How to Go Into Labor: The Labor Nurse’s Guide

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Let’s talk about the ways to go into labor.  CAN you start labor on your own and what are some safe and effective ways to make you go into labor that you can try at home when your baby is term?

You feel fat, you’re tired, your baby is like a parasite taking every ounce of energy you ever considered having….  Put a fork in you, you’re done.  BUT, that sweet babe eating your life juices — they’re happy as a clam.  It loves your uterus.  It wants to live there forever!  This post is going to give you some of the things I’ve seen work — how to go into labor.

As an L&D nurse I see a lot of people SO confused by labor, how it works and how it happens. I think this course really simplifies it. Save 10% with coupon code PC10

In fact, I like this topic so much, I actually created a podcast about how to go into labor with my friend Mandy. I think you’ll love it:

Note from an experienced L&D nurse: If I had a nickel for every time a friend begged me for ideas ~ I’d have a lot of nickles…. and frankly, I just don’t know.  And anyone who says they DO know is lying. Trying to find out how to go into labor is NOT a reason to call labor and delivery.

I DO know I’d never take castor oil. I’ve seen the by-products and how LONG they continue and I’d steer clear of that one.  Yuck.

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How to go into labor:

You might wonder why you should trust this advice.  Well, first off — I’m Hilary, I’ve been an L&D nurse since 2001 and I take a lot of pride in sharing quality pregnancy information on the internet.  I hope you find this post helpful (you might also want to check out my pregnancy series):

GIANT DISCLAIMERS:

**Please talk to your doctor and make sure it is safe to try any of these ways before proceeding with caution.  ALWAYS take your doctor’s advice over something you read on the internet.  Be it here, or the 400 bajillion other sites on the internet.

*NONE of these things I mentioned to possibly help you go into labor should be attempted until you can see 40 weeks out your window.  I’m talking at LEAST 39 weeks.  You have to remember that ultrasound dating isn’t perfect.  You don’t want to think you caused your baby to come early with lasting effects.  PLEASE above all, pick a doctor you trust and whose advice you are willing to follow.  If you don’t have that — you need to figure that part out and fast.  Do not take ANY advice given here above the advice of your physician. You’re paying him/her a lot.  Make her work for it.

Special caution while trying to go into labor

Be SURE to do your kick counts. You want to make sure that baby is doing well. Especially as you get to the end of your pregnancy, and placental shelf life, you want to do them DAILY!

How to induce labor yourself

My best ideas it that the way you got INTO having a baby is the same way you MAY get out of it. You’ll probably have to be inventive for positioning and let’s just say it’s a great, sexy time. Or, at least it’s a shared experience that you and your partner will look back at and laugh. 🙂 Semen has similar hormones to induction drugs it is deposited right next to your cervix during said sexy time (FYI, there is a good chance you’ll need some of this).

You’ll hear a lot of anecdotal evidence from friends about how sex put them into labor. I even have a friend who’s water broke during it (it did not end up being a sexy time, as you can imagine how that might scare your partner).

Plus, there’s pelvic rest for 6 weeks anyway — why not give a nice send-off?

Of course, it is likely to do something for your mucus plug.

BTW, I also recommend pregnant couples do this too!

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Opening your pelvis for labor

I do think that sitting on a yoga ball and rotating your hips will help the baby find a great position to head on down to its final exit. Most things that move your hips in new and special ways can help in that as well as help stretch them out so maybe you can have a freakin’ nap!

I don’t think walking puts you into labor, I don’t think stairs will or the trampoline.  I think they’ll make you HURT.  Hurting and labor are two VERY different things.  Sad, but true.

What’s the difference between hurting and a contraction?

Contractions are from your uterus.  They come and go.  Often ligament or other pain is constant or is only relieved by positioning.

Dehydration Contractions

A lot of time your uterus will get angry when you don’t drink enough water. It will make you contract.

Those contractions can be very painful, but they are not labor. So — to make sure that you are pain-free (and only having TRUE LABOR contractions), make sure you stay hydrated!

If you’re still not sure what a contraction is, you might want to check out the Bloom Monitor ~ Save 10% on your rental.

I have a whole post that talks about what contractions feel like.

How to Stimulate Nipples to Induce Labor

Nipple stimulation will make you contract (it releases oxytocin, also called Pitocin, ~ you can read more about that here). But, if labor isn’t going to happen, this won’t push you past that bump. Either way, it gets the ol’ nip-nips prepped for the juice bar they’ll become later (it literally just is the exact way it sounds — you rub your nipples). Sounds fun, right?

BTW, while we’re talking nipples, did you know most insurances will give you a free breast pump (and this company will help you get it)

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Foods that Induce Labor

I have yet to find any that do.  Again, food might make you HURT, but hurting and labor are two very different things.

Spicy foods: Mostly give you heartburn (don’t forget these), and make it difficult to sleep (and again, hurting and contractions are 2 different things)

Frankly, that baby and your body have to make an agreement that they’re done with each other. Sadly, I think my 5-year-old is still bitter about that agreement — but it was made, and she was born. 12 days late.

I will say I am a HUGE fan of going the full 40.  I doubt we understand what an early induction can cause later in life.  I’m not willing to risk it, and ACOG is in agreement.

If you liked this post, and are looking for more information on pregnancy/postpartum, check out ALL my pregnancy posts!  If you’re looking for information on induction, Pregnant Chicken has a great post on it, written by yours truly. 🙂

I have a whole page all about answering the question “am I in labor?” — you don’t want to miss that! 

You might already be in labor and not even know it! 🙂

I’ve also got a When Will I Go into Labor Quiz that you might find fun to take!

Let me send you a free hospital packing list, as well as give you pregnancy information for whatever stage you’re at:

I Got Pregnant At Age 43, Reverse And Eliminate Infertility. Safe & Natural With Fast Results