What teas help induce labor

For Labor, Other Benefits, More

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on March 05, 2021

People have been passing along home remedies for inducing labor for as long as people have been having babies. Once you get near, or even past, your due date, you will probably have everyone from your best friend to perfect strangers in the grocery store suggesting ways you can induce labor. While many methods are harmless, if ineffective, there are some that can actually be dangerous. Chamomile tea is often suggested as an easy way to get your labor started. However, there is currently not enough scientific evidence to support that, and some healthcare providers recommend that pregnant women not take chamomile.

In 2013, a study was done in Iran on the effects of chamomile for inducing labor. In this study, 80 post-term women who had low-risk pregnancies were divided into two groups. One group of 40 was given 1,000 milligrams of chamomile every 8 hours for 1 week. The other group was given a placebo. After a week, 92.5% of the women in the chamomile group started having symptoms of labor. Only 62.5% of women in the placebo group had symptoms of labor.

However, a systematic review of studies done in 2019 recommended that herbal medicines, including chamomile, be discouraged until more evidence of its safety is available. This review found that chamomile use in the third trimester was linked to increased incidents of babies being born early, being shorter, and having a lower birth weight, although a different study did not show an increase in babies born with a low birth weight.

Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a daisy-like plant whose flowers are used in herbal medicine and tea. There are two types of chamomile, German and Roman. People have been using both types for a long time. Chamomile was considered an important herbal medicine in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Today, people use it for a variety of conditions, including upset stomach, anxiety, insomnia, and skin problems.

Since chamomile is one of the most ancient herbs around, it has been used and studied extensively for properties that may help many health conditions, including:

Anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing properties
Anticancer activity
Common cold
Cardiovascular conditions
Colic and diarrhea in children
Eczema
Gastrointestinal problems
Hemorrhoids
Boosting the immune system
Inflammatory diseases such as esophageal reflux, diverticulitis, and inflammatory skin problems
Mouth ulcers
Osteoporosis
Insomnia
Anxiety
Seizures
Diabetes
Sore throat
Vaginitis
Wound healing
Quality of life in people with cancer

A review of these studies found that chamomile may offer some therapeutic effects because of its phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are chemicals found in plants that contribute to a plant's color, taste, and smell. We are just starting to learn about them, but they may help fight heart disease and cancer. Terpenoids like the ones present in chamomile may help slow cancer cell growth and fight viruses. Chamomile also contains flavonoids, another phytochemical that may fight inflammation and tumor growth.

Chamomile may also help stimulate the immune system, improve cardiovascular conditions, and provide some level of protection against cancer. However, more research is needed to discover if the proper use of chamomile is safe and helpful for these conditions. And improper use of chamomile can be harmful.

Is Chamomile Tea Safe During Pregnancy?

There is not enough information to determine if the amount of chamomile normally used in tea is safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Some healthcare providers advise you to avoid taking chamomile internally but think it is okay to use topically on your skin.

Since it has been associated with both miscarriage and premature labor, chamomile definitely should not be used in large or medicinal amounts during pregnancy without first talking with your doctor about its use.

Chamomile can cause adverse reactions, particularly in people who are allergic to ragweed or other members of the Asteraceae family. These reactions depend on how the chamomile was taken and can include:

Anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction that can be deadly
Skin irritation
Stomach upset
Sneezing
Vomiting
Allergic eye infections from chamomile eye drops
Asthma
Diarrhea

Chamomile may also be unsafe to take with other medicines you may be on, including:

Blood thinners
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Salicylates like aspirin
Thrombolytic agents, which are medicines used to treat blood clots

Can You Use Tea to Induce Your Labour?

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Teas That May Help Induce Labour
How to Make Your Own Tea to Induce Labour
A Word of Caution

Last Updated on February 1, 2021

If your due date has come and gone, and you’re feeling uncomfortable and anxious, you’ll perhaps be willing to try anything and everything to bring on the labour, herbal teas being one of them. Herbal teas were earlier used to bring on the labour, but do they really work? Let’s find out!

Does Tea Help Induce Labour?

Certains herbal teas like red raspberry leaf tea are known to induce labour. It is believed that drinking herbal teas like raspberry tea strengthens the labour and promotes healthy labour, but there is not enough evidence that suggests raspberry tea or another herbal tea can help with labour induction. Hence, they are best avoided.

Teas That May Help Induce Labour

Here are some of the tea varieties that possess labour-inducing properties:

1. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea to Induce Labour

Red raspberry leaf tea is supposedly beneficial for toning the muscles of the uterus which help it work more efficiently when a woman goes into labour. Toned muscles can help the labour progress smoothly without fatigue once underway. However, it is not recommended to have raspberry tea to kick start labour once you’re due. It could cause bad contractions that can distress the baby. This tea can be consumed gradually from the time a woman enters the 32th week of her pregnancy.

2. Basil Tea to Induce Labour

Basil is an emmenagogue, a substance that can increase the menstrual flow. Basil tea has other compounds than can help smooth muscles to relax and bring on a late period. In higher doses, basil and oregano tea can induce labour. Midwives and natural health care providers have used this combination to induce labour in women who are overdue. But basil is never recommended in higher dosage. Therefore, if you wish to use this tea to bring on the labour, you must check with your healthcare provider to understand if you should use it and how!

3. Chamomile Tea to Induce Labour

Chamomile is a herb closely related to the common daisy, and there are some reports of the German and Roman chamomile causing miscarriage. Hence the herb gets its reputation as being helpful in inducing labour although there is no credible evidence to back up the general belief. The flower of the herb is dried to make tea, capsules and extracts. If you wish to use this herb to bring on the labour, you must check with your doctor.

4. Cinnamon and Clove Tea to Induce Labour

Cinnamon and clove are spices that are safe to consume in limited quantities during pregnancy. The effectiveness of cinnamon and clove tea in inducing labour hasn’t been demonstrated to a credible extent although it is tried with other herbs as a labour-inducer.

5. Cumin Tea to Induce Labour

Cumin tea has also been used to kick start labour by midwives in women who have mostly gone past their 40 weeks mark. The tea is known to stimulate contractions in women who have shot past their due dates. Like many other spicy foods, cumin tea increases the metabolic rate which is thought to stimulate labour potentially. Cumin tea, unfortunately, isn’t a tasty beverage. To overcome its bitterness, a small chunk of potato can be added into the mix while preparing the tea.

How to Make Your Own Tea to Induce Labour

The method of making tea to induce labour is a bit different than your usual way of making tea. This might take a little longer. Here’s what you need to do:

Add one tablespoon of a herbal tea powder in a mug.
Pour boiling water in it.
Cover the mug with a saucer to conserve as much heat and steam as possible in the mug.
Let the tea steep in hot water for at least 15 minutes.
Strain the herb before drinking.

A Word of Caution

Before trying any herbs or herbal teas to induce labour, do consult a doctor. While some doctors are of the opinion that some labour inducing varieties of tea may work to bring on the labour, others are of the opinion that they may not work and hence should not be consumed while pregnant. Although a herbal tea seems harmless enough, it’s unsafe to drink it to induce labour without consulting your doctor or midwife. If you wish to use a herbal tea to bring on th labour, check with your doctor. She may guide you to use the best drink for your condition or warn you against trying it at all.

Like all herbal preparations, the effectiveness of herbal teas to bring on the labour is not thoroughly established. Hence, they are best avoided while pregnant!

Disclaimer: The information given in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We urge readers to seek the advice of a physician before trying any herbal teas mentioned in the article.

Also Read:

Foods That Can Help Induce Labour
How to Induce Labour Naturally
Consuming Dates to Help Induce Labour

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How to induce labor naturally

There are at least seven ways to induce labor that are supported by science. Let's take a look at each of these "evidence-based" methods.

1. Sexual intercourse

Many women manage to induce natural childbirth through sex. This is because semen contains prostaglandins, the same hormone-like compounds found in cervical ripening drugs such as Cervidil.

The key to having sex for natural induction is not to do it once. With this natural method of labor induction, "3 times is the way to go." It is assumed that three ejaculations contain the same amount of prostaglandins as Cervidil.
Of course, at 40+ weeks of pregnancy, frequent sex is definitely not what the expectant mother dreams of, but it is definitely the best alternative to cervidil and pitocin, which can lead to more painful contractions and even rupture of the membranes or fetal distress.

2. Nipple stimulation

Nipple stimulation can actually help induce labor or hasten a stalled or slow labor. You should stimulate the entire breast, not just the nipples. Try a slow, rhythmic breast massage behind the areola.

You can do this yourself or ask your partner to help you.

3. Evening Primrose Oil

Evening Primrose Oil contains prostaglandins that help prepare the cervix for childbirth. However, there is limited research on the efficacy and safety of evening primrose oil. Evening primrose oil can actually prolong labor by several hours when used vaginally. It can also cause early rupture of membranes, meaning your waters break before contractions begin.

Although many mothers claim that oil speeds up labor, there is still a risk, so it should be considered as a last resort.

4. Castor oil

Castor oil causes the intestines to contract, which can stimulate uterine contractions. But like evening primrose oil, this method should also be used with caution and only with the approval of your midwife or doctor.

Although many mothers have used it with great success and no other interventions. Yet it should be remembered that intestinal contractions cause terrible diarrhea. At best, this can be inconvenient; at worst, it can cause dehydration. If you and your birthing team decide to try this method, be sure to drink at least 500 ml of water to keep yourself hydrated and maintain healthy electrolyte levels.

5. Red raspberry leaf tea

Red raspberry leaf tea is a great way to tone the uterus during pregnancy and can also help induce labor.

Due to its stimulating effect, most midwives do not recommend drinking until the second trimester. For labor induction, increase the dose of this tea.

6. Eating dates

Research shows that eating dates during pregnancy helps women achieve greater cervical dilation, intact membranes, and more spontaneous labor when the time comes for delivery. Oxytocin use was significantly lower in women who consumed dates, and the average duration of the first stage of labor was shorter in women who consumed dates. As the study concludes, “dating dates during the last 4 weeks before delivery significantly reduced the need for labor induction and induction and resulted in more favorable labor.”

What else can help induce labor?
While not backed by science, many moms claim these natural or "anecdotal" ways to induce labor.

1. Pamper yourself

Pamper yourself is a great way to relax and focus before having a baby. Sure, prenatal massage is great, but you might want to focus on the feet, which have special trigger points that can induce labor. A foot massage, reflexology, or even just a pedicure can be rewarding and definitely an enjoyable pastime.

2. Guided Relaxation

Soothing affirmations, guided meditation, and deep breathing can do wonders to help your body relax and prepare to welcome your baby. Fearful thoughts and anxiety can lead to the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones that stop the birth process.

It is interesting that before giving birth, cats go to a dark, quiet place. Darkness helps bypass stress hormones and increases levels of melatonin, a key hormone that can help trigger hormonal cascades. You can try this by turning off the lights, closing your eyes and focusing on your body and the amazing feat you are about to accomplish.

3. Nutrition

Follow your ideal pregnancy diet and remember to drink water. Childbirth is hard work and you will need all the support you can get. Although nutrition may not stimulate labor, it will definitely help you feel strong, prepared, and calm when labor actually begins.

4. Exercise

Moderate exercise is fantastic throughout pregnancy, and some women have been lucky enough to induce labor by walking, cycling, swimming, or other exercise. By moving our body, we can help the baby into its birth position and open up our pelvis for a faster delivery. However, the main thing is not to overdo it. You don't want to be tired when labor starts.

5. Acupuncture, acupressure and chiropractic

In addition to mental readiness, you and your child need to be physically ready, and acupuncture, acupressure and chiropractic can help with this. Acupuncture is a potentially useful way to induce labor, but there isn't a lot of solid research on this topic. However, acupuncture and acupressure have been used for many years to induce labor and are trusted by many women.

The idea of acupressure is that acupuncture and acupressure help to unblock any stagnant energy, which can help the child to get into the correct position. Specifically, acupuncture points for inducing labor are found on the feet, arms, and back. They stimulate the thyroid, digestive and reproductive systems.

Chiropractic induction methods are based on the same idea. Opening and balancing the pelvis with chiropractic helps your baby get into the correct, deep position and stimulates your body for labor.

Find a suitable pregnancy acupuncturist or contact a local mums group for recommendations.

6. Pineapple

The bromelain in pineapple and other tropical fruits is said to induce labor by stimulating the uterus. On the other hand, it may just be the stimulation of the intestines from eating a large amount of pineapple, which causes labor. Either way, it's a delightful way to induce labor naturally.

7. Spicy food

Some mothers use spicy food to induce labor. Like castor oil, spicy foods stimulate the intestines. Keep in mind that spicy foods can cause stomach upset, a side effect that is best avoided during childbirth.

8. Eggplant Parmesan

Scalinis Restaurant near Atlanta, Georgia, claims to have helped more than 300 women go into labor within 48 hours with its famous eggplant parmesan. Don't live near a restaurant? Dish you can try at home:

Ingredients:

3 medium eggplants
0.5 cup flour
6 eggs, beaten
2 cups Italian breadcrumbs
1L cups marinara sauce
1/2 cup grated romano cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
200 gr mozzarella cheese, grated
2 cups ricotta cheese

How to cook:

After washing the eggplants, cut them into slices.
Lay the eggplant slices on a layer of paper towels and sprinkle with a little salt, then cover with another layer of paper towels and press down with something heavy. This will remove excess moisture. Let them sit for about an hour.
Working with one eggplant slice at a time, dust it with flour, then dip in beaten eggs, then coat well in breadcrumbs. Fry in hot olive oil on both sides until golden brown.
In a baking dish, alternate layers of marinara sauce, eggplant slices, ricotta, Parmesan, and Romano cheese until the baking dish is filled. Sprinkle with grated mozzarella cheese and bake for 25 minutes at 375°C. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Note. For a gluten-free option, use chickpea or buckwheat flour in place of flour and almond flour or semolina in place of breadcrumbs.

9. Homeopathic remedies

Homeopathic remedies are generally considered safe during pregnancy. Common homeopathic remedies used to induce labor include Pulsatilla 200C, Caullophyllum 200C, and Cimicifuga 200C. Some midwives recommend alternating all three times every three days until labor begins. Consult your gynecologist for dosage.

For more information on homeopathic remedies during pregnancy and childbirth, read Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy and Childbirth by Richard Moskowitz and Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Childbirth and Your Baby's First Year by Miranda Castro.

10. Special Exercises

This chart helps misplaced babies get into the ideal birthing position, which puts pressure on the cervix and stimulates labor.

This simple procedure has three parts, including:

1, Start in cat/cow pose with knees wide apart, then lower chest as low as possible and buttocks as high as possible. Swing while maintaining this position for 30 minutes. This helps the baby move out of the pelvis a little, allowing him to rotate and change his head position.
2. Roll onto your left side, straighten your bottom leg, then lift your top leg as high as you can. Roll forward using pillows for support. Maintain this position for 30 minutes.
Do your best to move for at least 30 minutes. Lunges, walking up and down stairs in twos, sideways, sitting on a birth ball, and hula hoops are especially helpful because they put your pelvis in an asymmetrical position.

Which food induces labor?

As noted above, when it comes to food to induce labor, dates are the best choice. Research shows that dates reduce the need for induction and shorten labor. Pineapple and spicy foods can also help induce labor, although there isn't much evidence to support these theories, only a lot of anecdotal evidence.

How long does it take to have a baby after induction?
As with most aspects of childbirth, there is no hard and fast rule. Every woman is different: for some mothers, induction of labor can take only a few hours, for others it can take several days. And sometimes induction doesn't work at all.

Why does induction cause more pain?
Our body naturally produces oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates contractions. During induction, a woman is usually given a synthetic form of oxytocin, such as pitocin, to speed up contractions. This can cause labor to start too quickly, resulting in stronger and more intimate contractions.

What are the risks of induction?
The risks of induction vary depending on the method of induction, but the biggest risk is that the induction will fail. In 25% of cases, induction failed - this may mean that the mother is in labor for a long time, but a caesarean section may be required eventually. It can be physically taxing and emotionally draining for a mom.

Other risks include:

Low fetal heart rate: The strong, frequent contractions caused by pitocin may cause discomfort to the baby.
Uterine rupture: The strong, frequent contractions caused by Pitocin can cause the uterus to rupture. This is most common in mothers who have previously had uterine surgery.
Excessive bleeding in the mother after childbirth: When stimulated, the uterus may not contract properly after childbirth.
Infection: Rupture of membranes can put mother and baby at increased risk of infection.

What if I miss my due date? Should I induce labor?
Absolutely not! You have the right to refuse anything that does not suit you, including induction of labor.

At 40 weeks gestation, there is no evidence that induction is necessary in a normal healthy pregnancy. Remember that your due date is determined by a number of factors, including the average length of pregnancies in your family, the accuracy of your due date calculation, and your individual child. Your baby and body are the ones who initiate labor and usually know when they are ready.

If you have passed 41 weeks of pregnancy
There is no reason to consider induction in a normal healthy pregnancy before 41 weeks, and you may want to wait even longer before trying any of these methods. If you choose to go through 41 weeks without trying to induce labor, your healthcare provider will likely keep a close eye on you.

If you have passed 42 weeks of pregnancy
Natural induction of labor is still a priority and may increase the likelihood of other labor interventions. If mom and baby are healthy, it is perfectly reasonable and scientifically justified to give birth at 42 weeks.

How did other mothers induce labor?
I asked moms on my Facebook page about ways to induce labor naturally. Here are some of their responses:

My water broke but my contractions didn't start. That night I went for acupuncture and two hours later I had a nice steady contraction rhythm! — Jill B.
Massage of painful points, sex, walks. — Norma O.
I massaged the pressure points on my feet and around my ankles that are supposed to induce labor. That night I went into labor, that is, a week before the expected date of delivery! I also started drinking 1 cup of red raspberry leaf tea a day at 32 weeks pregnant and gradually increased it to 4 cups by the time I was due. — Jennifer B.
A friend told me that she had read that pineapple can induce labor. Without thinking, the next day I ate almost a whole pineapple. That night I went into labor, a week early. — Stephanie N.
With both of my kids, I've tried everything - spicy food, pineapple, even scrubbing floors/lunges vigorously. But both times the trick was to have sex with my husband and make him ejaculate inside me. I went into labor less than 12 hours after two times. — Lisa S.
The first child was "delayed" for 3 days, so I stimulated naturally with evening primrose oil (oral and vaginal) and castor oil. That day, I started having contractions! — Sarah L.
Acupuncture! I came in with very weak, irregular contractions and left with active labour, intense contractions 6 minutes apart. She gave birth 10 hours later. — Sherry M.
I worked every day of both my births (throughout all pregnancies). I also had sex. — Susan B.
Acupuncture, chiropractor and pumping (nipple stimulation). — Angela G.

Original - here

What will help in childbirth - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Vovk Lyudmila Anatolyevna

Reproductologist, Obstetrician-gynecologist

Lapino-1 Clinical Hospital "Mother and Child"

We walk and dance

If earlier in the maternity hospital, with the onset of labor, a woman was put to bed, now, on the contrary, obstetricians recommend that the expectant mother move . For example, you can just walk: the rhythm of steps soothes, and gravity helps the neck to open faster. You need to walk as fast as it is convenient, without sprinting up the stairs, it’s better to just “cut circles” along the corridor or ward, from time to time (during the aggravation of the fight) resting on something. The gait does not matter - you can roll over like a duck, rotate your hips, walk with your legs wide apart. It is worth trying and dancing, even if you think that you do not know how. For example, you can swing your hips back and forth, describe circles and figure eights with your fifth point, sway in a knee-elbow position. The main thing is to move smoothly and slowly, without sudden movements.

Showering and bathing

For many people, water is a great way to relieve fatigue and tension, and it also helps with painful contractions. You can just stand in the shower, or you can lie down in the bath. Warm water will warm the muscles of the back and abdomen, they will relax, and the birth canal will relax - as a result, the pain may decrease. Well, if it does not decrease, then in any case, the water will relieve stress and at least for a while distract from the pain. So if there is a shower or jacuzzi bath in the delivery room, do not be shy and try this method of pain relief for contractions. The only thing is that the water should not be too hot, even if it seems that heat helps to better endure contractions.

Swinging on the ball

Until recently, fitball (rubber inflatable ball) in the rodblock was something outlandish, and today is found in many maternity hospitals. And if you find a fitball in your rodblock, be sure to use it. You can sit on the ball astride and swing, rotate the pelvis, spring, roll from side to side. You can also kneel down, lean on the ball with your hands and chest and sway back and forth. All these movements on the ball will relax the muscles, increase the mobility of the pelvic bones, improve the opening of the neck, and reduce the pain of contractions. And while the woman is sitting on the ball, her partner (usually her husband) can massage her neck area for additional relaxation.

For comfort, the ball should be soft, slightly deflated, and large, with a diameter of at least 75 cm.

We hang on a rope or a Swedish wall

When the contractions become very strong and painful, you can take poses in which the stomach is, as it were, in a “suspended” state. Some advanced maternity hospitals have wall bars and ropes attached to the ceiling for this. During contraction, you can hang on them, as a result, the weight of the uterus will put less pressure on large blood vessels, and this will improve uteroplacental blood flow. In addition, in the “suspended” position, the load from the spine will be removed, which will also reduce pain.

Do not hang on a rope or a wall only if there is a desire to push, and the cervix has not yet opened and efforts must be restrained.

Lying comfortably

If a woman in childbirth wants not to move, but, on the contrary, to lie down, then, of course, she can lie down. In modern maternity hospitals, instead of traditional ones, there are transforming beds: you can change their height, lower or raise the headboard or foot end, adjust the tilt level, push or push some part of the bed. There are also handrails in transforming beds (to use them to rest or even hang on them), and leg supports, and retractable pillows, and special backs - in general, everything in order to fit the bed under you and take it with it comfortable position. Moreover, this can be done without any physical effort - using the remote control.

We use everything we have

In any road block, even if it is minimally equipped, you can still find something useful. For example, if during a fight you want to take a position with a support, you can lean forward and rest against something that turns up under your arm - a table, a headboard, a window sill. The main thing is that the support must be very stable. You can also get on all fours in the “cat pose” and focus on your hands, and to make it more convenient, put a pillow and a folded blanket under your chest. If you want to hang on something (and there is no rope or wall) and your husband will be nearby, you can use postures that allow you to transfer body weight to him: for example, hang on your husband’s neck. In general, it is worth showing imagination and adapting any item in the rodblock to your needs.

And don't be afraid to look stupid during childbirth. No one in the delivery room cares about how you move or lie down as long as it helps you get through your contractions, so calmly find your comfortable position.

Giving birth in an uncomfortable position is both difficult and inefficient.