you induce labor?

First of all: Please always speak with your gynecologist first about any measures to induce labor. If your baby is taking particularly long and no Birthmarks appear, you can decide together on the next steps, because not all labor-inducing methods are suitable for every pregnant woman. Usually, you don’t need to worry, either: every baby has its own timetable, and very few arrive on the estimated due date — instead, all births between the 37th and 42nd week of pregnancy are considered full-term.

Once you have the “go-ahead” from your doctor or midwife, you can try various home remedies to encourage labor. However, as a general rule: you should only start after the calculated due date has passed — and only if you are healthy and your Pregnancy has progressed without complications or risks. Before your body is ready for birth, home remedies won’t have any effect anyway.

Raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, and others.

Many foods are surrounded by rumors that they have labor-inducing effects. The best-known is probably raspberry leaf tea. But other foods also seem to promote labor.

What You Should Know About Raspberry Leaf Tea:

• Many midwives and mothers report that it is effective. However, this has not been scientifically proven.

• The herbal remedy is said to strengthen and loosen the ligaments and promote blood circulation in the uterine muscle.

• Even if raspberry leaf tea alone is not sufficient as a labor-inducing remedy, you should start drinking it no earlier than the 36th week of pregnancy and consume no more than one to two cups per day. In case of premature contractions, high blood pressure, before a planned cesarean section or if you are expecting multiples , it is better to avoid it altogether.

• In any case, talk to your midwife before you start drinking raspberry leaf tea. She can best assess whether the tea may help encourage labor.

That's what evening primrose oil does:

• Evening primrose oil is particularly rich in unsaturated omega-6 fatty acids and can promote the formation of prostaglandins in the body, which in turn may have labor-inducing effects.

• Evening primrose oil in capsule form is available in pharmacies. You can take it orally or vaginally from the 38th week of pregnancy — in any case, you should discuss taking it with your midwife beforehand.

• Midwife Sissi recommends evening primrose oil especially when the birth findings in the 38th week of pregnancy are still very immature and the cervix is still hard.

Spicy foods are also said to have a labor-inducing effect. If you have generally tolerated spicy foods well during pregnancy, there’s no reason not to try them. More tips can be found in our article.

Movement and sex

Light, gentle movement (provided you feel up to it) can help you relax and encourage your baby’s head to move further into the pelvis. Both can promote contractions. Suitable activities include walks or climbing stairs. Make sure you’re not alone and always have a way to get help — after all, labor can start at any time!

Sex can also have a labor-inducing effect through the hormone oxytocin released during it, as well as prostaglandins contained in semen and increased blood flow to the pelvis. The same rule applies here: do what makes you feel comfortable. It’s best to listen very carefully to your body.

Enemas

An enema with water can have a labor-inducing effect because a full bowel can put unfavorable pressure on the cervix and hinder the onset of labor. The increased intestinal activity caused by the enema can also spontaneously trigger contractions. During an enema, a small amount of lukewarm water is inserted into the rectum with a small bulb syringe — this is quick and painless. If you would like to have an enema, discuss this with your midwife beforehand. She can advise you on the proper procedure or even assist you with the enema.

Bathing and massage

A bath at about 38 degrees Celsius relaxes your abdominal and pelvic muscles through the warmth and stimulates your uterus. Additionally, you can use bath additives such as clove or ginger oil to stimulate contractions. It’s best not to bathe for longer than 20 minutes and never when you are alone at home, in case you experience circulatory problems or labor begins.

Gentle massages are also an option to stimulate labor. You can also use essential oils such as cinnamon, ginger, iron root, or clove oil (preferably from the pharmacy or your midwife). If you are sensitive to scents, our unscented is also suitable. You can also mix different oils, just as you like. The combination of gentle pressure and essential oils stimulates the muscles of the uterus.

Another relaxed way to help initiate labor can be meditation and an inner farewell to this special phase of pregnancy. Because, as midwife Sissi emphasizes: „Babies are born out of calm. When you are relaxed and completely present, it can also have a positive influence on the start of labor.“ By the way: We have put together a suitable playlist for meditation on our Spotify channel.

Ultimately, labor is like all aspects of pregnancy and childbirth: it has its own timetable. After all, every pregnancy and every pregnant woman is unique. So please don’t worry if your baby doesn’t follow a schedule. In consultation with your midwife and your doctor, you’ll receive the right support to start labor when necessary. We wish you a wonderful birth and a joyful bonding time with your little explorer!