There are natural ways to help induce labor. These are not recommended to be tried until you are more than 40 weeks pregnant. Be advised that these options will not work if your cervix is not prepared for labor and delivery. Ways to naturally induce labor include sex, foods, nipple stimulation, herbs, castor oil and acupressure.

Sex

This is a very common way for women who are nine months pregnant to try to induce labor. Sex can help to ripen the cervix and prepare the cervix for delivery. For many women, this is not very comfortable when they are nine months pregnant but this is one option to help get the cervix ripe and ready for labor and delivery.

Foods

May women have induced labor by eating the following foods: pineapple, spicy foods, Chinese food, Eggplant Parmesan and licorice. Many women eat spicy foods because they help to induce labor.

Nipple Stimulation

This is one of the more natural ways to induce labor. The stimulation of the nipple releases an oxytocin or pitocin which helps many women to have contractions, which then starts labor. This method usually only works if you are already prepared for labor. This is not recommended until you are 40 weeks pregnant.

Herbs

Herbs were used before medications were invented to induce labor. You must be very careful when using herbs to induce a women's labor. The two herbs that are recommended to induce labor are black cohosh and blue cohosh. According to givingbirthnaturally.com, you should take 10 to 15 tinctures of the blue cohosh every hour and take 10 to 15 tinctures of the black cohosh every half hour until labor starts or for one full day.

Castor Oil

Castor oil is sometimes used to induce labor naturally because it is known to cause cramping and diarrhea. This in turn helps prepares the uterus for labor. This method generally will not work unless you are already close to labor.

Acupressure

Acupressure tends to be the most enjoyable method of inducement for women who are nine months or more pregnant. According to givingbirthnaturally.com, there are two pressure points that can be stimulated to produce contractions. They are located in the webbing of your thumb and index finger and four finger-widths above the inside of your ankle bone. These points are stimulated by massaging in a circle for 30 to 60 seconds. This is relaxing, and a great way to start labor.

Source:

Giving Birth Naturally