The Best Natural Ways to Encourage Labor before 42 Weeks
Did you know that only about 5% of babies actually arrive on their due date?
Trust me, I have gone all the way to 42 weeks and 41+5 with my two babies, and I always go a little bit crazy waiting for the baby to arrive!
This is especially stressful if you are planning a home birth in a state with regulations that classify pregnancies extending past 42 weeks as high risk!
Let’s explore the stats on due dates, and look at the best evidence-based options to encourage labor before 42 weeks naturally!
Table of Contents
Understanding Due Dates
Going past your due date is actually super common when you are trying to let it occur spontaneously! There are many factors that impact pregnancy length such as when ovulation occurred, variability in how long embryos take to implant, and each woman’s individual hormones.
This article by Evidence Based Birth is an excellent dive into the specifics of available research on due dates. The key takeaways are:
50% of women will give birth by 40+5
75% will give birth by 41+2.
A more scientifically accurate “average” due date would be 40+5!
Despite the science around due dates, they can still heavily impact your birth plans!
Consider adjusting your due date
Look into all the due date calculation methods and see if there is anything you can adjust to give yourself more wiggle room.
Look at the estimated due date from your anatomy scan (if you had one) and see if going by that date would give you any more time.
Adjust your cycle length if using the last period calculation method.
For example, if the start of your last period was August 9th and you put your cycle length as 28 days, your due date would be May 16th. If you adjusted your cycle length to 31 days, it would be May 19th!
That may seem like a small change, but 3 or 4 days can be huge! Without adjusting my due date with my second child, we wouldn’t have made the cut!
Natural Method for Encouraging Labor
Pumping
My personal favorite! Pumping is the best form of nipple stimulation, which increases oxytocin, the magical labor hormone!
Pumping has been the turning point in getting both of my labors started! Your midwife may have a pumping protocol she can send you.
If you want to get started yourself, I did 30 minutes of pumping followed by a 30 minute break for 3 hours at a time, once or twice a day. I highly recommend using coconut oil to grease the flanges to avoid chafing!
Walking
Walking helps induce labor by encouraging the baby to move into a favorable position further into the pelvis. It also applies gentle pressure on the cervix, which stimulates its softening and dilation.
Walking also releases endorphins, which contributes to a sense of well-being and a relaxed state, both of which can support the onset of labor.
The Miles Circuit
The Miles circuit is a series of popular positions that can help the baby get into an optimal position for labor. If poor positioning is stalling your progress, this could be very helpful!
Accupuncture
Acupuncture may help induce labor by stimulating specific points that are believed to promote uterine contractions and encourage cervical ripening.
Practitioners insert fine needles into these targeted areas to enhance the body’s hormonal responses, increase blood flow to the pelvis, and help the baby engage in the birth canal.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic adjustments aim to align the pelvis, spine, and sacrum, which may improve the baby’s positioning and help the body prepare for labor. Proper alignment can reduce tension and imbalances in the surrounding muscles and ligaments, creating more room for the baby to move into an optimal birthing position. By promoting better pelvic symmetry, a chiropractic adjustment may encourage labor to start naturally and progress more smoothly.
Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea and eating Dates
Red raspberry leaf tea and dates are really ways to help prepare the body for labor rather than directly induce it, but they can still help!
Raspberry leaf tea is believed to strengthen the uterine muscles, which may lead to more efficient contractions once labor begins. This potentially makes labor process smoother and faster.
Consuming dates in late pregnancy has been linked in some studies to improved cervical ripening, a shorter first stage of labor, and a reduced need for medical induction!
Induction Methods to try with Midwife Oversight
Black and blue cohosh
Your midwife may suggest herbal preparations, such as black and blue cohosh, under her guidance.
Black cohosh may help tone the uterus and improve responsiveness, while blue cohosh can stimulate contractions.
Castor oil
Castor oil is another option that can be effective for some women. It can stimulate labor by causing intestinal cramping and bowel movements, which may trigger contractions. The disturbance in the digestive system can increase prostaglandin production, encouraging cervical ripening and potentially initiating labor. Be prepared that it is not a comfortable experience!
Membrane sweep
If your cervix is sufficiently dilated, your midwife might offer a membrane sweep. This approach can help encourage labor without medication. However, it’s not guaranteed to work for everyone and may cause discomfort, cramping, or light spotting. Complications such as infection or premature rupture of membranes can occur.
Remember to Relax!
All of these tips are great at helping labor start, but it’s no coincidence that so many woman have gone into spontaneous labor when they finally stopped trying so hard to start it!
Let go of your timeline and be at peace with the birth you are intended to have. You have done so much work and preparation, now is the time to relax and trust the process!
It is so important to go into labor well nourished and rested. Take a walk, watch fun movies with your spouse, eat nourishing food, and get as much sleep as you can. You will need it!
While approaching 42 weeks can feel challenging when planning a home birth, you have many options to consider! Try some of the tips above, stay connected with your care team, trust your instincts, rest, and remain open to adjusting your plans as needed.