Having my due date come and go, I did research on ways to stimulate my body to go into labor on its own.  Here are some ways I read and heard are useful.

 

If your due date has passed, you’re fed up with being pregnant and you’re ready for your baby’s arrival into the world, you can follow these six tips that have the potential to naturally induce labor:

 

·      Be active.  Walking and other light activity increases the pressure on your cervix, which could prompt it to dilate.  It could also start contractions.

 

·      Be intimate.  Semen contains natural prostaglandins, which are hormones that initiate labor and help to ripen the cervix.  An orgasm can stimulate contractions in a pregnant woman.  Even kissing and hugging can be helpful in the process of inducing labor.

 

·      Stimulate your nipples.  When done correctly, this will prompt the release of oxytocin, which is the hormone that stimulates contractions.

 

·      Ingest castor oil.  As a laxative, castor oil will stimulate the bowels and because the bowels rest against the uterus, it may cause contractions to start.  Use caution, as you may just get diarrhea and possibly become dehydrated.

 

·      Apply evening primrose oil on the cervix.  This oil releases prostaglandins, which will thin the cervix and possibly start contractions.

 

·      Eat spicy foods or Chinese food.  Although there is no medical reason why this may work, many people swear by it.  If you’re desperate, it doesn’t hurt to try (although spicy foods may give you a bad case of acid reflux).

 

These natural methods may induce labor and get you started on the path to meeting your new bundle of joy.