Does walking really induce labor?
Walking can help get your baby into a good position for labour and encourages the head to engage if it hasn’t already. It won’t necessarily kick labour off, but it’s a great step in the right direction. Walking or staying upright and mobile during labour can make things go that bit faster. I did lots of walking in the final weeks of my pregnancy and when I finally went into labour, spent almost the whole of it walking around… did not lay on my back or sit down once. My labour was only 3 hours long (first baby) and I think the walking/being upright played a huge part in the speed. That, and drinking raspberry leaf tea throughout the final 2 months of my pregnant (helps tone uterus and can result in shorter second stage in labour). Other things you can do: – Have a hot curry and a (single) glass of wine – Have sex – Stimulate your nipples (but needs to be for at least 20mins, 3 times per day for any real effect) – Eat lots of pineapple Ultimately, nothing will work unless your body is
The day before my due date I walked around Wal-Mart, grocery shopping and baby-readying my home, with my husband for about two and a half hours. I started feeling discomfort when walking around 32 weeks, so I always used the carts. If you haven’t been walking a lot it’s possible that it could get your contractions going, although you’re probably going to have to endure the discomfort that walking will cause. [It felt like I had a side stitch when I was walking for more than about ten minutes.] I started contracting about two hours after I got home. Most of the suggestions to induce labor all depend on what you’ve been doing your entire pregnancy, though. If you and your partner have been having sex most of your pregnancy it’s likely it won’t do anything for inducing labor, same with spicy foods, walking, etc. Hopefully it’ll come by itself soon!
