Getting the Baby to Come Out: Myths & Tips

Sassy Mama gives you tips and busts myths on getting the baby to come out when you’re a little overdue!

If it’s way past your due date and you’re still sitting at home waiting for the little one to just come out already then this roundup is for you.  From old wives tales to natural inducers that work we’ve rounded up all the tips and myths on natural ways to get the baby to come out.

Lead image via Getty

Acupuncture and acupressure can help with cervical dilation and getting the baby into the right position. Chinese medicine doctors will probably tell you to let nature take its course but if you really can’t bear with it anymore, this is probably your best bet.

Verdict: Tip

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Bumpy car rides (or in the times before cars, horse rides) are rumoured to induce labour. The bumps and jolts are supposed to bolt the baby out of the womb, but we know that the uterus, surrounding muscles and amniotic sac are super sturdy.

Verdict: Myth

Now, it has been proven that castor oil induces diarrhoea, but not so much labour. The violent bowel movements are supposed to have an effect on the nearby uterus, but if you ask us, we’d rather not test the theory.

Verdict: Myth

Long walks will not only take your mind off your bump, it will take you out of the house and relax you. The reason why some people recommend taking walks is that the movement might induce some contractions. The effects are minimal but if you do decide to take a long walk  near your due date, make sure you’re close enough to a cab or a hospital!

Verdict: Myth

Nipple stimulation
This might sound fun to begin with but all that nipple stimulation does is release oxytocin – and not that much of it. You’d have to be  doing it for a long long time before enough oxytocin is released! This might be a favourite in folklore, but mamas, you should probably give this method a miss.

Verdict: Myth

Sex
It’s how you got your baby in the first place – so maybe a little bit of sex is all you need to get it out. Sex not only stimulates your cervix, it also causes the release of oxytocin (the “bonding hormone”) which can induce labour. Semen also contains little chemicals called prostaglandin which also induces labour. Don’t worry about hurting the cherub, it’s well protected.

Verdict: Tip

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Raspberry leaf tea is supposed to help with shrinking the uterus after birth and help with recovery, but it does not help with “contractions”… it also doesn’t taste like raspberries!

Verdict: Myth

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If you’re going to try eating a pineapple to induce labour then make sure it’s fresh – tinned pineapples won’t work! The theory is the bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, mangoes and kiwis, softens the cervix. There hasn’t been any proof of pineapple actually causing contractions but you know what, pineapples are delicious and good for you, so we quite like this myth.

Verdict: Pineapples are yummy

Photo by Jessica Lewis from Pexels

Spicy food, especially curries have long been thought to help get the little one out. It is supposed to stimulate your bowels and that’s supposed to agitate the uterus into letting the baby out. Sound a bit far fetched? We thought so, too.

Verdict: Myth

Remember that it’s actually quite common for pregnancies to be overdue and it’s definitely not a cause for panic. Happy delivery, mama!

Image courtesy of Elli O. via Unsplash