Bumpy road pregnancy6/4/2023 ![]() ![]() Some people theorize that spicy food causes contractions by stimulating the digestive system. Spicy food:ĭespite the stories about babies born quickly after their moms ate spicy pizza or a certain eggplant Parmesan, no spice or food has been scientifically proven to get labor started. (It also won't hurt your baby, since he or she is well protected from life's minor bumps by the uterus and surrounding fluid.) Always err on the side of safety, however, and wear a seat belt, even in the back seat. ![]() Taking a drive on a gravel road or hitting a few speed bumps won't help start labor. However, once you are in labor, spending time upright could help shorten the process. Sadly, there's no evidence that exercise can bring on labor. Walking and other forms of moderate exercise are safe during pregnancy and recommended for most women. And some can overstimulate your uterus or pose other risks. But right now there isn't enough evidence to prove that any of them are safe or effective at getting labor started. Evening primrose oil, red raspberry leaf tea, and other herbal remedies:Ī variety of herbs, including red raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil, are said to be useful for labor induction. Like with castor oil, an enema can lead to diarrhea and leave you dehydrated. Again, there's not much recent scientific evidence for an enema to bring on labor, but anecdotally, it seems to work in select cases. It can also lead to diarrhea and dehydration, so it's important that you stay hydrated if using castor oil.Ī self-administered enema works similarly to castor oil in that it stimulates the bowels, which releases prostaglandins (compounds that prepare the cervix for labor) into the body. Although stimulating your bowels may cause contractions, there's not a lot of definitive research showing that it helps induce labor – and you're likely to find the effect very unpleasant. Castor oil:Ĭastor oil is a strong laxative. And because there's a possibility of overstimulating your uterus (and stressing your baby), it's probably safer to try this in the hospital while being monitored. While it's a time-honored approach, more research is needed to determine how effective it is. Stimulating your nipples releases oxytocin and may help start labor. A few studies have shown that having sex when you're full-term may reduce the need for labor induction, but others have found no effect on promoting labor. Semen contains prostaglandins, and having an orgasm may stimulate contractions. Here's the scoop on some of the techniques you may have heard about: Sexual intercourse: ![]()
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