The nine months of your pregnancy are almost over. Now, you are waiting for the labor pains to start. The problem is that the wait seems to be long and your patience is running out. No problem. Do you know that there are certain natural ways of inducing labor? You can induce labor pains by indulging in sexual intercourse, nipple stimulation, waking, talking to your baby and certain acupuncture techniques. All these help in the onset of pains. Apart from that, there are also certain foods that are believed to help in inducing labor. Want to know what kind of food can you eat to induce labor? Read on.
Foods that Induce Labor
Spicy Food
Foods containing lots of spices have since long been associated with inducement of labor pains. However, the reason for this is that they irritate the bowels and they might even cause heartburn. So, be cautious while eating them.
Fruit
Tropical fruits, like pineapple, mango and kiwi, have been known to contain an enzyme that helps in toning the cervix. It is not sure that they induce labor or not, but they definitely help in making the labor easier.
Herbal Supplements
A number of herbal supplements, primarily black and blue cohosh and nettle tea are said to help in inducing labor. However, they should be taken only under medical advice.
Raspberry Leaf Tea
Though raspberry leaf tea is not exactly known to induce labor, it definitely helps in toning the uterus. Thus, it leads to a less painful delivery.
Cinnamon Stick Tea
For making cinnamon tea, you need to boil the sticks in water and then, strain it. Whether it induces labor or not, it will surely help you relax.
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil comes in the form of small capsules, which must be taken under medical advice. The oil helps soften and ripen the cervix and thus, leads to easy delivery.
Other Foods
The following food items have also been associated with the inducement of labor:
- Chinese Food
- Eggplant Parmesan
- Licorice
