37 weeks how can i start labor

Exercise can be anything that gets the heart rate up, such as a long walk. Theoretically, there are multiple reasons why having sex could induce labor. For example, sexual activity, especially having an orgasm, can release oxytocin, which may help jumpstart uterine contractions.

Also, for pregnant people who have sex with men, there are prostaglandin hormones in semen that might help ripen the cervix.

Doing so can increase your risk for infection. Stimulating your nipples can cause your uterus to contract and may bring about labor. Nipple stimulations stimulate oxytocin production. Oxytocin is the hormone that causes the uterus to contract and the breast to eject milk.

In fact, if you choose to breastfeed your baby right after delivery, this same stimulation is what will help your uterus shrink back to its original size. You or your partner may manually stimulate your nipples, or you can try using a breast pump.

Solid research shows that breast stimulation can be an effective way to:. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years. The exact way that acupuncture works is unclear. It might also stimulate changes in hormones or in the nervous system. In a randomized trial in Denmark, more than women were given acupuncture, membrane stripping, or both procedures before labor.

According to research , the main benefit of acupuncture is increased cervical ripening. Of course, some babies naturally arrive sooner. And complications during pregnancy can make an early delivery the safest choice. But most babies need 39 weeks to develop fully. Induced or planned delivery before that time—without valid medical reason—is not in the best interest of the baby or the mother.

Between and , there were fewer full-term births, and almost twice as many babies born at 37 and 38 weeks. One reason for this is that it became more common for women to be scheduled for a C-section or to have labor induced before their due date.

Some hospitals have taken recent steps to reduce unnecessary early deliveries, but too many births are still being scheduled for convenience. Carrying an infant the full 39 weeks has important health benefits for the baby and the mother. Babies induced or delivered by C-section before 39 weeks are more likely to have problems breathing and feeding, have severe jaundice, and need intensive care after birth.

They also have a higher chance of having cerebral palsy, which can affect movement, hearing, seeing, thinking, and learning. And, while the overall risk of infant death is low, it is higher for babies who are delivered before 39 weeks. Sadly, these aren't guaranteed ways to induce labor — there's no scientific proof that they work. And some so-called natural ways to induce labor, such as drinking castor oil or eating spicy food, can cause unpleasant side effects.

There are many labor-inducing tricks you may have heard of — including nipple stimulation, sex, spicy food, castor oil, riding along a bumpy road, acupuncture, and even eating pineapple. Unfortunately, none of these methods has been proven effective, and some may not be safe. There's no harm in walking or having sex to try and jump start your labor — it could help, and even if it doesn't, you may enjoy it!

First make sure that sex is safe for you now. But other methods — like drinking castor oil or eating spicy foods — could upset your stomach and cause nausea and diarrhea. And some methods, including nipple stimulation and taking various herbs, could overstimulate your uterus and pose a risk to your baby. Before trying any natural ways to induce labor, make sure to talk to your caregiver. Semen contains prostaglandins, and having an orgasm may stimulate contractions.

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. Stimulating your nipples releases oxytocin and may help start labor. While it's a time-honored approach, more research is needed to determine how effective it is.

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.

Castor oil is a strong laxative. 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.

It can also lead to diarrhea and dehydration, so it's important that you stay hydrated if using castor oil. A 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. Again, there's not much recent scientific evidence for an enema to bring on labor, but anecdotally, it seems to work in select cases.

Like with castor oil, an enema can lead to diarrhea and leave you dehydrated. A variety of herbs, including red raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil , are said to be useful for labor induction. But right now there isn't enough evidence to prove that any of them are safe or effective at getting labor started. And some can overstimulate your uterus or pose other risks. Walking and other forms of moderate exercise are safe during pregnancy and recommended for most women.

Sadly, there's no evidence that exercise can bring on labor. However, once you are in labor , spending time upright could help shorten the process. Taking a drive on a gravel road or hitting a few speed bumps won't help start labor. 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. Despite 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.