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Maybe you're sick of being pregnant and ready for labor, but the little person in your womb fails to cooperate. So, your friends point you toward a local restaurant that serves a salad they swear helped them go into labor.

There are a lot of wives' tales, but what does the literature suggest actually might help speed things along?

Spicy food

There's no evidence that spicy foods induce labor. It may be worth a try;...

Maybe you're sick of being pregnant and ready for labor, but the little person in your womb fails to cooperate. So, your friends point you toward a local restaurant that serves a salad they swear helped them go into labor.

There are a lot of wives' tales, but what does the literature suggest actually might help speed things along?

Spicy food

There's no evidence that spicy foods induce labor. It may be worth a try; at the very least, you'll feel like you're doing something.

Castor oil

This claim goes back generations, and some physicians and midwives swear by castor oil for inducing. It can cause spasms in the intestines, which crowd up against the uterus near the end of the pregnancy. These spasms can cause the uterus to cramp, which might result in labor.

It's not a fail-safe method, but there are scientific reasons to believe in it. Castor oil also helps with constipation, but it should be taken in smallish doses of 1-4 ounces. You can mix it with orange juice to make it more palatable.

Cohosh

These herbs have shown promising effects with overdue moms. Blue cohosh is believed to make uterine contractions stronger, while black cohosh may regulate them. Consult your doctor before trying these, however, as no scientific studies have yet determined they are perfectly safe.

Raspberry leaf

Some research has suggested raspberry leaves, often consumed in a tea, have a relaxant effect on the uterus. It is possible that the relaxant effect causes the uterine contractions to become better coordinated and thus shortens labor. Again, talk to your doctor or midwife before taking a sip.

Safety Note:

With regards to cohosh and raspberry leaf, while studies show that about 40% of women use alternative or complementary medicine while pregnant, there is no data to establish safety of these supplements. In addition, as these products are considered supplements, there is no FDA regulation and therefore, no guarantee of purity. Some doctors believe these products should be avoided during pregnancy.

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