Walking can induce labor

This allows you to hold on to the counter or railing if you are in a building for stability and avoid extreme weather conditions. As with any other change in physical activity, please check with your OB or midwife prior to engaging in this activity.

What is curb walking? How can I use curb walking to induce labor? Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Here, she weighs in on which commonly used methods are safe to try, and which are worthy of caution.

This is one of the simplest ways that women try to jump start their labor. No study has found it effective, but some have found that spending time upright during labor has the potential to shorten the process. The verdict: Do it — please! The verdict: Feel free to give it a try.

Pineapple is loaded with an enzyme called bromelain that is sometimes used to help get the bowels moving. Stimulating the nipples releases oxytocin, and there is actually some solid research behind this method.

The verdict: It can be effective. But she recommends that women do it only under supervision of a physician or midwife. Made from the little-known castor bean, castor oil is a powerful laxative that stimulates the intestines.

It may, in turn, irritate the uterus and cause contractions. Everything from pineapple to licorice to Chinese food has been credited with getting the ball rolling. Acupuncture is another method of releasing oxytocin in your body. At your next prenatal appointment, ask your doctor or birthworker about having your membranes stripped.

With a gloved finger, your doctor will separate the amniotic sac from the wall of the uterus. If the bleeding becomes heavy, however, call your doctor immediately.

Even if none of these methods work to start contractions, remember that the end is near. If nothing seems to be working, just try to get some rest. There are some natural ways to induce labor. If your due date is here, read this and talk to your doctor about what's right for you. Are you pregnant and past your due date? Help induce labor naturally by pressing on these acupressure points along the body. Braxton-Hicks contractions can be confused with real contractions.

A new study finds that epidurals do not affect child development in their later years. A fetal arrhythmia is an irregular heart rate — too fast, too slow, or otherwise outside the norm. It's often benign.