"Natural" Labor Induction: Does Anything Actually Work?

Many pregnant women anxiously anticipate their baby’s arrival, wondering, When will labor start or what happens if I go past my due date? As the due date approaches or even passes, some may feel tempted to try “natural” ways to get labor going.

While some non-medical strategies to try and jump start labor can be helpful and have their place, there is also a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding out there. That’s why childbirth educators play a crucial role in helping parents separate fact from fiction. Discussing natural induction strategies with your clients not only empowers them with accurate information but also reinforces the importance of consulting their healthcare provider before trying any method.

Key Points When Teaching "Natural" Labor Induction

Keep these key ideas in mind as you discuss natural induction methods in class:

Due Dates are Just Guesses

When teaching your students about labor induction, it’s essential first to discuss due dates in general, emphasizing that women go into labor at different times. Anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks can be within the normal range for giving birth, which means that there's healthy span of more than a month.
 
Moreover, due dates are just guesses. It is common for them to be inaccurate, complicated by factors such as irregular periods, varying cycle lengths, not remembering exactly when someone's last period started, differing fetal growth rates and other factors. The Preparing for Birth parent guide book is an excellent resource detailing information about due dates and the challenges around them.

Healthcare Provider Input is Important

As you go over natural induction methods, be sure to emphasize the importance of your clients having a conversation with their doctor or midwife before trying anything to get labor going. While some of the methods are fairly harmless, everyone has a different health profile. It is important for any expectant mother to discuss the pros and cons of these methods with her provider.

Research is Often Lacking

You also can also emphasize that many of these methods aren’t well researched. As a result, there simply isn’t much evidence to tell us whether they are effective or not. This could be because a study only evaluated a small sample, because the research methods had flaws or because no research has been done at all. Some of these methods may very well be effective and useful, but some may not be of much use. Without robust research, we just don’t know. It's important to be knowledgeable and honest about the evidence regarding the strategies you discuss in class.

What to Know About "Natural" Induction Methods

Let's take a look at some of the most common natural induction strategies, what to know about them, and what information you can pass on to your clients.

Sex

Sex is often recommended as a way to get labor started. The idea is that the release of hormones like oxytocin during sex will lead to contractions. There is also a theory that semen contains prostaglandins that can soften the cervix. Unfortunately, the research proving this isn’t strong. For example, a systematic review from 2019 found that, overall, sex didn’t increase the rate of spontaneous labor.

Exercise

Many people recommend going on long walks or bouncing on a yoga ball to get labor started. In addition to being a healthy habit throughout pregnancy, there is some evidence that exercise can help get labor started. A smaller study from 2022 found that walking for 30 minutes daily three times a week may increase the chance of spontaneous labor.

Nipple Stimulation

Similar to sex, the rationale for stimulating breasts and nipples is that it will release hormones like oxytocin, which can help encourage contractions. Indeed, a small study from 2014 found that breast massage for 15-20 minutes three times a day increased the chances of cervical ripening and vaginal delivery.

Homeopathy and Herbs

There are many herbs that are recommended to induce labor, including evening primrose oil, black and blue cohosh, and red raspberry leaves. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), although all of these herbs may work to stimulate contractions, there is no quality evidence to show this. Our current evidence mostly comes from tradition and anecdotal reports.

Bowel Stimulation

Bowel emptying often happens naturally before and during labor. The theory behind intentional bowel stimulation is that this can in turn stimulate the uterus to contract. Some common methods include castor oil or other laxatives, enemas, and eating spicy foods (which can stimulate the gastrointestinal system). As the AAFP notes, the evidence for all of these is weak, and based mostly on small studies involving few participants.

Dates

There are many foods that are purported to get labor started, including spicy foods, eggplant and pineapple. One food that we have a little more positive research on is dates. A meta-analysis from 2024 found that eating dates in late pregnancy may shorten the length of pregnancy and labor, and increase rates of spontaneous vaginal birth. However, the researchers stated that “more well-designed investigations are required to robustly support consuming dates.”

Acupressure, Acupuncture and Reflexology

Acupuncture, acupressure, and reflexology are all methods that use pressure points and stimulation of key points on the body. The evidence showing that they work to get labor started is somewhat unclear at this time. For instance, a 2017 Cochrane Database Systematic Review concluded that acupuncture and acupressure may help ready the cervix for labor. However, more robust studies are needed to determine if this translates to increased vaginal delivery rates.

The Bottom Line

A review of natural induction methods in your childbirth education classes is helpful, but it is important to cover this information responsibly. Use this topic as an opportunity to distinguish between anecdotes and research-based evidence, provide clients with their options and help them understand the research behind them (or lack of). You can also remind your students that due dates aren’t set in stone and there is a wide range of normal. Finally, make sure you emphasize the importance of having a conversation with their healthcare provider before diving into any attempt to jump start labor.

Wendy Wisner, Freelance Writer and Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)

Sources

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Smith CA, Armour M, Dahlen HG. Acupuncture or acupressure for induction of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Oct 17;10(10):CD002962. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002962.pub4. PMID: 29036756; PMCID: PMC6953318.
 
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