Traditional “Help”

 Raspberry Leaf Tea

• Is a uterine tonic – doesn’t work well to start labour but makes contractions more efficient when in labour.
•  May cause BHs and if all ready may be just enough to start but on its own won’t kick things off.

Walking

• Can help with gravity to bring baby’s head down into pelvis and bounce on cervix – if cervix is ripe and ready it can help with the opening.

Pineapple

• Fresh pineapple has bromelain which can soften cervix
• Need to eat 7 to have any sort of effect.  Gets very acidy and can cause mouth ulcers in large quantities.

Curry

• Curry works by irritating your bowels.  Your bowels will spasm and sometimes that can cause the uterus to start contractions. 
• If it does work bear in mind that if bowels irritated more likely to evacuate during delivery!!

Sex & Nipple Stimulation

• Sex works in two ways as prostaglandin in semen softens the cervix (some say that taken orally is more effective!!) and also an orgasm will contract the uterus.  If baby & Mum are ready sex will likely get things going. 
• Nipple stimulation mimics the baby sucking for a feed which releases oxytocin which will start labour only if ready.  The recommendation is for an hour 3 times a day – alternating nipple each 15 mins.  Also may cause leakage!

Castor Oil

• A very old favourite but is now not recommended at all. 
• Chemists will not sell castor oil to pregnant women. 
• It works like a laxative but much, much more violently – causing the bowels and uterus to spasm in a much more violent way than the curry option. 
• The danger is that the laxative effect passes through to the baby causing the baby distress and also will pass it’s meconium in the waters.  This can lead to the baby then breathing in the dirtied waters and can cause nasty respiratory problems.

Clary Sage Oil

• A few drops in the bath can help kick start labour if both ready – shouldn’t be used before term. 
• Used in labour can help make contractions more efficient.

Homeopathy/Massage/Reflexology/Herbal Therapies

• All these therapies have been shown to have positive effects as work to relax the mother and release any adrenaline blocks. 
• Some therapists ask that you start therapy with them earlier to build up the effects.
• However before spending money try sitting down with your partner and talking through what is worrying you and writing down your feelings and any actions you can take – it declutters the mind.

Think about:

• Childcare/babysitting
• Work issues
• Housework, taking care of admin like bills etc
• Feeding and sleeping for everyone
• Upcoming events that need to be planned
• Money
• Most importantly – time together and life as a family rather than a couple