When I was pregnant with my second baby, I went into labor on January 3, 2023, at 41 weeks and 2 days. I was scheduled for a medical induction the very next morning, and I was doing everything I could to encourage my body and my baby girl to begin labor naturally.
Whether any of these techniques actually caused labor or whether it was simply going to be my time all along is impossible to know. But during that season, I loved hearing other moms’ stories about what may have helped them, so I will share my experience as well.
What I Did the Day Labor Started
On the day I went into labor, I tried three main things:
- 8:00 AM: Membrane sweep
- 10:00 AM: Midwives brew
- 12:00 PM: Eggplant parmesan
- 2:00 PM: Labor began
- 3:00 AM (1/4/23): My daughter was born
Looking back, the eggplant parmesan still makes me laugh. It sounded ridiculous to me at the time. Then I went into labor shortly after eating it. Apparently, there is a restaurant in Georgia known for “sending women into labor” with their eggplant parm. You truly cannot make this stuff up.
Midwives Brew Recipe
One of the more well-known natural induction methods I tried was midwives brew. Here is the recipe I used, which was shared with me by my doula:
Ingredients:
- 10 oz apricot juice
- 8 oz pure lemon verbena tea
- 2 tablespoons castor oil
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
Directions:
Brew the tea for at least 10 minutes. Combine all ingredients and blend until the almond butter is fully smooth. Drink the entire mixture on an empty stomach. It is said to be more effective at room temperature or slightly warm, but it can be served over ice if needed. I also substituted a few ingredients for similar options because I could not find everything at my local grocery store.
Other Natural Induction Techniques I Tried
Throughout the final weeks of my pregnancy, I also experimented with several other commonly recommended techniques, including:
- Eating pineapple
- Eating six dates per day
- Spicy food
- Red raspberry leaf tea
- Chiropractic care
- Sex
- Nipple stimulation
- Curb walking
- Lots of walking
- Squats
- Exercise ball
Some of these felt helpful. Some felt silly. Some were simply ways to stay active and hopeful while waiting.
Did Any of This Actually Work? Here is the honest truth: I have no idea.
It is entirely possible that if I had done absolutely nothing that day, I still would have gone into labor at 2:00 PM. So often, we associate whatever we did right before labor began as “the thing” that caused it. Someone once told me a pedicure sent them into labor. That story stuck with me because it highlights how personal and unpredictable birth truly is. Every body and every baby is different.
This is not medical advice. I am simply sharing what my doula suggested and what I personally tried. Always talk with your provider before attempting any induction methods, natural or otherwise. If you are in that long, uncomfortable, emotionally exhausting waiting season at the end of pregnancy, I see you. It can feel endless. Trust that your body and your baby know what they are doing, even when the waiting feels unbearable.
Praying for all you mamas as you prepare to welcome your little ones into the world.
