Is there anything we can do to encourage labour?
Certainly there’s little you can do to get your partner into labour if she’s not yet ready – our bodies are too clever for that! But if she’s due and on the verge of going into labour, there are things that might just ‘tip her over the edge’. For example, long walks, sex, eating spicy foods and fresh pineapple could all help, although no one thing works for everyone! Acupuncture and reflexology can also work, but these must be carried out by a qualified professional. The midwife might also offer your partner something called a ‘stretch and sweep’, which involves an internal examination. The midwife tries to insert her finger into the cervix (the opening at the bottom of the womb), encouraging the production of hormones which might help your partner to labour. That said, babies will make an appearance when they are good and ready, so try to be patient and enjoy the time you have just you two together… Hospitals often recommend induction of labour (artificially starting the labour off)
