19/10/2023
Starting to get fed up of being so full of glow and that wonderful unrelenting pressure on your lady bits?
Here are some useful, and some dubious, natural methods of 'Natural Induction!'
1. Stair/Curb walking- the idea being that walking at an angle should move the baby down and into optimum position!
2. Acupuncture (my personal favourite!) - Stimulates acupressure points with needles to encourage natural Labour 😊
3. S*x- if you can muster the enthusiasm then absolutely go for it! Boost those happy love hormones!
4. Dates- Apparently eating up to 6 dates a day leading up to birth can soften the cervix and shorten Labour time.
The Other 'natural induction methods'- many of these are old wives tales and their reliability is dubious!
1. Eating pineapple- contains bromelain, which is believed by some to soften the cervix and trigger contractions, but no research has shown that bromelain or pineapple actually have this effect - also causes horrendous heartburn and supposedly you need to eat about 3 to get the correct amount of bromelain!
2. Eating spicy foods- The theory is that a spicy curry can stimulate your gut, thereby stimulating your womb (uterus) to kickstart labour....can also cause upset tummy, heartburn and indigestion though so...
3. Watching sad and happy movies- encouraging big emotions helps to relieve anxiety and keep you relaxed. Stress may prevent Labour from progressing
And the Weirdest Induction Method goes to...
4. Coffee ground Steam-
Give yourself a coffee steam bath. It’s supposed to help your body open up and encourage your cervix to dilate. Start by putting a plastic bowl in your toilet, then adding a cup of regular coffee grounds. Pour hot water over the coffee, then sit on the toilet and let the steam work its magic on your body.
For the record, I don't encourage this, I'd rather eat the three pineapples than risk a burn to the bits!
Have you tried any of the natural methods? How did you get on?!
Let me know below!